On Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 we left Mesquite under ominous skies, and followed Hwy 170 along the Rio Virgin as did Alonzo and the Pomeroy Group. The Muddy River replaced the Rio Virgin and eventually empties into the present day Lake Mead, a man-made lake south of Las Vegas.
Click on photos for a larger image
Since we had a short-drive-day we decided to visit the Valley of Fire, a Nevada State Park.
In the 1930s the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) built some cabins, for travelers passing thought the area, out of the native limestone.
The landscape is truly remarkable and the colors, even on a dreary day, were brilliant. It is estimated that the valley was occupied from about 300 B.C. to 1150 A.D. Native Americans using the area range from the Basket Maker People and later the Anasazi Pueblo Farmers. Water is scarce in the valley so their stays would have been limited. Some excellent examples of Ancient Native American petroglyphs can be seen in various locations.
Mouse’s Tank was named for a renegade who used the area as a hideout in the 1890’s. It is a natural basin in the rock where water collects after rainfalls. Numerous examples of petroglyphs can be seen here
Emigrants passing this were unaware of the beautiful valley; they could not have navigated the terrain, and the lack of water would have made it an unattractive stopping place.
We spent a good part of the day exploring the Valley of Fire, and finally left as the light was fading. We had entered on the east side of the park from Hwy169, but exited on the west side. We drove on I-15 to Las Vegas where we managed to spend the night without seeing a single slot machine.
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