RenoVous

 My Shots - Red Rock Canyon 500 million years ago, this area was at the bottom of an ocean basin.  The gray mountains are made up of Paleozoic limestone and dolomite. Then there's the Aztec sandstone, colored red from iron oxide or hematite. The spots are iron concretions, where subsurface water has precipitated iron oxide. Dinosaur tracks have been found in the sandstone, as well as petroglyphs.  There is a nearby spring that helped sustain Southern Paiute tribes living in the canyon. In the mountains you can see the results of the Keystone Thrust Fault.  When the oceanic plate began subducting the western edge of the North American plate, compressional forces caused the older limestone to be thrust up over the younger sandstone, so the limestone served as a cap which slowed erosion of the sandstone.

 Spring Mountain Ranch. The area has a long history of human-use, from Indigenous populations to travelers of the Spanish Trail, with ranching, and a little bit of Hollywood. Bill Williams originally established Sandstone Ranch.  There is a blacksmith shop built in the 1860's that is one of the oldest surviving pioneer structures in the state. In 1876, James Wilson and George Anderson filed a claim for a working ranch, with plans for cattle, sheep, and mining.  A later owner wanted to raise chinchillas. The main house there was built in 1948 by Chester Lauck, from the Lum and Abner radio show. After him, German actress and socialite Vera Krupp bought the property, and she is who gave its current name.  She sold to Howard Hughes in 1967, though he never actually lived here. In 1973, a developer wanted to buy the land and put in luxury condos.  The surrounding community protested, and the Nevada Division of Parks purchased instead.  In 1976, it entered the N...

  We took a walk around the river downtown. I love this old church building. Another day, we took the pups for a walk in Lockwood Canyon. Third dog is my sister's.

  We camped in the wide open desert outside of Black Rock City. The pups were curious about the train. The night life at Burning Man begins. The fireworks show. Burn, baby, burn.

 This photo is from August 10, when the Bug and Fred Fires were burning the backs of our valleys. It's pretty well contained now, but another fire started on Saturday. We were on the I-80 side of Peavine when it happened, and we could see the wind was pushing it up and over, so we went around to the 395 side. It was threatening the same valleys again, and did more damage. My sister was able to return home last night though. According to my Watch Duty app, this Hawk Fire is 15,000 acres and 27% contained. Definitely a bit hazy today.

  We had a great spot for camping at Lahontan. The event was put on by Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Nevada State Parks, and the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation. The day had some booths set up, but most people came out for the night - there was a band on that stage there, and all red lights only. Down the lakeside they had telescopes set up, but my night sight didn't catch that so well. The stars came out alright though. Tent View And the pups.

  Fresh out of the mountains off Highway 49. It's noted as an outdoor bath on the map, and there is a cold pool you can hop into if you so please. A fountain had been constructed as well, by a State Highway Foreman.

  Larry and His Flask came back to town after 8 years! Seriously, one of the best shows. Cool venue too. LAHF

  Sardine Valley. We're at the site of More's Station.  This was part of a lower route to the goldfields - after the Donner Party tragedy, people were more hesitant to use the higher pass. When silver was later found in Nevada, it remained a hub for back and forth travel, as well as a supply chain. The area later became Wheeler Sheep Camp, built and managed by a Basque immigrant.

  We took the Old US 40 route around Donner Lake and across the Yuba River. Then we found ourselves on the North Fork American River from Emigrant Gap.

  Father Crowley Vista Point before you start driving down, down, down. You hit sea level at Stovepipe Wells. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. We turned into the Harmony Borax Works site. Now below sea level. The mountains were seriously mosaic.