Travel: 2020 Utah Winter Trip
Segment 1 • SF -> Truckee, CA
Depending on the weather, you can make it in 3 hours if there’s no traffic. But that almost never happens. Typically it’s about 4 ½ hours with gas and food stops. I’ve seen 8-12 times when there’s bad weather and chain check has traffic backed up for hours. Plan accordingly in the winter.
Segment 2 • Truckee, CA -> Winnemucca, NV
This is pretty much a straight shot. Not much to see on this stretch of I-80. Just north of this is Black Rock Desert, home to Burning Man. But that’s another trip. I suggest doing I-80 at night and not really spending much time here if you’re trying to get to Utah. HWY 50 on the return has a bit more to offer and explore (our return).
There is one notable stop worth checking out here that we’ve been to before.
It’s been cleaned up and now a place where the kiddos can run-around without fear of some sketchy think falling on them (sort of). I have a posting of what this place looked like years ago. (I’ll update the link soon)
Dan Van Zant was some dude who packed up his family and drove his truck across Nevada. Supposedly it broke down in this area and Dan sort of partially homesteaded, partially created a monument, a tribute of sorts to Native Americans and partially build a house… sorta. When I first visited it very much felt like I was trespassing. There were even No Trespassing signs up, so I guess I was. It looked abandoned and I was curious. It was part junk yard and part sculpture garden. It was really interesting. Bottles made into the house walls, old cars and car parts stacked around the yard. Some created into sculpture, some just waiting to be created into something. But alas, now, it’s become an official roadside attraction, with a shelter and parking lot. So it’s not so sketchy anymore and it’s mystique is going away. Still worth checking it off the list if you’re in the area when you’re passing through Imlay, NV
Bla
