Nevada and Utah

Scenic Utah October 16, 2018

After leaving Elko, Nevada we struck out in a southerly direction towards Ely after rounding the north end of snow-capped East Humboldt Mountains. The skies entertained us with an every-changing variety of types and shapes. By the time we arrived in Ely we had clear blue skies and were able to see Wheeler Peak (Great Basin National Park) quite clearly as we approached it on U.S. Highway 50 (sometimes referred to as 'the loneliest highway in the U.S.').

Mount Wheeler, Great Basin National Park, Nevada
9,886 feet

We arrived early enough at Great Basin to secure a campsite and get tour tickets for Lehman Caves. Now we have been in a dozen or more caves of all sorts, but this one must be the most decorated one we have seen. Calcite cave formations of many types surrounded us at every turn...stunningly beautiful.

 Not the best pictures because of low light in the cave.

 

 You can google Lehman Caves and see better photos.

 

Some stalactites were broken off by early visitors in the cave, but enough time

has passed that slow drips of calcium rich water is making new growth.

We camped at 7,200 feet so it was quite chilly when we got up the next morning – 36 degrees. (Note: A week later, the park was reported to be 9 degrees with minus 7 wind chill so it's a good thing we visited when we did!) We must return to this national park someday before the snow closes the scenic drive as it did last week.

We retraced our route on Highway 50 and continued farther south in Nevada and took in the surprising sight of Cathedral Gorge near the town of Panaca. It was a nice spot for a picnic and almost deserted.

Eroded bentonite clay features - Cathedral Gorge, Nevada

Another 30 minutes down the road we crossed the stateline into Utah, and headed into the amazing topography around Zion National Park. Gorgeous eroded plateaus and multicolored sandstone cliffs. We did not have a reservation for one of the park's campsites and the private campgrounds nearby are quite pricey so we headed out on gravel road into BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land to a dispersed camping area and parked there for the night amidst the dozen or so Rvs out there taking advantage of free camping like us. A very friendly couple “next door” gave us fresh Rice Krispies treats for dessert and loaned us a table for our campstove. We had a clear night and thin crescent moon for wonderful star-gazing.

We usually wake up before sunrise while camping and because we did the next morning, we were able to get a parking spot at Zion National Park Visitor Center. At 7:45 a.m. the parking lot was almost full. Because of our early arrival, we did not have to pay for parking in the town just outside the park entrance and ride a shuttle in. We spent about 5 hours in the park riding the NPS shuttle bus to points of interest and trailheads. We got off at the “Temple of Sinawava” area at the end of the park road and took the Riverside Trail to the point where you have to enter the Virgin River at the beginning of The Narrows. The trail was more crowded than we expected for mid-October. Many folks were kitted out with waterproof, insulated boots and pants in preparation for the cold water. Quite the entertainment for us to watch these people shriek as they felt the frigid water to begin their hikes.

 Early morning in Zion Canyon before the sun was high enough to illuminate the canyon walls.

 

 A bit later in the morning - sun and shadow

 

 Hikers at the beginning of The Narrows

Almost noon in the canyon - lots of light

 

 

We rode the shuttle back down Zion Canyon making stops at viewpoints and the park museum. We took one of the trails back to the Visitor Center. Four hours after setting out that morning, there was a long line and 30-minute wait to get on a shuttle. While the popularity of Zion NP makes it a bit difficult to get around, the amazing canyon and rock formations are worth the trouble.

 These are the "Three Patriarchs"- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

(Brian nicknamed them Moe, Larry, and Curly.)

 

Beautiful Zion National Park, Utah

With 'frost on the pumpkin' the next day, we explored parts of Utah we have not seen on previous trips – the old mining town of Eureka, a BLM recreation area called “Little Sahara” with fine sand dunes, and the area around Mount Nebo. A foray into Carbon and Duchense Counties took us into areas already covered in snow. Very cold up at a summit we crossed at 9,100 feet elevation. A few snow flurries made the day interesting, but also convinced us that it is time to head south soon.

geocaching in the snow

 

With freezing weather in the forecast, we stayed in a motel in Ogden for a few days and visited a very dear friend from high school days.

A trip to Utah is not complete until we visit Nan Sea in Ogden.

We are now making plans to spend a few days in southeast Utah before choosing our route back to Houston. So many places we want to see, but . . . winter is in the air.

Seen while geocaching:

 

 Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Ogden