Suddenly, the forest was gone and I entered a world of pure white sand. I had reached the eastern edge of the Mono Basin National Scenic Area. Here was a place spotted with pines the grew from the fallout of Mono Craters. The craters, which are actually a series of plug-dome volcanos, were formed by eruptions that occurred over the last 40,000 years and are considered one of the youngest volcanic ranges in North America. It has been predicted that they may erupt again at some point in the future.