Great Basin National Park

My folks and I went to Great Basin National Park on a weekend to check out Lehman Caves.  It is right by Baker, NV which is a 3.5 hour drive from our home.

Lehman Caves were really cool and we took a tour in them.  They were big and I thought it was very interesting to see.

The tour guide took us through lot's of rooms.

We also met a nice group of nice people from Netherlands whom we gave our extra tickets to.  My brother and his family had something come up and couldn't make it.  It was nice to meet new friends during our tour.  They were so grateful for the tickets because the tickets were all sold out that day.  They were on a motorcycle tour through America.  I wish I can do that too.

My dad and I camped up at Wheeler Peak Campground at the top just below Wheeler Peak.  I was surprised that we got a camping spot.  There were people there but less than I thought it would be.  My mom and little sister drove an hour more west to Ely, NV to stay in a nice motel.  Everybody was happy.

I cooked this dish which I call "Daniel's Smash".  It had bratwurst, hamburger, potatoes, carrots, onions, and butter.  It was the best I could do for my new little stove I bought for 30 bucks for my birthday for myself.  It was nice to not cook in a fire but we still had a fire.  But not a good fire though.

The next morning, we ate french toast and I took off for a hike for Mt. Wheeler.  My dad stayed in camp.

It started as a very mellow climb on the trail through the trees for like the first 3 miles maybe, then when I got towards the peak more, all there were was rocks and gravel.

The rocky part was also steeper.  As I got higher and higher, the more steeper it got.
The last half mile to the peak was really hard and I thought about quitting but I kept going because I kept telling myself this was a once of a lifetime deal.

Looking west with all the windmills down the bottom.  Nevada had nothing there.  Just desert and mountains.

I made it at the top!  I did it.  It was amazing too.  I'm glad I did make it up the top because the view was worth it.

Looking south.

Looking north, the campground and Stella Lake is at the bottom in the trees.

A mailbox that consisted a notebook with people's signatures and an empty plastic bag that said, "my brother's ashes".  I thought it was neat.  There was no pen in there so I couldn't sign it.

It was so beautiful and it was also cold up the top at 13,000 feet.  That was the first time I climbed a mountain that high!  It was a good motivated weekend for sure.