Desert Drive to Las Vegas - August 2002

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A short stop to view the domed landscape at Olmsted Point in Yosemite National Park. The back side of Half Dome can be seen in the background. A better view at the Half Dome peak to the right. It's a 9 mile hike to the top of the 8842 ft. dome (too be visited at another time). Exfoliation explained. Tenaya Lake near Toulumne Meadows. Mono Lake at the foothill of Tioga Pass where Highways 120 and 395 meets. Mono Lake is part of Long Valley Caldera. This 20 miles long by 10 miles wide caldera was created by a vulcanic blast 760,000 years ago. The eruption deposited ash as far east as Nebraska and created a huge oval-shaped debression, called a caldera. East Side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Mountain peaks from left to right: Flag Mtn (11,328 ft.), Mt. Baldwin (12,614 ft.), Mt. Aggie (11,561 ft.), McGee Mtn. (10,871 ft.). You can still see the snow at the tops of Mt. Baldwin and Mt. Aggie. Moraines are features left behind by receding glaciers. The jumble of rock and sediments at the foothills were once part of the mountains above. The tremendous pressure of moving ice crushed, ground, and bulldozed the rock debris downhill. View from the driver's seat on deserted Highway 168 between Big Pine and Oasis. Some sections of 168 that goes through mountain passes are really curvy -- the ultimate road for the ultimate driving machine. After a section of curvy mountain roads, the Highway opens up to cross an ancient dried out lake. Picture taken out the moonroof. No people, no cars, no civilization -- just the desert mountains and the road! Crossing the California - Nevada border! No checkpoint officers, just a cattle crossing! Welcome to the Silver State! Time to turn on the Elvis CD and head for Las Vegas! Petter stepping into Nevada terrotory to empty a few bottles of water. Bullet holes in the California sign. A last look back to California before continuing the drive into Nevada. Nevada Desert Landscape. Highway 266 betwen Lida and the Highway 95 intersection. Highway 266 through the Nevada desert landscape. Highway 395 south of Beatty. Just two more hours on the road before arrival in Las Vegas!

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