( Writing this from Farmington, New Mexico on Oct. 22. )
One month ago on September 22, we left Craters in Idaho and camped next at Great Basin National Park in Baker, Nevada. Giant mountains, beautiful trees and international dark sky programs. For dark sky certification there has to be no light pollution in a 100 mile radius around the facility.
We found a camp site in the Upper Leyman Campground, one of four in the park. Our camp site was at 7800 feet elevation, cool enough at night to run the propane heater but beautiful weather during the day.
The first day there another couple, Shorty and Hazie from Arizona, came in right after us and we got to talking and learned that we all liked exploring the back country. The next day they drove their jeep and we took our truck and we headed for the mountain top to find the Bristlecone Pines. Here are some pictures of our adventure.
We found a camp site in the Upper Leyman Campground, one of four in the park. Our camp site was at 7800 feet elevation, cool enough at night to run the propane heater but beautiful weather during the day.
The first day there another couple, Shorty and Hazie from Arizona, came in right after us and we got to talking and learned that we all liked exploring the back country. The next day they drove their jeep and we took our truck and we headed for the mountain top to find the Bristlecone Pines. Here are some pictures of our adventure.
We followed them since Shorty talked to the ranger about the directions.
I got some great pictures of them going up the mountain.
I got some great pictures of them going up the mountain.
Part way up we stopped to look down at an old mining site. From a distance it didn't look old, but when I put the zoom on you could really see how deteriorated the equipment was. It's strange how everything looks like they just stopped working one day and never came back.
We keep going up and come across an old cemetery, with headstones dating in the late 1800's - early 1900's. Many of the names were of the founding families of the area around Baker. We saw the Marriott name
on some ranches in the town.
on some ranches in the town.
Still going up and the view below.
A very old mine near the top comes into view.
Their dog, Muffy, finds crystal-clear, cold water coming out of the mine shaft entrance.
We brought out our picnic lunches and enjoyed the fabulous scenery while eating. Then checked the GPS to find that that the Bristlecone Pines were still farther above and on the other side of the ridge. The trail father up was suitable only for off road vehicles and our truck couldn't make it. It was still worth the trip.
Heading down.
Near the bottom the guys stop to talk and we decided to take the road around the the mountain, with so many cool things to see we didn't want to quit.
One more great part of traveling is making new friends.
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