Minden, NV
While taken on the way north from Bridgeport on US395 in a broad pass called Devils Gate (elev: 7519'), it includes information on a future Presidential candidate as well as U.S. and California history.
A great many of the north-south valleys on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada look like this one next to SR89 as it climbs toward Monitor Pass.
A lightning-caused fire to the east of Colville. It's difficult to shake what I learned with the US Forest Service in the late 50s and early 60s: "Put Everything Out." [The Indians knew better; and in the last 20 or so years the USFS has decided to follow their examples.]
Note the dedication date for Monitor Pass: 9-12-54 -- and that's 1954, not 1854. Incidentally, the climb from the east to the pass is not for the faint-of-heart, for there are only snow-season markers to stop one from rolling a long ways if he veers off of the road.
Heenan Lake, where there are apparently four species of trout in fairly large numbers. There was one party of two out on a small rubber raft.
As you can see from this whiteboard, there are not only quite a few fish in this modest-sized lake, but they are c20". It would appear that Heenan has a high growth rate as do Crowley and Eagle Lakes, both of which are know for large trout.
This photo was taken on Sunday morning as I motored toward Carson Pass (elev: 8573'), which is just to the right of the mountain with snow in the distance.
After driving over the top of Carson Pass and discovering no parking places (there's a USFS Ranger Station on the west side just short of the top), I returned to a Vista Point and took the photo to the right of Red Lake.
Panning to the left one can see not only the gradual ascent to Carson Pass but signs of more work. Assuming the west side of Carson Pass is similar, it appears to be the best rout across the Sierra Nevada from Beckwourth Pass on the north to Tioga Pass in Yosemite on the south.
With no RV parks in the Carson Valley near Gardnerville or Minden, I drove NV207 toward Lake Tahoe. Here's a shot near Stateline into the setting sun of the lake and the mountains on the far side in California. [Click 1 or 2 times to zoom in.]
On SR89 not too far from Luther Pass (elev: 7735') looking toward a couple of peaks I had not photographed earlier in the day. They look a bit like watch caps that have not been folded; call it the "Brown Smurf Look."
Even though it was closed for the season, I spent the night near the Crystal Springs USFS CG; should have had ear plugs, for the gravel trucks hauling rocks to/from the top of Carson Pass were only c75 yards from the level ground where I parked.
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Links:
- Wikipedia article on the Carson Valley
- Wikipedia article on Carson Pass
M 26 Sep Actual Route: Crystal Sprs CG - Minden - Garnderville - Davis Crk RV Park
T 27 Sep Actual Route: Davis Crk RV Park - Reno - Lemmon Valley - Panther Valley RV Park
W 28 Sep Actual Route: Panther Valley RV Park - Reno - Sparks - Pyramid Lake - Wadsworth - Fernley
Th 29 Sep Route: Fernley - Wadsworth - Reno - Truckee
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Finding Campgrounds:
- RV Campgrounds from TrailerLifeDirectory.com
- Family Camping Directories from Woodalls.com
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