United States 2005

Volcanic zone used in the 60s to prepare astronauts for Apollo lunar missions. This area runs along Highway 6 about 100 km from Tonopah.

the Lunar Crater Back Country Byway) is really very nice, the scenery indeed comes from another planet...

The Lunar Crater

detail of the crater rim

Lots of basaltic rocks around

In the background, the lunar lake, that someone I won't name is trying to fill........

The "Easy Chair" crater

Arrival in the evening, at Lower Lehman Creek campsite (OOHH a grill !!!)

The next morning, we begin our last "nature" hike (because the city-hikes of Salt Lake and New York await us...).

Half of the walk takes place in the forest, which allows us to make new encounters... (these are again mule deer that we have already crossed)

Halfway, we enter a Bristlecone pine forest. Bristlecones (Pinus longaeva) have a record lifespan and are the oldest trees in the world according to the park.. Some have happily exceeded their 4,000th birthday.
Others are already dead but have remained in place for several centuries.

Arrival at the (small) glacier of Wheeler Peak (highest peak in the park)

PANORAMIC

A little bit of botany...

On the way, a magnificent view of the Great Basin plain where levitates above its shadow, this gigantic cloud (well now it must be gone...);

Lake Teresa

We leave Great Basin with a last farewell to the mule-deer. Well yes, they too are sad to see us leave...

200 kilometers before Salt Lake City, we make a small stop to take pictures of this typical small American town

Everything is huge in the United States, so the streets too

A Mormon church "Jesus-Christ Church" very common in Utah

THE TYPICALS PHOTOS !!!