Nevada peak rivals Longs Peak
| By Joe Kramarsic The mountains of Nevada are probably not familiar to many of us. The predominant image of the state, which is situated almost wholly within the Great Basin Area, seems to be that of a barren desert region interrupted only by its oasis of gambling and entertainment centers. Yet, Nevada As a highly mountainous area containing more separate mountain ranges than any other state (approximately 120 named ranges, 50 of which reach above 9,000 feet, with more than passing interest to be found in many of these. Structurally known as basin and range topography, these mountain ranges are long and |
narrow, running north and south in parallel rows separated by intervening valleys. Many of these Great Basin "sky island" ranges, which seem to be hot, dry, barren and uninteresting to the observer in the valleys below, often turn out to have more of an alpine environment than one would think. A prime example of Nevada's mountain grandeur is the Snake Range, so named because it follows a winding 80-mile course along the Nevada-Utah border. From the west, the Snake Range rises in a steep escarpment almost 8,000 feet from its bordering Spring Valley to predominantly non-distinguished summits. However, from |