More Southwest Magic - Nevada and California

 I left my friends in Colorado feeling fulfilled, rested and contented but also looking forward to the next part of my journey - Gold Butte National Monument!  I had seen videos about this place and wrote to the Friends of Gold Butte almost two years ago to get more information.  What I knew is that the area if very large and filled with rutted and sandy roads that made a four wheel drive vehicle and absolute necessity.  Problem was, I don't have one!  I phoned Friends of Gold Butte who kindly arranged for Mike to take me there for a day.  Boy was it worth it!  It is very extensive and the roads are very bad and there is NO cell reception.  We actually encountered four people in a large newish truck with giant tires but their battery had died for some reason and they were stuck!  Good thing we came along as Mike had a battery charger in his Jeep!  They will/should be eternally grateful or they might still be there!  It's pretty remote but very beautiful.  The first 40 miles of road were done by the CCC in the 1940's and that part of the road is decent.  There is still other evidence of them being there.  They built a dam with a trough for local cattle - or donkeys? The dam developed a crack and it doesn't rain much in that area so it's no longer working but there is evidence in the form of stonework that's pretty cool!

Most likely used for tool storage

Our first stop was Little Finland, named because the rocks resemble fins - nothing to do with the country. The red rocks have their unusual and delicate shapes because they have been sandblasted by the desert sands over the years making them very unique and, in my opinion, just lovely!  Here are some examples:

 In addition to Little Finland, I wanted to see the only petroglyph of a falling man - at least as far as anyone knows.  There were many petroglyphs and one pictograph and, of course, the photos don't do them justice. Here are a few photos including the famous falling man.

Look closely for a tiny pictograph

 

 Okay, below is definitely worth checking out despite the not very good photo of the pyramid.  Still, an interesting story . . . any funny.

While we say donkey poo everywhere, we never did see a donkey.  However, the next day I found this trio in the town of Beatty, Nevada???  Why??

 After an amazing day at Gold Butte I spent the night camping near Valley of Fire and the next day through Death Valley (where I saw the donkeys above) to the Alabama Hills and Inyo National Forest under Mount Whitney before heading home.

The moon lighting up the mountains

Mount Whitney and the moon on a morning hike

Along 395 on my way home

 

 

Hope you enjoy until next time.  And hello Zoe!