Undeterred by earthquakes or the ever-present warnings of carcinogenic air,
Vitaly pushes forward. The local salt factory has gone quiet—no one knows what’s happening inside—but the town remains hopeful, as Trona’s unique charm and surreal desert landscapes hold a special kind of magic.
Vitaly has shared with us the hidden beauty around Trona:
an abandoned church where he dreams of hosting film screenings,
Lake Isabella where he swims every weekend, and local stores
that carry treasures from faraway places.
Even as he engages in activism to bring change to the world, organizing rallies and hunger strikes, Vitaly finds peace in his quiet home, away from the turbulence of global issues.
Trona’s magic is undeniable—once you’ve experienced it, you’ll always want to return.