There’s a scene early in the Fellowship of the Ring where Bilbo turns to Gandalf and says, “I want to see mountains, again, mountains!”

Living in the vast, flat state of Texas for the last two years I definitely felt the same way. At least a good two thirds of my childhood were spent in the mountains back in the west, either up north, or near the coast, or in the desert (the other third was spent sleeping, going to school, and doing homework).

Carson City, thankfully, has plenty of tall, beautiful mountains, most of which belong to the Sierra Nevada mountain range. I’ve been dying to get out and explore some of the trails in the area, and last week I got the chance when my folks headed out to do some exploring.  I hopped in Jon Snow and went into the hills!

Meeting up with the folks

Topping off before heading out

Driving up into the hills!!

Looking back out toward Carson City

Beautiful valley in between the mountains. If you can believe it, there’s ranch down in that valley that’s for sale! Imagine owning your own private meadow!

View of Carson City (out towards the left) and the Minden/Gardnerville area (far right)

Unfortunately, a large swath of the dirt road had washed out and crumbled away, and we were forced to turn back around just a few miles from the summit

Jon Snow enjoying his time in the mountains

Posing with Moby (my parent’s big white jeep JK on the right)

While we were at the bottom of the hill we found an Immigrant Trail marker! Many of the trails in the area were once used by people moving out west in the 1800’s, and these markers can be found all along the trails, usually with some story or info on what happened in the area or info on the trail itself. Very cool find!!

Sunset over Carson City. So pretty up here!

Also, some photos from their site Wayalife.com that my parents were willing to share! They’re amazing photographers and everything I know about photography I learned from them! And am still learning!