LA to Mammoth Mountain: A Mathematical Zen Drive

Cities must have strong gravity fields. I still meet Angelinos who have never been to Mammoth! They've hit the local mountains, but have yet to make the five-hour drive north.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson advises, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey." Well, with Mammoth, Phil would be only half right. Both the journey and the destination are prime. No need to proselytize about the world-class mountain of Mammoth, that is established truth.

But, I must say that I love the drive to Mammoth, too. The journey is a mathematical wonder ride to many destinations. The 300-mile drive divides equally into three 100-mile chunks. Even within those chunks, more perfect divisibles are found. Such perfect numbers could only be a message from the divine: this drive is a holy pilgrimage.

I got the wheel. Zen out as we hit all the prime spots on this drive to Mammoth.

Next page: The first 100 to Mojave