I-80 Across the Great Basin

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  Wells, Nevada
Monday, April 11, 2011

Today we crossed the Great Basin.  We left Fernley under scattered cloud and sun and drove through increasing clouds and, close to mountains as we approached Wells NV, brief snowstorms.  The history and geology of the Great Basin is interesting and I will not try and cover it here.  The link I provide gives more info than I can.  It is literally a 'basin', collecting water that goes nowhere.  It receives only a limited amount of precipitation, mainly snow so much of it is desert.  Located just north of the Mohave desert, it covers much of Nevada.  As we crossed the state on I-80, the mountains were on the horizon to the north while the landscape to the south was flat, sandy or salt flats - a very desolate area.  It must have seemed a frightening barrier for settlers wanting to travel west.

The campground in Wells is old and predates the large RV units of today.  The sites are lined with mature trees and not all are trimmed to the height of newer units.  However, there doesn't appear to be a lot of choice in this area at this time of year, so, with care, it works for 'snowbirds' both Canadian and American.

We connected with the Roses here.  They have traveled up Hwy 93 on their way back from Yuma and feel that, although only two lane, it is a great alternate route for travel to and from the south.  It certainly avoids the mountain driving that can be quite snowy during the spring and fall seasons.

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