Home, To Jack Pot NV

Stan:

Left home for Alaska this morning. After all the fuss and bother I went through for two weeks, we got off to a good start.

The drive was uneventful but easy on the eyes. The countryside for the entire drive was green, green, and just plane green. This past winter has been the wettest in years and all the plants are responding with a vengeance. Almost like there trying to grow enough this year to last for several seasons to come. Anything that could bloom, has, and maybe twice. We’ve driven Highway 93 several times but I can’t recall ever seeing the lushness of this years growth.  From Dammeron Valley on, the roadside is bursting with many varieties of grass growing as tall, or taller than the sage brush, and a virtual bouquet of wild flowers.

An example of the exuberant growth is north of Wells NV. The hills are covered with wild flowers, reminding us of the Gorman area in California during the wild flower season.

As we predicted, we got rained on, probably not for the last time this trip.

Johnna:

Left home at 7:30 AM MST. The further north we went on UT-18 the vegetation became greener and greener. By the time we got to Enterprise, the roadsides were as green as they had been at home a month ago. The cedar and pinion were very lush going over the summit to Panaca. The primrose, lupin, and various yellow wildflowers were in bloom. Stopped in Panaca to stretch our legs and walk Sheila. North of Pioche the cliff rose was in full bloom. The grass in Lake Valley was belly high to the cattle and horses pastured there. Even the mountain sides were green up to the snow line (about 8,000 ft.). Never have seen this high desert so lush. Still a lot of snow on Wheeler Peak. Every low spot in the valley was covered with water. Guess that’s why they call it Lake Valley.

The vegetation was not so lush after crossing Connors Pass into the Steptoe Valley. Stopped in Ely to fuel up and proceeded on. There was a lot of snow melt running into the valleys. The Ruby Mountains south of Wells were still covered with snow. North of Wells, the vegetation began to green up again. The wildflowers were at their peak. Several shades of yellow from very pale to almost orange; also flox from pale pink to dark lavender. The mountain sides looked like they had been painted with a giant paint brush.

Ran into rain showers as we descended into the Salmon Falls Creek Valley. Wish we could have bottled the scent from the Sage Brush. Arrived at Jackpot, NV at 3:30 PM MST. Found a site to hook up in the RV Park next to Cactus Pete’s Casino.