Hoover Dam

To all who have responded to my previous post, Thank You! I will probably begin posting regularly to My Trip Journal within the month. There are a few items that I want to check on before making my final decision.

I will post the link on here again, when the decision is made to make a permanent switch.

Meanwhile, Dean and I went to Hoover Dam today. Only one word can describe seeing this dam in person - WOW! I can't begin to remember all the history, facts and trivia about the building of this dam, but I encourage you to do a search on the internet to find out all the information - it's almost unbelievable that something this huge could be built. Of course, I took pictures and here are a few.

Lake Mead......



Dean at the Hoover Dam



Me at the Hoover Dam



We took the dam tour. I wasn't sure that I could do it since I have a tendency to be claustrophobic, but the worst part was the elevator rides.

This is the Nevada side turbine center, all were operational while were there - the light being on on top indicated it's operational. Just to show how large this area is, notice the man walking on the right side.....



This is the outside of one of four tunnels used to redirect the river during the building of the dam .. they are still used today, but now the feed the turbines.



This is a view of one of the tunnels from inside (underground)...



Some interesting facts about Watt's.....



With the construction of the new by-pass for Rt 93, all the high up viewing areas were closed as we approached the dam. This is the best of the face of the dam that I could get, it's so big! The second picture is looking down at the river and the turbine plants, one on each side - we were in the one on the right, or Nevada side.



Lake Mead from the top of the dam. The white on the bank indicates the water level, which is very low right now. When the water is to the top of the white line, it is only 6 feet from the top of the dam. That doesn't happen very often, but when it does they open the spillways.



Some big fish in the Lake....



The lake side of the dam....



It was a beautiful day for the visit to the dam. Temps were in the 80's and as you can see, the sky was clear. The drive up to the dam and back was very nice. We went up Hwy 95 and came back Hwy 93 & Hwy 68. On Hwy 68 you drive up and over a pass that is over 3000 ft. high. The grades are a steady climb of 6% for miles, then a downhill grade of 6% for miles again. This is the route, Hwy 68 to I-40, we will be taking to Williams. Should make for an interesting ride with the 5er in tow.