The Lost Art of a Lost State of Mind

As I make my way across the harsh basin floor near the Red Rock Valley in the wide open state of Nevada, breathe in the fresh mountain air and watch mindfully as my daughter treads along beside me, I can only appreciate the very fact that we can, in fact, traverse this countryside with a sense of peace. Peace not only in the sense of the revitalization one receives upon setting foot in such an arid land, but in the fact that one can, indeed, step out of their vehicle and know that something so beautiful, so intriguing and yet, so dangerous can exist to this day in a way where we can enjoy it freely without borders.

Nevada, known not only as the "Battle Born" state, but doubles with the song made famous by Bing Crosby and the Andrew Sister's, "Don't Fence me In", which directs the attention to the fact that the majority of the rugged state of Nevada is, in fact, without fences or at least claims to be.

Yes, there have been a few times we have hiked off trail and wandered upon some scarce fencing through BLM Land which was merely intended to keep the wildlife from entering the rural highways passing through. However, unless owned by ranches or, as expressed in the latter, the better part of Nevada is what is referred to as "open-range" and can be traveled freely for one to enjoy.

THRIVING OUTSIDE GLITTER GULCH

When a person realizes that I've resided in Las Vegas for nearly 17 years, they never fail to ask me if I enjoy visiting to the infamous "Strip". And, with every reply, I make sure to affirm that, with all due respect, Las Vegas is, in fact, a wonderful place to call home, even for families. Though I have enjoyed many trips down to the Strip with all it's glitter and glam, I can't get enough of exploiting what's actually going on in the desert around the city itself, to which not many even realize what's going on.

There are many, many attractive family communities with parks and recreation facilities at one's disposal, as well as museums, bike path's and community center's. But what intrigues the inquirer of what I love most about Las Vegas so much, is the fact that it's not really Vegas that I love. It's the location.

Location meaning not only the region, being in America's great tourist hub, nestled neatly between the corners of Arizona, California and Utah, but also the environment, itself. The weather, with it's "dry heat vs humidity" persona. The harsh, but thriving desert floor of the Mojave rising up around the city, slowly climbing into the breathtaking cliffs of Red Rock Canyon and upwards into the Alpine climate of Mt. Charleston. And let's not forget Boulder City which is a cultural icon of it's own, being home to the original families which helped build what was then known as Boulder Dam and further changed to what we now know as the Hoover Dam, looking out over the vast, deep waters of what could be referred to as pure, unadulterated, recreational bliss.

As expected with such a response, the person questioning is always, always captivated by this point replying, "You mean, there's more to do than just the Strip?" This is my favorite part. As if what I haven't already expressed hasn't bewildered them up till now, what I have to say next is almost entirely beyond their comprehension of what they "thought" Las Vegas should and has been claimed to be.

"Oh yes, it's much more than gambling and casino's! Wide open spaces to take your quad's, ATV's and Enduro's with trails that take you from the city to real ghost towns like Goodsprings...And boating on Lake Mead!", not only consist's of going out for a joy ride. The lake in all it's vastness is enormous, breaking into four arms which cover deep canyons with steep, rocky cliffs along the indecisive, but beautiful Colorado River. "Many times we have been out boating", I gleefully recall, "and hear a splash in the water, only to look up just in time to witness one of the local Bighorn Sheep testing gravity, it seems, alongside a sheer cliff!"

At full pool, Lake Mead can extend 65 miles from Pearce Ferry to Hoover Dam. Boasting a maximum depth of 532' and not to mention the flooded town of St. Thomas and, of course, that doomed Boeing B-29 which rests in a watery grave at the bottom of the lake since 1948!

I get excited when I refer to the many unusual, very unexpected and cultural splendors that this region holds, especially for someone who has no inkling of what's going on in the basin floor around Las Vegas's bright and glittering light's. To be able to shed some different perspective on such a cliched spot in our American history is always a delight for me. To share one's experience with such a pleasurable piece of this beautiful nation is what drives me across the keyboard. I've been told that, once you experience the desert, it will be in your heart forever. It will never leave you. Whoever realized this...was right. And with that, I say, "Thank you!"