2017 Utah Road Trip

March 15, 2017 - Los Alto Hills to Auburn CA

• Horrible traffic through San Francisco - worst ever!  So instead of being an hour early, I was just on time to pick up Lucia Manning/Olson at the Sacramento Airport.  She looked a little older, a little wrinklier, and acted a lot more hyper.  Amazing life story: husband killed at the operating table; depression’ alcoholism; brain aneurism that caused a partial paralysis of her left side and years of physical therapy; getting ripped off of her worldly possessions by some bad guy; now living in a room at the grace of a friend.  But her daughter (had dinner with both) was lovely, lively, and engaging.  When Lucia heard that there was a gold mine in the family, she decided she wanted to work the tailings.  Also she’s starting to keep bees.  What a girl!

• Took in a movie (“Get Out”) before bedding down at a Motel 6 for about $60.  Good old Booking.com saved me about 30%.

March 16, 2017: Auburn CA to Bishop CA

Drove Hiway 49 for the first time ever - lovely drive, nobody on the road.  Stopped at Sutter Creek (?) to visit the site of the first discovery of gold by Marshall, which led to the California gold rush.  Then over Hiway 50 - amazing amount of snow (this year was a big one for snow), down to 395, and a long stop and some hiking at Mono Lake.  Bishop for the night.  Walked the streets before going to bed, gazing at the the photos in Mountain Light (?), Galen Rowell’s store.  Another Motel 6.  Another $60.  Couldn’t take a shower because the water was too hot, and couldn’t be turned to cool - a first.

Over Highway 50

Photos from Galen Rowell's Store, Bishop, CA

March 17 2017: Bishop CA to Glendale NV.  

Good old Death Valley.  I hadn’t visited since passing trough with the family and Phoebe II so many years ago.  This time I came in from the East, stopping briefly at Rhyolite, then hiked around Zabriskie Point and drove to Dante’s View, both for the first time.  Much nicer than I expected.  Lots of photos.  Pretty damn hot though, especially in my Patagonia shirt and jeans.  Night at a motel on the side of the road - pretty scruffy from the outside, but good hot water, towels, shampoo.  Washed my underwear and Patagonia shirt.  Meal at the only restaurant in this truck stop, but pretty tasty.  

March 18, 2017: Glendale NV to Cathedral Gorge State Park, Nevada

• Headed north on 93 in hopes of visiting Rainbow Canyon and Cathedral Gorge state park.  Stopped for a break (and to begin these notes) at a lovely lake in the Pahrenaget National Wildlife Refuge.  The nature walk from the information center was a dud, however.

• The Gorge was terrific: wonderful mostly white formations of all sorts, some very narrow slot canyonettes, very few tourists.  When I returned to my camping spot after my walks, it was occupied by a truck and the large Winnebago it hauls.  After discussing with the owner, it appears my reservation slip had blown off the clothespin that was holding it (not a surprise, considering how windy it was).  But no problemo: my new neighbor moved his truck to make room for my Honda, and I pitched my tent in a lovely spot.  

• Slept for 10 hours (!), wakening 2-3 times for the requisite pee-pees (into my titanium mug, then dispensed with a toss onto the ground surrounding my tent).  12 hours!  I was only sleeping around 6 before I began this road/hiking trip.  Go figure.  Tried my new Western Mountaineering sleeping bag for the first time, and it si oh so comfy, and not too warm.  However, it is slippery, and it actually slid off my air mattress at one point.  Maybe I need to get a mattress that prevents this?