Snowy Range Pass

Snowy Range Pass

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Blog update....searching for ET

I have not updated the blog in awhile.  I had intended to post as we went a on our trip along the Lewis and Clark trail.  But the hectic  pace of the journey and lack of Wi-Fi or cell signal undid my good intentions.  The Lewes and Clark trail ended nearly two weeks ago and we have since been spending most of our time in remote places of OR, WA. and CA.  Today, we landed in Reno, NV and have both good Wi-Fi and  cell signals.


Rather than trying to go back to the beginning of the trip, I thought I would mention how we find interesting things that we did not know existed just by landing in the right place for an overnight stop.  Last night on our way south we stopped in the two buildings town of Hat Creek at a very nice campground called Hat Creek Hereford Ranch and RV Park. They sell organic beef from the ranch in the office.  Talking with the lady from the office, we heard of two interesting local attractions.







The first was the  Hat Creek Radio Observatory started in the late 1950's .  Today they have 350 telescope arrays searching the heavens for signs of life in outer space using radio telescopes.  As an explanation of its sensitivity, a cell phone ringing on the moon would sound like a nearby foghorn to the arrays.  To date, they have not yet picked up a intelligent signal from outer space.







Also nearby is a very different kind of site.  It is called the subway cave.  It was formed when lava flow covered the area.  As the upper layers cooled and hardened, the area beneath continued to flow until the lava drained away leaving this lava cave.  It does resemble a NYC subway tube.  This site is just north of the Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Since the road into the national park was still closed due to snow, the subway cave was it for us. 






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Lastly, today as we drove 395S into NV, we passed the remnants of the wildfire that had this road closed two days ago. 







9 comments:

Rick and Kathy Rousseau said...

Happy to hear you accomplished what you set out to do and more.
Those Lava Tubes are something that we'd be interested in seeing. Thanks for the Heads Up.
Don't forget to write about your upcoming adventures.
Be Safe and Enjoy!

It's about time.

Laura said...

I wondered where you were. You have always been great at finding the interesting and out of the way wonders. Happy travels.

Wanderin' said...

Those definitely look like interesting sites you were able to check out. Finding new adventures is always fun. I'd be interested to hear about more of your time in the PNW.

Along the Way with JnK said...

Can totally relate to not updating your blog...at times we are too busy when things are going right and then not much to say at other times...sounds as if you guys are having a blast, please keep sharing as much as time and circumstances will allow, we enjoy your posts.

Sherry said...

Now that’s amazing, the thought that they could hear a cell phone ringing on the moon. Wonderful that you got to see the cave. I had no idea the park would be closed in mid June which I guess is when you were there.

Paul and Marti Dahl said...

No wonder those radio telescopes have not picked up an intelligent signal...they have them pointed towards Washington, DC! :cD

Gypsy said...

It's good to hear from you again. I understand about not getting a good signal in that area. When I worked at Lassen I drove at least 40 miles to a town where I could pick up any signal at all. It is sort of nice to get away from civilization and computers, phones, etc. for a while though.

Nickie and Jim said...

Wondered where you went -- thought you might have followed L & C into the Pacific Ocean via the Columbia River! (kidding) Those lava tube caves are something else, sometimes scary. We live in Nevada City CA, and have seen smoke from these destructive fires. Stay cool in Nevada! Maybe you'll win big in Reno!

Erin said...

We can't be alone in the universe ... or can we?