About 9,000 feet up this morning on the north side of Mt. Charleston. Yes, we felt the altitude on the little stroll to the viewpoint. The Desert View Overlook has incredible peaceful views of the Mojave Desert and the valley below. During the atomic era, this was apparently a popular spot for watching bomb detonation.
It was a beautiful easy drive, and as you gain elevation the desert floor turns to foothills dotted with Joshua trees, which transition to pine and aspen forests and huge rock formations. The air was brisk and chilly. It boggles the mind considering The Strip is less than an hour away from this wilderness wonderland.
None of the scenery rang a bell in my memory. Is it possible that after dozens of trips to Las Vegas, this was the first time up Mt. Charleston? It's a huge recreation area, with camping, miles of trails, cabins and resorts. The biggest attraction of all is winter snowfall, which brings the valley residents up the mountain in droves to ski and play.
On the way home we had a nice brunch at the EggWorks. Thank you, Dad- I'm getting spoiled with all this restaurant food.
Back to Seattle tomorrow morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment