HIKING IN VALLEY OF FIRE

We have spent a number of days and nights in Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park.  Connie's Aunt Roxine and Uncle Stan told us about this place in 1991, and we have been going there ever since.  We found this hike in the mid 90's and took a few of our friends on it.  Well today we decided we would try and find it again.  Sure enough my old brain was able to come up with the route and we did it again.  There is no trail and in places it is a little rough.   But the views are worth it.  I brought my gps with me this time and put in a number of significant points so won't have to worry about finding it again.

Zeph hanging out in the pillows this morning.

In this slot canyon there are roots that are coming out of the rocks trying to get to the ground.

On our way trying to find a certain slot canyon to get to the hike.

And we found it.

Now we had to go up a canyon without a trail.

But the views were worth it.

A couple of the places were really a scramble.

There is a seep of water coming out of this crack and flows down to a pool.  Hard to believe there is water up here.

Hiking up a ridge of sandstone.

Looking north towards Utah.

Some of the hike was pretty easy.

Recognize this from 20 years ago?

DAY TWO AT LAKE MEAD

25 Feb 17:  Cold morning and night.  Can’t believe we are wearing polar fleece down here in the desert.  But we are.  We are camped out by the shores of Lake Mead, although the water is 100 yards laterally from us but only 25 yards horizontally.  In other words, I can throw a rock straight out and it will hit the water but has further to fall than it does to go out.  We had to run the heater in the middle of the night just to stay warm.  It was in the mid 30’s when we got up.  The high today was in the 50’s.  But the forecast is for it to warm up.  We went down to Echo Bay and looked around there this morning.  Will probably move down there in a day or so as we can launch our kayak down there without having to carry it to far.  But it is a little cool to kayak anywhere here on Lake Mead right now.  Took the jeep down a wash towards the lake on the way back from Echo Bay.  Also stopped at a spring that runs a water temperature of 80 degrees and puts out 400 gallons a minute.  Wish I had that in my back yard

The museum just outside Overton.  We have stopped at this museum a few times over the years and is really a pretty good small town museum.

Zeph wanting someone to come out and play with him early in the morning.

The pool at Rogers Spring.

The outlet

And this is where the water comes into the pool at 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

The view from above.

Also drove the jeep down a wash towards Lake Mead.  Those red rock mountains in the background are in The Valley of Fire State Park.

Pretty desolate landscape.

The jeep in the wash.

The green grass is really starting to show up though.

FINALLY DOWN AT LAKE MEADE

24 Feb 17:  We finally arrived down at Lake Meade after some long days of travel.  The first day was not bad as we went down to Jackpot, NV and spent the night.  Got up the next morning early and wanted to be on the road close to 0600 mountain standard time.  Well we pulled out of the RV Park at Cactus Pete’s and Highway 93 was closed to the south due to some wrecks on very slick roads.  We ended up having to wait around until just after noon when they opened it. 

We did stop in Ely to say hello to Rob and Heather but did not get to see Maisy as she was still in school.  Then drove on down to Overton, NV where we stayed in the State Wildlife Refuge just south of town for the night.  Long day it was.

Next morning, we had to take the truck and camper and jeep down to the local car wash and get them cleaned – they were a mess.

After 5 hours of delay, you can see that there were maybe 100 semis and lots of cars waiting to get going on Highway 93 south.

And the road was pretty stormy at times.

Sunset down near Ash Springs.

We always like to see the "art" on the railroad cars at the plant in Overton.

Views from our campsite on Lake Meade.  We are camped in the same spot this year as last.

Got the grill going and are having steaks tonight.