Hoover Dam

 

1. Las Vegas KOA at Sam's Town

Greetings and welcome back to my trip from California to Las Vegas. The trip on I-15 north through some fantastic scenic wonders and mountain vista were once again breathtaking. Traveling for miles up 6% inclines took me from 1,500 ft. elevations to ear-clicking 4,500 ft. Winnie performed well maintaining a  65 mph speed. Speed limits were 70 mph but the very strong gusty crosswinds buffeted me a good portion of the ride and forced the slowdown.  Gas stations were few and far between and that too, raised concerns. As you know, what goes up must come down. 

Beginning the descent, the signs indicating 6% steep grades "for the next 10 miles" were thought provoking as were the signs for truckers that announced both "Brake Checking Areas" and "Runaway Truck Ramps."

 These consisted of essentially a half mile stretch of gravel and loose stone
which would allow the trucks to become bogged down and slowed to a halt. 

That 289 mile drive cost me  $1.44 per mile. In my last blog I mentioned driving back to AZ to fill up with diesel for $4.79/gal before crossing over into CA. There I would be shocked by the $5.79/gal. Well, fast forward one week and my plan to travel I-15 through the mountains and the Mojave Desert on a full tank knowing the scarcity of "civilization" demanded a fill up. So, I bit the bullet and my first tankful of diesel in Corona, CA was $6.65/gal; this after a $.05/gal. discount. I thought I could make into NV to fill up again with cheaper prices. Alas, not meant to be. After that very long drive through "no-man's land," they knew they had you. Much to my relief a gas station appeared like a welcomed oasis mirage in the desert. I pulled in with a sigh of relief that quickly became a gasp of disbelief when I saw the sign: $6.99/gal...an increase of $.34 in just 180 miles between tanksful. And to add insult to injury, when I drove through Las Vegas, diesel was going for $4.69/gal.

Son, Chuck, had given me a heads up to watch for unusual looking lights on towers in the desert. Sure enough, about 45 miles out of Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert I passed the the world’s largest concentrating solar power (CSP) plant: The Ivanpah Solar Energy Facility, of which Google is a partner. Spanning 4000 acres of land, the plant generates enough energy to power 140,000 homes. 300,000 mirrors and lenses surround three, 450' high towers and that concentration of light is directed to and focused to a point that gives the on-looker a mesmerizing view.

My view from the road

An aerial view from the link provided below.

"Specifically, Ivanpah leverages “power tower” solar thermal technology to generate energy. More than 170,000 devices, know as heliostats, direct solar energy onto boilers fitted within the three power towers. Each heliostat consists of two mirrors, which concentrate sunlight onto the water-filled boilers to create high-temperature steam. The steam is then pumped to conventional steam turbines to generate electricity, which is then carried by transmission lines to power homes and businesses." For the incredible photos, CLICK HERE.

On the east side of I-15 lies the Mojave National Preserve.

My overnight stay in Las Vegas was fine but nothing to write about. It was actually a large parking lot for RVs, the majority of which were fifth wheels. The attractions nearby were so extensive, the campground was virtually empty of people. My next day's drive of 40 minutes to Hoover Dam was my purpose for stopping in Las Vegas.

First impressions on this leg of the trip with the barren
desolation of the landscape...

...was, once again, "Please don't let me break down or run out of gas."

I had to stop at the "Scenic Overlook." What could top the beauty I've
been seeing all these miles? Ha!

Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the world. When full, the lake would be 155 miles long. In 1865, the town of St. Thomas became the home for early pioneer settlers when Nevada first became a state. In 1938 the town was flooded as the waters of the new reservoir began to rise behind the Dam. All had to abandon and resettle. Because of the lowered water line, the town has become visible once again; an attraction for the curious. For scuba divers...and their guide, there's a B-29 Superfortress bomber from World War II waiting for them.  The bomber was engaged in high-altitude atmospheric research when it crashed into the Overton arm of Lake Mead on July 21, 1948. 

This large crow stopped by on the wall to feed on tidbits left by a visitor. Up close? Very large!

