I have been driving all around Southern Calif for ages, and have yet to come across the road where the long mountain climb was shot, or at least I have not yet recognized it. Does anyone know where it is? I've seen many that looked like it, but when compared to the film, they were not. Or perhaps it was filmed in more than one place?
shareI think it was shot on the road to Tioga Pass, the back way to Yosemite from Hwy 395. If you're into movie locales, when you drive up 395, stop at Lone Pine and take the cutoff to the Alabama Hills and Mt. Whitney, which is where they have shot practically every western since the early silent days, plus lots of action films, including High Sierra and The Hitch-Hiker. A unique and beautiful area that you'll recognize from hundreds of films.
You probably won't find that spot anywhere in SoCal...as i'm fairly certain the scene you're descibing was shot in or near Yosenmite National park.
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Big clocks are never wrong!
I think that it is a combination of two areas/roads. I think that you are right about Tioga pass/Yosemite for the long shots. i think that the close up stuff was done on the old road from Idlywild down to Palm Springs. I assume that you are talking about the climb where they get stuck.
Definately Yosemite early in the film. I just watched it on tape.
This long, winding switchback is actually shot on Horseshoe Meadow Road, which is a spur road off of Whitney Portal Road just west of Lone Pine. Tioga Pass is actually much farther north, several miles past the ski resort of Mammoth Mountain. As you drive up Highway 395, and the light is just right, the road cut in the Sierra escarpment is still very visible.
shareMy husband and I watched the movie tonight and we strongly believe that when they first start to climb the mountain, it's Big Pine, CA. We have been going there almost every year for the past twenty years.
From Hwy 395 you turn left on Crocker Ave in the town of Big Pine. That road turns into Glacier Lodge Road. When the road crosses Big Pine Creek there is a bridge. That bridge is shown in the movie when they first start up the mountain. They cross over the bridge just before you see the movie crew reflected in the side of the trailer.
We also recogonized the mountain side as they continue to climb up the mountain. From there it may be other locations, but we are positive that the climb begins on Glacier Lodge Road from Big Pine, CA.
lvbnmom, you are probably correct in the location of the bridge shot-I haven't seen this movie in a while-but just as others have innocently noted in this forum the entire scene is a collection of shots from all over the Sierra, including Yosemite, which is on the other side of the range for pete's sake! The question that has been posted here is where is the "winding road" portion of the scene takes place. The first time I saw this movie, back in the 70's, I knew exactly where it was. It is clearly not Glacier Lodge Road; I am familiar with this stretch also and no portion of it matches the treeless, steeply graded multi-switchback of Horsehoe Meadow Road. I have come across several print references to this location in regards to the movie over the years; one I have in my possesion is Jim Jenkins authoritative trail survey "Exploring the Southern Sierra: East Side" (Wilderness Press).
shareI know exactly where it is. Go to Lone Pine and turn up Whitney Portal Road. There is a lot of history on that road - it goes by Movie Flats where a zillion cowboy movies were filmed. Anyway, as you get higher you will be exactly where Desi and Lucy were when the scene was filmed.
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