What I learned about Nevada...

[sisterpine]

As you might recall DH and I went to Tucson to see my family and buy stuff at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. On the way back we traveled bottom to top in eastern Nevada. I had asked if we had any homesteaders in that state but it seems we do not.

Easter Nevada has quite a few mountains the highest being about 13k feet tall! South eastern Nevada is just flat, dry looking and treeless land. We did see the occassional dead rabit LOL. Not much in the way of towns once you got away from the Colorado River area. And all of the land within 5 miles of the river is government owned (go figure).

Eastern Central Nevada had a town called Calentie that I thought I could live in. Up higher in elevation about 6000 feet and the highway ran right through the little town. The town had red sandstone looking clifts on each side with rolling hills in the back and a small river running through the area.

After we left Callientie we continued north and drove on some of the straightest and flatest highways I have ever traveled (and i have been through Oklahoma!) No towns just huge HUGE ranches with cows and sheep- some of the grass looked good even though there is a drought currently.

We finally made it up to the area of ELY, WELLS and JACKPOT- all gambling towns with small casinos etc. They were decent towns and seemed to be growing slowly but I did not see anything in the way of small farms or steads. Will have to do some more research on the aquafer if there is one as these towns and ranches were getting their water somewhere.

Over all we decided to just stay in frozen Montana for the time being. Sis

[FrankTheTank]

What was the weather like? Was there snow anywhere down low or was it all in the mountains? Did you find the drive interesting/or would you have rather flown over it @ 600mph in a 757? I'm tempted to go out that way (more likely Utah, but maybe down into Nevada this spring...maybe...

[insocal]

Originally Posted by sisterpine

As you might recall DH and I went to Tucson to see my family and buy stuff at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. On the way back we traveled bottom to top in eastern Nevada. I had asked if we had any homesteaders in that state but it seems we do not.

Easter Nevada has quite a few mountains the highest being about 13k feet tall! South eastern Nevada is just flat, dry looking and treeless land. We did see the occassional dead rabit LOL. Not much in the way of towns once you got away from the Colorado River area. And all of the land within 5 miles of the river is government owned (go figure).

Eastern Central Nevada had a town called Calentie that I thought I could live in. Up higher in elevation about 6000 feet and the highway ran right through the little town. The town had red sandstone looking clifts on each side with rolling hills in the back and a small river running through the area.

After we left Callientie we continued north and drove on some of the straightest and flatest highways I have ever traveled (and i have been through Oklahoma!) No towns just huge HUGE ranches with cows and sheep- some of the grass looked good even though there is a drought currently.

We finally made it up to the area of ELY, WELLS and JACKPOT- all gambling towns with small casinos etc. They were decent towns and seemed to be growing slowly but I did not see anything in the way of small farms or steads. Will have to do some more research on the aquafer if there is one as these towns and ranches were getting their water somewhere.

Over all we decided to just stay in frozen Montana for the time being. Sis

My dad was from Ely and I know the area well. We used to visit my grandparents on their ranch in the Snake Valley/Baker, out by Wheeler Peak. There are a couple of old homesteads out there tucked into the mountains that I would LOVE to get ahold of and fix up, but it's too remote and I have no idea how I woud support myself...............I guess I could write about it and become famous and rich, lol.

[Explorer]

Most of that area is very arid, way to dry for farming activities. There are lots of medium sized ranches around Ely, especially to the south away from the gold minging areas.

I take it you did not stop in any of the old silver mining towns that are a short distance off the highway. I had lunch in one of those , the name escapes me, a few years ago. I was undergoing a renewal from tourist trade by CA folks moving in and starting small tourist orientated businesses.