The Loneliest Highway

Summer usually means Road Trip! but alas that has not come to pass much with my lack of a permanent job. I went home to San Diego for Memorial Day and ended up staying there for most of the summer as I have been working as a Notary Public (or a notorious public as my dad loves to tease). It has been very interesting just to see many of the neighborhoods all over San Diego County and the ensuing real estate prices from the loan documents that I have notarized. The beginning of August did bring a surprise opportunity to go to Sacramento to work as an EFY Counselor for the last time in my life. Since most of my worldly possessions have remained in UT, I planned to drive there at the conclusion of camp to collect them. Everyone I know that drives from NorCal to UT complains of the tediousness of I-80. I have traveled that route as well and don't mind it, but desired a new option. While looking through my trusty atlas, low and behold, a new option presented itself! Well, not really new as it has been around for almost a hundred years, but new to me. This option that I wholeheartedly took is none other than US 50, aka "The Loneliest Highway." The section designated starts at Fernly, NV and ends in Ely, NV, a span of almost 300 miles with only 3 towns along the way. The longest distance between towns is 110+ miles. Lonely, indeed, is a great word to describe it, but only for its lack of passing cars. Beauty and open air though are aplenty. The highway traverses the basins and ranges of Nevada, with valley floors around 6000' and passes topping out over 7500'. Even though it is August, there is plenty of green and growth as plants are not baked in the searing heat of lower elevations. A few herds of cows blinked lazily as I sped past, but the idyllic landscape beckoned for further exploration that will have to wait for a different day. Abandoned mines coupled with a few remaining local hubs occasionally dot the landscape as well. The town of Austin particularly piqued my interest as it is set in a small canyon that requires some good switch backs to ascend out of. I originally desired to go through Great Basin and Lehman Caves, but it was quite dark by the time I even reached Ely, so I turned north towards Wendover, and on to Logan from there. It is a trip I recommend for those who truly wish to escape everything.