To Pahrump, NV

Day 19   April 24, 2015

Today was vehicle check up day and laundry.  Luckily the afternoon was rainy and windy.  Thus, nothing of any consequence happened.  We did check weather for the next day or two.  This was not really encouraging; the weather predictions are for wind increasing and possibility of rain.   There was some question as to the route we should take.  Because of the possibility of snow above 8000’, we chose the most southern route, since it did not have that great of elevation.

 

Day 20   April 25, 2015

Backside of Zion

Early up and ready to go before day break.  Since our campground did not have good lighting, we waited on daybreak.  Our destination today was Pahrump, NV.  This is a town about 60 miles from Las Vegas toward Death Valley.  As we traveled were very happy that we had chosen the southern route. 

Rock Mountains

As we entered Nevada we began a 3500’ decent through some spectacular ROCK mountains.  The road was being worked on for several miles so we were forced into single lanes (that were extremely narrow). 

Single Narrow Lanes

Luckily there was no wind at this point.  However, just as we leveled out into the flat desert area east of Las Vegas, the winds began to pick up and continued for the rest of the day.  Passing through Las Vegas was eye opening to us.  We had been there about 20 years ago and driving through today we could tell that LV had grown considerably.  Leaving LV for Pahrump, we were looking forward to a nice simple drive.  Surprise, surprise.  There was a major mountain that we had to overcome.  This became the most difficult mountain that we had driven this trip.  Well, we made it.  Now we were in the desert of western Nevada.  What makes a desert a desert?  The lack of rain is the first thing.  The folks over here should be patting us on our backs.  We brought rain and not just a little shower but a gully washer for nearly 5 hours.  Tomorrow Death Valley.