Day 42 - Salt Lake City

(Ursula) I knew Salt Lake City was predominantly Mormon, but I had imagined they would somehow look different or stand out in some way. Turns out, I was completely wrong—they were just like regular people.

We parked the camper near the city center and explored on foot, checking out all the important landmarks.

The Mormon Temple was by far the most impressive. Inside, we were amazed by the massive pipe organ, and the sound quality was truly remarkable. Our tour guide even demonstrated its power by dropping a hairpin onto the Altar, and we could hear it clearly all the way in the back. Afterward, we visited the Utah State Capitol and Fort Douglas.

The 98-degree heat was still unbearable, so we headed to the lake to cool off. The highly saline water allowed our bodies to float effortlessly, providing a refreshing break. After a quick shower, we resumed our drive west. As far as the eye could see, we were surrounded by dry salt flats on both sides of the highway.

Once we crossed into Nevada, the landscape quickly turned into a sandy desert, which was neither fascinating nor enjoyable in the extreme heat. By late afternoon, we needed to find a place to camp, but camping in the Nevada Desert? No thanks!

We decided to veer off the main highway after Wells, following a narrow dirt road toward the mountains. The road began to climb, and soon we found ourselves in a State Park with a small, tranquil lake. At 11,000 feet, it was wonderfully cool up there.

The campground had drinking water and restrooms, and by the south shore, the lake was still frozen, with patches of snow visible on the surrounding slopes. The night was short but blissfully cool and peaceful.Read more