Valley of Fire
North Las Vegas Travelog #6
Valley of Fire State Park - Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 9:30am
Today was another day of getting up early. I'd say Ugh to getting up at 6:45am twice in a row on the weekend- tomorrow it'll be three in a row when we do the same on the holiday Monday- but it's for a good cause. We're enjoying the great outdoors on our trip to Las Vegas. Especially now, in February, when temperatures in the desert are moderate. Highs are forecast around 63-65° F (17-18° C).
Our trip today is out to Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park. It's about an hour north of Las Vegas. A small, brown sign next to one of the exits on I-15 is all that tells travelers zooming past at 80mph that there's something here. I remember the first time zooming past that sign 20+ years ago, thinking, "Looks like nothing's here." And I was right.... Nothing is there, along the highway. But nestled in a valley 10 miles east is something amazing.
The brightly colored sandstone of Valley of Fire is an ancient seabed. 200 million years ago this desert was an inland ocean. 50 millions years ocean floor rose, the water disappeared, and the sandstone began to be carved away by wind and rain.
These sheer cliffs and spires that put the red rocks on beautiful display are the result of geologic faults. Forces from deep within the earth caused the rock on one side of the fault line to rise and the other side to fall. The erosive forces of wind and rain have continued to carve away at the soft rock.
It's a good thing digital film is cheap because I've shot more than a roll worth before even getting to our first hiking trail today.
And most of that roll+ worth of digital film I've shot through the car's windshield or by holding my hand out the window while driving. It's so beautiful here it's just not possible to stop for everything!
Valley of Fire State Park - Sun, 19 Feb 2023, 9:30am
Today was another day of getting up early. I'd say Ugh to getting up at 6:45am twice in a row on the weekend- tomorrow it'll be three in a row when we do the same on the holiday Monday- but it's for a good cause. We're enjoying the great outdoors on our trip to Las Vegas. Especially now, in February, when temperatures in the desert are moderate. Highs are forecast around 63-65° F (17-18° C).
Our trip today is out to Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park. It's about an hour north of Las Vegas. A small, brown sign next to one of the exits on I-15 is all that tells travelers zooming past at 80mph that there's something here. I remember the first time zooming past that sign 20+ years ago, thinking, "Looks like nothing's here." And I was right.... Nothing is there, along the highway. But nestled in a valley 10 miles east is something amazing.
The brightly colored sandstone of Valley of Fire is an ancient seabed. 200 million years ago this desert was an inland ocean. 50 millions years ocean floor rose, the water disappeared, and the sandstone began to be carved away by wind and rain.
These sheer cliffs and spires that put the red rocks on beautiful display are the result of geologic faults. Forces from deep within the earth caused the rock on one side of the fault line to rise and the other side to fall. The erosive forces of wind and rain have continued to carve away at the soft rock.
It's a good thing digital film is cheap because I've shot more than a roll worth before even getting to our first hiking trail today.
And most of that roll+ worth of digital film I've shot through the car's windshield or by holding my hand out the window while driving. It's so beautiful here it's just not possible to stop for everything!