| 22 may 2001 | oasis A little overwhelmed by the whole Vegas scene, I decided to take a day trip into the desert. Mom and Kelli's flights left early on Thursday morning, and I wasn't due to fly back until 10:00 that night. I was intrigued to look into the distance and see mountains--so I decided to see them for myself, up close. Therefore, off I went to Hoover Dam! I booked myself with an early-morning day trip group, comfy bus ride included. Normally, I don't care too much for herd tourism, but frankly I was tired and sore from walking (and walking) in 100-plus degree city heat. It would be good to get away from all of the blinking and dinging, and see the other reasons people have been flocking to this area over the past ten years. It's pretty. It's really pretty out there. Broad landscape, huge blue sky, and three inches of rain per year. While it's not the sort of place I could live comfortably, I can certainly see the appeal if you dig hot weather. The bus ride to Hoover Dam, which took about 35 minutes, was gorgeous. It was strange for me and the other East Coasters, though, because you're struck by just how stark everything looks. I live in a green, lush, area. You have to look up to see sky--not just across the landscape. Highway exits were also kind of jarring to my leaf-saturated eye. You can see everything from the exits out there! Here, you can't see squat unless the golden arches are jacked up about 200 feet above the trees. Toward Boulder City (the only Nevada City to outlaw gambling), you start to see the real scenery--canyons. Lots of canyons. Either for good or ill (ill if you're in the bus window seat), the highway skirts them. You get a fine view--straight down, or up, depending on that mile of landscape. On occasion, you might see a bighorn sheep. But for the most part, it's sagebrush, basalt and iron ore hills, and a few extinct volcanoes. I found it similar to some of Iceland's interior, although Iceland is a bit greener because of all their rain. Finally, we drove down into the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Colorado River area. Jaw dropped. Trying not to look down. Oooogh. Noted as one of America's seven wonders of civil engineering, Hoover Dam is one of the most mind-boggling things I've ever seen. Ever ever. Built in the 1930s to provide power to the seven states that share the Colorado River (the L.A. area gets most of it), it's a whopper. I got to go inside, see the generators, and stand directly above one of the diversion tunnels that funnels some of the Lake Mead back down into the river. There, I felt the Colorado rumbling below my feet as I stood 500 feet below ground. Our tour guide was good, providing us with lots of info for those of us who were listening. It's way too much info to detail here, but I was surprised at some of the facts. Hoover Dam is built as if with Legos--thousands of concrete pours locked together like toy blocks. When I got back up to the surface, I strolled on the top bridge, from which you can either overlook the Dam or Lake Mead. Now, I don't normally have much problem with heights. But gazing directly over the edge of Hoover Dam, like it's a giant slide smack into the river, would make anyone a wee dizzy. This place practices Darwinian tourism. That is, there's really no protective barrier between you and AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Oh, sure, there's a waist-high wall there, but that's it. You lean too far on that wall, and it's bye-bye tourist. I've got some photos up here, both with the watch and the PenCam. But unless you're in a helicopter with a wide-angle lens, there's no capturing Hoover Dam. Even the postcards can't do it justice, so I bought the Viewmaster reels. 3D souvenir, yep. So would I return? You bet, but probably not to Las Vegas proper. I want to go back and hike around the Grand Canyon and some of the other parks out there. If you've never seen it, Vegas is definitely an eyeful. People are super-friendly, there's lots to do, and you've got gobs of gorgeous places to escape if you like. If you're on your way out there, I would definitely advise bottled drinking water. There's nothing "wrong" with theirs, but I tasted sort of a chloriney overtone as compared to NC water. It's all in what you're used to, I suppose. And wear sunglasses--the ground reflection alone will make your eyes water in minutes. Finally, bring cab money. The hotel that looks two blocks away--uh...no. Remember, desert. There's a reason they call it the Mirage. |
