We Can See For Miles And Miles And Miles And Miles...

Wednesday, June 26
Day 8

We had made it to our destination, Great Basin National Park in good time. We still had plenty of daylight left and time to set up and explore the region. There is no entrance fee to Great Basin National Park like there is to other National Parks. However, there is a fee for camping, $15.00 a night. However, for a person holding a Senior Pass, it was only $7.50 a night. We got a lovely site, #18 which is a

handicapped site. It was quite large and spacious. It was located right next to a rushing creek which was lovely. 

We got the tent set up and the site squared away then drove up the mountain to the snowline.

Our inverter to blow up the bed

Home away from home

From there we could see for miles. Christie went for a little hike and came back with a small bristlecone pine cone.

The trees there are over 3000 years old. We went on to check out the best places for some astrophotography later that night.  It was very windy and quite uncomfortable as we were over 11,000 feet up in altitude. 

We came down the mountain and decided to go check out the lower campground down in the valley. After doing so we felt we found the best place for us and were quite satisfied with our selection. 

We went into Baker to get some potatoes and bell peppers and went back to our camp and fixed dinner of sausages, fried potatoes, bell peppers, and onions.  Boy, it sure did smell good, tasted good too.

Christie got all her photography equipment together and checked out. We got our warm weather gear on, Hats, gloves, scarves, coats. socks, boots and long fleece pants on.

Up the mountain, we ascended at 11pm. On the way up we saw jackrabbits, deer, and other small animals. Once we got to our vantage point Christie got out of the car and got everything set up to start taking pictures.  I stayed in the car to keep the dogs' company and to keep warm.  The wind was blowing pretty good.  Christie came to get me and I got to see what she was shooting and boy oh boy! What a sight!

After staying there for about half an hour we left and came back down the mountain.  It is the kind of drive that is nerve-wracking in the daytime, can you imagine it at night! We got back to our campsite and hit the rack after walking the dogs.  I was ready and passed out. Christie stayed up and got more night shots from our campsite. 

Christie seemed to be quite pleased with what she got. She is getting pretty good with her night shots.