trailer running: nevada so far

as in so far away and what its like so far

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Please excuse me for going on … and for too many pictures ! I wish I knew how to get up on the Soapbox , say something quick and poignant … and get off . But these places are so beautiful , so real, and so Not like "what is trending" .

And I would also like to say mucho gracias to my friends Don & Dean for helping me configure this little solar powered rig . The sun is shining guys and I ain't using my generator !!!

Nevada is the most mountainous state in the country, with over 300 individual mountain ranges and 42 named summits over 11,000 feet! News to me … and I lived next door for a total of 22 years . I always thought it to be mostly desert . My destination in the Silver State was to be Great Basin National Park , but I wanted to take the time to explore a few canyons from an old book I found at a K.W. library sale " Americas Majestic Canyons" . The first was Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains south of Elko .

In trying to find a near--by campground I stumbled on another place on the east side of the Rubys' ( Lamoille Canyon is on the west ) . Ruby Lake National Recreation Area . Wow ! Though they use the term loosely here in Nevada ( its actually a marsh …. but if you know about Nevada ….) it is magnificent .

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Ruby_Lake/about.html

It is an amazing contrast of water , dry basin , alpine type peaks and changing colors . Every night I hear the coyotes yakking . Tonite they started before sunset from down in the dry meadow between the lakes, and then ran their pack up, and thru the marsh …. announcing themselves every few hours . I love it

crazy colors for a marsh

later ... grey....

....reflections

...in with an incoming front

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the view from camp

the road in

granite

I took a long drive, further down the gravel road, and then a dirt road, to explore where the Pony Express crossed . A fascinating story the Express . You really get a feel for the west by communing with the various "trails" that crossed the country before the railroads . The Oregon , California and Pony Express all went through this area. Had to run on the trail ( flat and loose )

The next day was a paddle / hike day . Paddle the maze that is Ruby Lake and then run ( okay jog / walk ) up to an old silver mine partway up the mountain . I was not expecting the water clarity I got when I shoved off . It made for a great paddle and thanks to series of very high markers in the maze , I didn't get lost .