
After Zion, we headed off to Nevada and the Great Basin National Park. Now my idea of traveling across Nevada was a whole lotta flat dessert nothingness. I guess I never really looked close enough at a topographical map of Nevada, but flat, it is not!
Great Basin National Park is on the far eastern edge of the middle of Nevada and stick has the 13,000 foot Wheeler Peak as part of its park. In fact, Nevada is full of 10K-12K peaks and tons of mountain ranges; its the most mountainous state in the lower 48. That was certainly a fact I never knew, but can certainly agree on after traveling Highway 50 across the entire state.

We want to go back to Great Basin, cause apparently over the summer, they have a starry night program. Seeing as they are really in the middle of nowhere, the stars are increadible at night here. The stars on a clear moonless night here would be stunning.

The next day was the drive across Nevada on Hwy 50, the so-called lonliest highway in America. Like I said before, this was not a 300 miles flat drive. It was a string of empty valleys with a cow or two then a climb up a mountain pass then back down into an empty valley. It was actaully quite a pretty drive in its vastness. So much land that is realtively unused.

Also along the highway was the famous Shoe Tree. Just this big 'ol Cottonwood in a wash in the middle of nowhere with TONS of shoes up in it. And some of them were rather nice running shoes. But I gotta say, the Shoe Tree appears to be haunted. While I was standing there taking a few photos, a single white gym shoe feel from the tree and almost hit me. Scarred the crap outta me. Now, I am sure shoes fall off the tree all the time, but what are the odds of actually being there when one falls and almost being hit? Spooky!

I wouldnt' exactly say Hwy 50 is the lonliest highway in the US as I have been on other more desolate roads in the US before. However, it is a very pretty and interesting road and well worth the drive if have the inclination.
We are almost done with the travel blogs and photos.... only a few more posts.
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