I-80 East

The Tahoe trip came to an end after another wonderful day in and around the backcountry on Tuesday. With a weeks worth of photo shooting completed, it was time to prepare for the 500-mile drive back to Salt Lake City.

I don’t think anybody really looks forward to a drive across Nevada, especially when you wake up with a few new inches of snow on the ground. While packing up the car, I knew the trip east on I-80 could or would be a challenge!

Busting out of Tahoe City on the 267 was mellow, even with the snow on the road. Once I hit I-80 it was super dry all the way through Reno. I started thinking…”oh yea, I got this…”

No you don’t…about 40 miles before Winnemucca things started to get real interesting because the freezing level was allowing it to snow, but not enough to accumulate on the road as snowpack…it was that thick slush that man-handles your car if you try switching lanes. Passing the tractor-trailers over the course of this 100-mile weather system was gnarly, not something you’d enjoy doing everyday.

After my white-knuckled experience through western Nevada, it was smooth sailing into Salt Lake City. I'm back to claim my couch spot over on Michigan Ave and get out with the crew. I’ll be around here for a couple of days before heading out to another locale...stay tuned. Peace, Blotto

All photos © Dean Blotto Gray / Blotto Photto 2010