GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK

So we finally made it to Great Basin National Park and I have the new water bottle to prove it.  (I was tempted by the coffee cup but I already have enough of those.)  This map will give you a clue where GBNP is located.  Salt Lake City is in the upper right.  The town of Ely, circled in red on the left, is where we are currently staying.

As national parks go Great Basin is one of the smallest parks we have visited.  Perhaps the smallest as far as stuff to look at and photograph is concerned.  That's not counting the Lehman Caves.  We did not go into them.  Arlyene does not do caves. 

This park is smack in the middle of a state that is mostly kitty litter.  From that standpoint it is sort of out of place.  One cool thing is that you can drive to just over 10K feet and there is very little kitty litter at that altitude.  In fact, at that altitude all the trees are different than what we are used to from the Washington evergreen forests.  GBNP is also home to some of the oldest trees on earth, the Bristlecone Pines.  We started to hike the three miles up to the tree line where the Bristlecones reside however we did not take any water with us or anything to eat so I became concerned with possible low blood sugar issues.  Combined with the time of day we elected to turn back and the trees were another hour up the trail according to folks coming back down.  That just means we have to go back prepared for the hike.  I think we will.

Today the projected temp in Las Vegas was 105.  At 10K feet we enjoyed a cool 68 and a auroma of the trees was wonderful.  As National Parks go GB was not crowded at all.  There is not even a gate to go through to get in.  No fees.  What a bargain.  On the other hand it is really not on the way to much of anywhere unless you have already gone out of your way.