I first headed out from Bishop on Highway 6, the Grand Republic of the Army Highway. It spans the country, and begins/ends right here in Bishop, California, and goes east for 3205 miles and ends in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Went north along Chalfant Valley, through the irrigated alfalfa fields of Hammill Valley, over Montgomery pass, then across the desert to Tonopah. Had lunch at the Hometown Pizza ($7.99 all you can eat lunch buffet!). Good pizza, and very fresh veggies in their salad bar, which was a pleasant surprise.
I stopped by the Central Nevada Museum, which was closed, but had old mining equipment and buildings you could walk through, so I did that.
Headed back home the same way, with no issues, other than it was warm in the desert, cold going over Montgomery pass. And although it's open range, I didn't have any cows or horses wander onto the highway, so that was good...
Had a fun trip, so enjoy the photos!
At the western origin of Highway 6, on the north city limit of Bishop, California. Only 3205 miles to Provincetown, Massachusetts!
Just north of Bishop on Hwy 6, looking west to the Sierra crest. You can see the large wave of granite and snow that towers over Owens Valley. The local gravel plant is in the background.
Looking north along Hwy 6. Those mountains to the right are the White Mountains, which sit along the border between California and Nevada.
Just looking east across one of the irrigated alfalfa fields in Hammill Valley. That's White Mountain peak, in the White Mountains, on the horizon. It's over 14,000 feet in elevation, making Owens Valley the deepest valley in the US,wtih 14,000 foot pea
That's Boundary Peak, the northernmost peak of the White Mountains, and sits near the California/Nevada border, hence the name.
Just the GTV at the Boundary Peak turnout.
At the California/Nevada border, near the top of Montgomery pass.
At the top of Montgomery pass, elevation 7167 feet. The pass will take you over the White Mountains into the expanse of the Great Basin, and Nevada desert.
At Montgomery Pass, there used to be a small community, now abandoned. This is the old Boundary Peak Lodge, now closed and abandoned.
This is the old "Soper's Montgomery Pass Hotel & Casino." It closed in the early 2000's, and the building burned down (suspected arson) in 2010. All services are now gone, and no one lives in Montgomery pass anymore. There is a CalTrans s
This is the Grefco mine operation, in Basalt, NV, on the east side of the White mountains below Montgomery pass. You can see the snow-covered Boundary Peak in the background.
It's a long, dusty, road through the Nevada desert to Tonopah. Sort of looks like that scene from "Forrest Gump" when he's running across the country...
Stopped for a drink alongside the desert stretch of Highway 6.
Skipping ahead many miles, to the rest stop about 13 miles from Tonopah. It's a welcome oasis, with shade, water, and bathrooms!
This is the Crescent Dunes large scale solar plant outside of Tonopah. It's the first utility-scale solar plant using molten salt energy storage. Melting about 70,000,000 pounds of salt takes two months. Once melted, the salt stays melted for the life of
Pulling into Tonopah, you can charge your Tesla vehicle at the recharging station. Who'd have thought?
Before getting to the Tesla charging station, you'll find this monument to those lost in mining accidents over the last century...
And, of course, there is the famous Clown Motel, dubbed the "creepiest motel in America." Can't visit Tonopah without stopping by to marvel at its cheesiness.
It's a little run-down, with lots of junk piled up next to the office...
Parked at the Clown Motel, you can see the old town cemetery next to it. Creepy, right?
