Hoover Dam
I wanted to go on the Hoover Dam tour, but Tyler and Dawn were anxious to get to the Grand Canyon, so I was outvoted. Not a big deal, but I was disappointed we couldn't even get into the visitor center unless we signed up for the tour. The security is understandably much more heightened since I was here in '98, and we had to pull over and allow the truck to be searched prior to heading over the dam. Tyler and I removed the cargo net and tarp off the bed of the truck, and opened all our tote boxes to show the security officer our gear. I showed him the most dangerous things we had were the propane cannisters for our cooking stove...he smiled and waved us through!
We parked in a lot near the dam on the Nevada side and walked over.
We walked by the spillway on the other side, and I was amazed by the lack of water here. Eight years ago, there was water running over the spillway, now it was so dry and empty, there was grass growing in an area that used to be 20 feet underwater! Now every time I watch the weather channel, I root for rain in Arizona! The rock walls around the dam were bleached white, indicating the previous water levels.
We stopped in the gift shop there for some iced tea and souvenirs, then headed back to the truck. We then drove across the dam, and spent most of the rest of the day driving across the state headed towards the Grand Canyon.
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