The drive to Great Basin was long and a bit dreary, to say the least. There was the Wyoming to Idaho to Wyoming section of about 7 miles of weirdness. For each state, the road quality changes. Lumps and bumps in the road are quite accented in King Tut with the height. Then add in the wind! All off this out in the boonies. We stayed in Evanston, Wyoming for the night and found a cute diner there but the RV park was right next to Highway 80! So loud. The next day, we followed 80 for a bit and did another weird state change thing, Wyoming to Utah to Wyoming to Utah, but then we got on Highway 50 and discovered why it is called the “loneliest highway” in America. So booooring. Until we saw the badger! It wanted to cross the road, then changed its mind, and almost ran back in front of us! But we didn’t hit it. It seemed awfully furry for the desert heat!
Great Basin was a nice relaxing change from Grand Tetons NP. So tranquil and small. Our campground had only 23 sites. All were full when we got there. Our site was beautiful and right up against the creek. But then, there was the pull through driveway. What an angle. Took us almost an hour of going on boards, off boards, move to a different part…and still not quite flat but close enough! The auto leveler wanted to lift us off the ground. Sigh…but finally we got it. It was magnificent listening just to the sounds of the creek. It is also at 8000’ so a bit low in oxygen! We knew we wouldn’t see as many animals so that was OK. Dave was disappointed to find out that you have to make reservations, way in advance, to go into the Lehman caves. This park is vastly different from Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. One- no cost to get in. Two – almost no rangers. Due to COVID they have to limit the cave tours in size so they are losing their normal funding source. They seem quite poor. And there is NO water. The toilets are pit toilets, no sinks or anything and signs everywhere to avoid wasting water. And the town of Baker, Nv is tiny. Population 56 or so according to the post mistress.
On our second day we did a small hike but it was really quite chilly. I think it finally got up to 55F in the afternoon so we mostly stayed inside and played games. Wild turkeys did venture through our campsite to cross the creek. And there were wasps who never seemed to figure out what they wanted of ours except to be annoying! We drove the Mount Wheeler route which takes you from desert to alpine in like 9 miles. Really pretty views. The first day was smoky but the second was so clear. I never realized that the Great Basin encompasses 5 states. It is defined as such because none of the rivers run to an ocean in the basin. They all go to ground in the sand eventually. Tooele is just outside of the basin as is Bryce Canyon.
The third day, we decided to try a hike to the Bristlecone pine grove. It is all above 10,000 feet, over 3 miles and had 280 or so feet of incline. I will say we made it but it was not pretty! My left knee does not care for rocky tall “steps” up, and especially not down. Thank you Matt and Jenny for those hiking sticks! The trees are just amazing. This grove is about 5000 years old. That is such an amazingly long time for something to live. They were seedlings at the times of the Greeks! And because they grow so slowly and densely, they do not rot after death! They can continue to stand for more than a thousand years after death. They aren’t the prettiest trees but they are impressive.
Finally we left Great Basin NP and headed across Utah to Zion NP. It is funny because we were barely over the state line into Nevada and the Pacific time zone so we lost an hour and changed states about 15 minutes into the drive! Again, not the prettiest of drives but we did see wild horses and coyotes along the way. And so many tiny little towns. And sooo many ravens. Every park and all across the desert there are so many ravens! Until next time…. Remember not all who wander are lost. Some are just enjoying the ride.