Done that trip quite a few times. Owens Valley can be brutal with the rotors and turbulence at times, but the views are spectacular. Central Valley is less hard work as then you're on the updraft side mainly, but is very boring visually. I personally would rather deal with turbulence in Owens than cross the Sierras in a single, but that's just me. That's why I fly a twin I suppose - I'm a nervous flier.
Last time I came down Owens Valley I tuned in Mojave Airport and the AWOS was reporting 60kts winds! You could see the dust clouds racing across the desert floor. But at 13500ft it was smooth.