Here is a view of the town of Independence, California, elevation 3920', from over 13,000' elevation. It's like looking out the window of an airplane! Down there, the temperature is 50° to 60° warmer than up here. In July the average daytime temperature in Independence is 98°, maybe that has something to do with why only 800 people live there? Hmm, I left my car down there somewhere, I wonder if it's still there?