Great Basin National Park, Nevada

This stop was quite the experience!  We started out the first day driving along the scenic route.  All roads were wash-boarded gravel and dusty, I mean VERY dusty.  We stopped at the 8500 foot elevation sign to take a look around and came upon an elk.  He saw us before we saw him and as far as I could tell he must have been lying down.  We heard a thunderous sound as he came to his feet and skedaddled away, crashing his rack into an overhanging tree and busting off a limb.  Wendy and I crouched when we first heard the sound as we had no clue what was happening.  We both thought a big bear was on the rampage!  Then we saw the elk jump about 3 times and disappear over the crest of a hill, no longer to be seen.  It was only 30 to 40 yards away and his back was easily my shoulder height.  It was HUGE!  That was the largest animal either of us have encountered in the wild!  The experience took our breath away and we discussed what to do if it ever happened again.  All we came up with was to put a tree between us and it to give me time to arm our can of bear spray.  It happened amazingly fast.  Needless to say I didn't get a picture of the elk!

Over the 10 days we were here, we hiked several trails starting from 7500 feet, going up to 10800 feet.  Most were "moderate" skill levels.  But we took a wrong turn on one trail and after 1/4 mile or so we knew we were no longer on "moderate".  We struggled along for a while and came to a fork in the trail.  Now let me tell you that at this particular National Park, the maps and signs don't jive in any way.  All maps along the trail are not oriented to the direction we were traveling.  That is, if you happen along a map to begin with!  We decided to take the strenuous Timber Creek trail.  8 miles later, after sunset and numb from the 50 temps, in our t-shirts, we arrived back to our truck.  We wasted no time in turning on the seat heaters!  I was lucky, I have a steering wheel heater....yay!  The hikes we took over the next few days were challenging and exciting and we were blessed with good health and safe travels!

Don't worry dear, I'm right behind you....with the bear spray!

I took many pictures over the next several days and I've pretty much lumped them together in the interest of keeping me sane.  This "blogging" is fun but I've got to find a way to keep up :)

This is my tour guide and I'm following her anywhere!

The hike along the glacier trail took us through many Bristlecone pines, which are dated to be thousands of years old.  When they die, their trunks last a very long time.  This one is over 3500 years old!

We also enjoyed the Aspen trees scattered  throughout the mountains.

We are now at Cathedral Gorge State Park close to Panaca, NV.  I'll catch you up with another post soon!  There is a fire evacuation story involved....