Stonewall Falls, Nevada - "the air was still and the snow crunchy"

We drove east toward the Nevada Test and Training Range, formerly the Nellis Air Force Range, on the Stonewall Flat road.

Jan opened the gate so we could enter the range.

The sign explained that we could proceed to Stonewall Falls if we stayed on the road.

Our destination was straight ahead.

Once we entered the shadow of the mountain the temperature dropped 10 degrees.

We set up camp about 100 yards from the falls to give animals a clear path to this source of water.

Jets flew past our camp to the west on their way to and from Las Vegas.

 Sunset and it was already 27 degrees The air was still and the snow crunchy.

A closer look at the frozen falls in the morning light.

Frozen bananas for breakfast?

The falls remain in shadow all day. As the snow line shows the sun never gets close to the falls.

As we drove west to US 95 the sparkle of ice caught our attention. Jan investigated.

Stonewall Mountains beyond an icy pond.

We drove west on Nevada 266. Our plan was to drive down Tule Canyon into DVNP on through Crater and then camp at Eureka Dunes.

This water jug made us change our plans. Our water tank in the camper was empty because we had drained it in preparation for our two night stay in Tonopah. (The overnight lows were 12 degrees.) I forgot to fill the tank before leaving town. We used our emergency water while camping at Stonewall Falls but did not think about getting water until reaching Tule Canyon Road. We did not have enough fuel to backtrack for water. (The lone gas station in Goldfield is no longer open. The nearest gas is now Tonopah or Beatty) I did not feel comfortable driving through a remote section of DV with only 1.5 gallons of water. We decided to head for home.

White Mountain Peak rises above our road as we near Oasis. Hiked to its summit in 2000.