Road Trip – 2025 – Day 2

We left home Tuesday morning and I shared photos in this post. It was getting late in the day when we got gas in Ely, Nevada and we took time to look at the map. We found a place to camp in the Ward Mountain Recreation Area a few miles out of town.

Campsite with picnic table in the middle. Juniper trees are around a brown tent and the car is parked in the front.

Here is the campsite in the morning. Dan was still in the tent.

High desert two-track road with sagebrush and juniper trees on the sides. Sun is shining on a mountain in the background.

I went for a walk as the sun was coming up.

Roadside sign that says Welcome to Utah.

We packed up and got to Utah about 9:30.

Sign describing the aerial tramway used by mining in Pioche Utah.

We got off the main highway to drive the original road through the mining town of Pioche. This sign describes the tramway, the remnants of which are still here on the east side of the road.

Remnants of the aerial tramway used by mines in Pioche Utah.

This is the tramway that facilitated movement of ore from higher up the mountain (behind us) to the valley below.

Remnants of ore tramway showing cart that carried ore down the mountain.

This is a closer view showing the cogs that held the chain or cable that carried the buckets. The structure that is on the horizon towards the left of the photo is one of the buckets still on the cable.

Our first stop where we planned to spend some time was Cedar Breaks National Monument. We checked out the visitor center first and then went for a hike.

Circular formation of rock layers in red tones at Cedar Breaks. Blue sky overhead.

All the views of the breaks are incredible. Do you notice that light spot just right of center on the bottom of the photo. It sure looked like a rock for the longest time.

Then I saw it for what it was – a hole through that wall. I still see it as a boulder part of the time.

Layers of red rock across the canyon at Cedar Breaks. Other colors are almost white to purple.

Closer up view showing the colors in the rock walls.

Marmot holding stem of plant with white flowers.

Marmot along the trail.

View of red rock layers across the canyon at Cedar Breaks National Monument.

View of the ridge where we had been walking.

Horseback rider on palomino horse with dog following and flock of sheep in the background.

We left Cedar Breaks to get to Bryce Canyon before night. Flock of sheep and their herder along the road.

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