We got off to a late start this morning and drove North, crossing into Idaho and stopping in Twin Falls for diesel and groceries.  Thanks to a post on Technomadia, we decided to overnight at Magic Reservoir.  I can’t say we’re disappointed with the location:  

Not only do we have lakefront parking, but the weather here is blessedly cooler than what we’ve experienced since arriving in Las Vegas three weeks ago.  The forecast calls for lows in the high 40s, and highs in the high 70s tomorrow.  And this looks like an ideal PPG location to boot!  Maybe on Sunday….

Good Shabbos from Magic Reservoir, Idaho!  See the trip map for today’s drive and our current location.

This morning we woke up to our first view from our lakeside campsite at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge:

It’s pretty hot here, so we’re moving on this morning, but first we went for a short hike:

Continuing North, we arrived at Cathedral Gorge State Park.  I first visited this park as a junior high school student while on an OMSI summer trip.  I’ve wanted to come back ever since to revisit the amazing slot canyons here:

The formation is eroded volcanic ash.  Rains wear down the ash into spires:

In some places, surface water has eroded slot canyons into the formation:

The slot walls are about 50 feet high:

It does get narrow in spots:

Looking up:

The slot canyon walls have a variety of textures, depending on how much water flows over them during rain storms:

M found a tunnel:

I crawled through first:

The tunnel opened up into another slot canyon:

There was a rope that could be used to climb up to a hanging cave above:

Working my way back out of the tunnel.  It was a tight fit!

We managed to get on top of the formation, but we had to be careful to avoid falling into slot canyons below:

We found more canyons:

Walking around outside:

CCC water tower:

We all really enjoyed exploring the slot canyons here!

Continuing North, we arrived after dark at Great Basin National Park and overnighted on adjacent BLM land.  We had trouble finding a spot in the dark that would work, but it should do for just one night.

See the trip map for driving details.

Sorry, a little web humor there for you.

Today we said goodbye to my parents and drove North out of Las Vegas.  Here we are at sunset along the road:

We are overnighting in Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge.  There are dispersed campsites along the shore of one of the lakes in the refuge.  We arrived after dark, so I can’t say it’s pretty here, but I have my suspicions…

See the trip map for today’s drive.