Over the past few years Kent and I have spent a lot of time exploring the area in and around Great Basin National Park in Nevada. This past week we stayed in a cabin near the park, it was perfect; within minutes we were hiking & fishing the streams. One day we headed for Gandy, Utah; it was an experience in itself. After 26 miles of dirt road, we arrived at the Ranch, unbeknownst to us it was home to a Tropical Fish Hatchery. The Rancher gave us a private tour of Crystal Ball Cave, it was a neat experience. Gandy is also the home of
Gandy Warm Springs, a natural spring that flows from a cave at a delightful 81°....Need I say more.... It was the perfect way to end our escape to "the middle of nowhere."
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| Chuck & Reita were our hosts at The Get Away Cabin in Baker, Nevada |
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| This is Chuck's firewood stand, he sells on the honor system |
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| We arrived early Wednesday afternoon and had time for a hike |
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| This has to be one of the tallest little trees I have ever seen |
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| We are headed for Teresa Lake and the Bristlecone/Glacier Trail |
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| Lehman Creek flows as we hike along |
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| At 13,063 ft. Wheeler Peak is seen from everywhere in the Park |
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| Theresa Lake |
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| We are entering the Bristlecone Forest |
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| The trees are all different & unique |
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| Bristlecone Trail |
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| This plaque tells about the tree in the next picture |
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| Can you imagine being 3200 yrs. old & still alive? |
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| If only these trees could talk |
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| Colorful Bristlecone bark |
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| We continued on towards the Rock Glacier |
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| There was still a little snow along the trail |
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| The Rock Glacier is directly behind us |
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| Spiny phlox |
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| Hiking is much easier when one uses the trails |
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| Heading back down the trail |
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| We are amazed at the abundance of streams in the Great Basin |
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| Water is precious and Las Vegas (SNWA) wants Great Basin water |
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| Which way shall we go . . . to the left, of course |
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| Beautiful sunrise from the cabin |
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| Horse with no name or mane, which ever you prefer |
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| Fence art is popular at the Great Basin |
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| This one grabbed my attention |
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| Ranching & farming are important to the local economy |
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| Lewis flax |
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| We are off to hike & fish along the Baker Creek Loop |
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| Baker Creek is really flowing fast |
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| Colorful foliage |
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| This hen turkey was calling to her chicks |
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| We continued along the South Fork of Baker Creek |
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| I caught this Brook Trout |
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| Parry's Primrose growing on a rock along the stream |
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| Enjoying the scenery |
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| The trail heads back into the aspens |
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| We weren't expecting to find this beautiful meadow |
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| Ladybug hiding in the grass |
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| A strange looking aspen |
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| Colorful Dark-throat Shooting Star flowers in the meadow |
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| There were a few streams flowing throughout the meadow |
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| Kent is fishing the South Fork of Baker Creek |
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| Success . . . a Bonneville Cutthroat Trout |
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| One of many footbridges along the trail |
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| Firecraker Penstemon |
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| Crimson Columbine |
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| We drove 26 miles of dirt road to reach Gandy, Utah |
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| Never would have thought we'd find a fish hatchery that raises African Tropical Fish clear out here, but we did |
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| Warm Creek flows through the ponds and tanks |
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| Colorful fish |
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| I guess you could call this a Fish Ranch |
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| Our destination is Gandy Mountain . . . home of Crystal Ball Cave & Gandy Warm Springs |
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| Jerald Bates leads us up to Crystal Ball Cave |
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| We first read about this place a few years ago |
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| Jerald unlocks the little door |
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| Cave popcorn |
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| Our first glimpse of the formations we will see in this cave |
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| Stalagmite |
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| Ladder up one of the chimneys |
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| Wedding cake . . . stalagmite & flowstone |
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| The Calcium Carbonate glows differently with LED and regular light |
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| A Column, Stalagmites, Stalagmites, Soda Straws and other fromations |
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| The cave was named after these Crystal Ball like formation found in the cave |
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| Stalagmites |
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| We did have to stoop in a few places |
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| We went up and down through the cave |
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| Beautiful crystals |
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| Horse hoof and bones found in the cave |
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| We are about to exit on the north end of the cave |
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| You must be able to bend over to enter and exit the cave |
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| Heading back down the trail |
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| Next stop . . . Gandy Warm Springs |
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| What an unbelievable sight in the desert |
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| The water flows into the pool from three different directions |
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| Our own private oasis |
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| Complete with a fern grotto |
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| Kent heading into the cave |
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| I'm inside the cave looking out |
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| View from inside the cave looking out a small opening |
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| Kent enjoying the Caribbean like water |
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| Peek-a-boo I see you |
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| The cave continues back quite a ways, we opted to stay safe & stay out of the tunnel |
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| The spring is about 82 degrees & fabulous |
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| What a relaxing way to end our stay at the Great Basin |
