Day 2 – The Long and Short of it

We got started just a little late (almost 6:30) after having a hot breakfast at the Brandin' Iron Inn. Traveling west/southwest from West Yellowstone, there was a lot more snow on the ground, and on the roads, compared to what we saw coming into West Yellowstone. It was slower traveling than I had hoped for. We saw a few rocks sticking out along the road, but nothing we could stop for––so we headed on to Idaho Falls and then south on I-15. The first stop was at a rest area on Hells Half Acre, a young basaltic lava flow. We walked the shorter loop of the lava trail.

We continued south toward Pocatello, heading west on I-86 then I-84 to the Twin Falls area and Shoshone Falls. It was gorgeous... but the only thing missing was the water––they took the water out of waterfalls!

Next we headed into town for a lunch stop at the Perrine Bridge visitor's center and overlook. We at some lunch in the parking lot, then took in the views.

We traveled south from Twin Falls on US-93. A little less than five miles from Nevada, we made a stop at a road cut exposing some black, glassy rhyolite that contains silica concretions known as thunder eggs––I think many thunder eggs were collected.

Then it was south to Wells, NV, and then east through Wendover and on to Salt Lake City. We were behind schedule because of some slow travel, and the Great Salt Lake State Park was closed. We tried to find a place where we could see the lake, but because the level was low, the shore was out a ways. It was out there––just hard to see in the photo. It's not the water that seems closer––it's more in the distance, toward the mountains on the horizon.

After driving through Salt Lake City and some very heavy traffic heading south on I-15, I suggested we stop for the night and get motel rooms rather than continuing on another two-plus hours in the dark... seeing nothing along the way. It will get us to Zion NP tomorrow a little later than planned, but not that much later compared to breaking down camp had we went on to stay at Minersville Reservoir campground as planned. We lose an hour tonight––that doesn't help!