I completed an 8-mile hike just outside of Boulder City, Nevada. The trail passed through 5 historic railroad tunnels and skirted Lake Mead before arriving at Hoover Dam.
Railroad Tunnels
The trail followed one segment of a 30-mile network of railroad lines built in 1931 so trains could be used to haul materials to construct Hoover Dam. Trains ran 24 hours per day hauling gravel, machinery, and supplies to the dam construction site.
 |
| Pale Rock Topped by Dark |
 |
| Forbidding Crags |
 |
| Shiny, Carved Rock |
 |
| Gray Rock |
 |
| Trail Approaches Railroad Tunnel |
 |
| View from within Railroad Tunnel |
 |
| Tunnel 1 Viewed from Tunnel 2 |
 |
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed
(these tiny wildflowers were scattered along the trail) |
 |
| Golden Suncup |
 |
Jarilla
(one type of bush that dotted the rocky hillsides) |
Hoover Dam
Completed in 1935, Hoover Dam uses the Colorado River to generate electricity for Nevada, Arizona, and California.
 |
Hoover Dam
(viewed from the Nevada side) |
 |
Colorado River
(above the dam) |
 |
Hoover Dam
(viewed from the Arizona side) |
 |
| Highway Bridge Above the Colorado River |
 |
| Flagpole & Statues |
Lake Mead
When full, Lake Mead is the largest reservoir by volume in the United States. Formed by Hoover Dam, it is a major recreation area for boating, fishing, and hiking. The lake and river provide water for drinking and irrigation in the Southwest.
 |
| Lake Mead |
 |
Saddle Island
(on the left edge) |
 |
Boulder Islands (middle)
&
Sentinel Island (beyond) |
 |
Muddy Mountains
(beyond the lake) |
 |
Black Mountains
(beyond the lake) |
 |
Fortification Hill (flat edifice in the back)
&
Bathtub Ring (gray rock along the water's edge) |
Comments
Post a Comment