My next stop involved climbing the stairs to walk across the bridge for my first view of the Dam.

In 2005, the bridge was built to divert US Rte-93 traffic from going over the bridge for 
safety reasons and due to congestion. In the 1940's the security risks were
high prior to WWII and the road closed until 1945.

It is the longest single-span concrete arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere as well as the second-highest bridge of any type in America. The structure, which cost $114 million, is named for Donald Neil “Mike” O’Callaghan, a Korean War veteran and two-term Nevada governor during the 1970s and Pat Tillman, who gave up a professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army in 2002; he died in Afghanistan in 2004.

My "Wow" moment for the day. Spectacular!

Aside from the massive structure, one of the greatest civil engineering feats of all time, the water level left me speechless. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation states Lake Mead's water level has since dropped to 1,068.55 feet above sea level, leaving the reservoir about 35% full.  At the Hoover Powerplant, which funnels hydropower to Arizona, California and Nevada, the efficiency has declined by about 25%.

Seeing the parking area far below, I knew that's where I had to go and considered the walk from that area to where tours originated. It was a hike. First, however, at a security checkpoint cars and campers/RVs were separated. All my basement compartments had to be opened and checked as well as the interior of my RV. Then the long trip to that lot began.

The winding narrow road took me under the Memorial Bridge.

...past power transmission towers bringing electricity up from
the turbines down below. I will be taking that tour.

Approaching the roadway over the dam...1,244 feet long,

...the tower on the Nevada side showed the time at 11:10 a.m...

...as I approached the second tower...

...on the Arizona side, the time was 12:10 p.m.

Just like that, poof...an hour of my life...gone.

But not forever. After paying $10.00 to park Winnie, I made the L-O-N-G
trip back, repeat l-o-n-g, over the dam. I straddled the bench mark between the two states
and got my hour back. Phew...I felt rejuvenated and continued my hike to the tour. 

Some sights along the way.

 The Mike Callaghan Bill Tilman Memorial Bridge from
the top of the Dam is 1,905 feet long and soars nearly
900 feet above the Colorado River.

Looking straight down 726.4 feet. To hold back the waters of Lake Mead,
the base of the dam is almost as wide as its height: 660 feet. And to fill it
with concrete, it took 3.25 million cubic yards; enough to make a 4' wide sidewalk
around the equator or 16-foot-wide, 8-inch-thick road
from San Francisco to New York City.

Yup, I had the same feeling.

It is said the lake will never fill to capacity again but authorities say
that agreements are in place to avoid the pending critical shortage.
The water supply of more than 22 million people in the three Lower Basin states is in jeopardy

When full, the water level would be up to the bottom of
the inlet towers and, at its deepest, 498'.

The last time the spillway saw an overflow was in 1983...

...when water was diverted through a diversion tunnel that runs 1/4 of a mile back into the river.

My choice of tours was the Power Plant tour which would take me 200+ feet down into a turbine room on the Nevada side. The elevator trip down 27 stories at about 5 mph was quick and ear-clicking. I cannot relate all the facts and stories that go with the origin, construction and mind-boggling facts you should know. They are in abundance on line. These two are quick and informative.

First Video. Better detail.  For you fast paced viewers, check out THIS ONE.

30' in diameter, this "penstock pipe (water pipe) is two football fields in length.

7 of the 17 huge turbines, each producing enough electricity for 100,000 homes.
In 2019, 11 of the 17 have been overhauled to produce greater flow rates. This will help
with the reduction of water due to the drought.

One of the turbine being overhauled

The massive overhead boom that's able to lift and transport
turbine parts. Each turbine about the weight of a jet plane

The two turbines currently working are lit.

That's it. A long walking day; got my 7,500 steps and back on the road. Before leaving here's a sweeping view of an amazing experience I enjoyed sharing with you.

Hope you enjoyed the tour. I'll now drive about 3 hours along the famous Historic Route 66 to the Grand Canyon Caverns RV Park. See you then.