We drove to Great Basin through some of the most remote country we had seen so far. There were a few ranches over the 80+ miles between I-15 and the park, but that was about it.
We did the park before we went to our motel, since the motel was about 6 miles off the paved highway, and we weren't sure we wanted to drive it more that we needed to. (I turned out that the road was in very good shape.)
We did get to see another bristlecone pine, but this one was at the Visitor Center. The road up to the top of Wheeler Peak was closed at about 10,000 feet due to snow, so we couldn't get up to the groves of the pines. This one was transplanted, and according to the rangers, is only about 30 or 40 years old...
Here are a couple of views of Wheeler Peak from the turnaround point.
Another view of Wheeler Peak (to the right of the old car).
Another view of the car, toward the east and the flat plains. I'm guessing it was much greener than normal when we were there.
Note the interesting metal sculptures above Susie in this shelter about ranching in the area....
This is the entrance to the "hotel". It is a very pretty canyon, but definitely in the middle of nowhere...
The creek flowing through the canyon. The building in the background is the motel that had about 15 rooms. It was nice, but very isolated - no wifi, no cell phone, no TV...
Link to next post: 6/16 - To Glenwood Springs
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