Great Basin National Park
My 31st National Park
August 18, 2023
And onward to the second national park during this short trip: Nevada’s Great Basin National Park. This park, which is also an International Dark Sky-certified park, has such a diversity of offerings… the chance to step into a glacier, an emerald-hued alpine lake, caves, tremendous conifers, towering cliffs and rock formations, ancient Bristlecone pines and, of course, the stars.
Firstly I would set up camp at the tent-only Grey Cliffs campground.
I was surrounded by desert shrubs and blackened trees.
But I had the seclusion I wanted… again, I’d have to contend with the cloud cover. My whole itinerary would be impacted by Hurricane Hilary, which was hitting San Diego and pushing all kinds of terrible weather my way. But I just knew I’d see stars. I can’t explain it really. I just knew…
But I’d partake in some scenic gawking first. Such a mix of trees…
That is Wheeler Glacier in the distance…
On my way to the alpine lakes
The first was not as beautiful; her name was Stella Lake.
Teresa Lake was very pretty!
A Bristlecone pine
Almost done with this trail, I stopped to commune with some fluttering butterflies.
Sunflowers…
The grey cliffs around my campsite
Waiting for the sun to go down…
Tent time… writing postcards and making lists
Finally, a nice show for sunset. This let me know that the stars would be showing their faces…
Goodnight for now…