I have lived in the Eastern Sierra for over a decade and this is the first year we have been able to experience the northern lights at home. One of the best places to see a wide, big sky to the north near my home is 40 minutes away at Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. The reserve was established to preserve the spectacular "tufa towers," calcium-carbonate spires and knobs formed by interaction of freshwater springs and alkaline lake water.