Continuing Ski Road Trip 2011, I left SCL yesterday morning and am now in Mammoth Lakes, CA. I love the long lonely roads of the west. This one is one of the best. You leave I-80 at Wendover and pick up 93 Alt. This takes you through 100 miles of magnificent mountain and valley scenery. You may see a total of 50 other cars in both directions on that stretch. At Ely you gas up (never pass an open gas station in Nevada) and head west on US 6. As you leave town there is a sign, "No gas or services next 167 miles". You enter Humboldt National Forest and climb rapidly to a pass at 7400 ft. It was a brilliant sunny day and the snow looked so inviting. Then a sign pointing down a plowed road to a recreation area. Why not. This is a SKI road trip, right? So I did, XC skis on a firm surface with just a bit of silky sun softened corn on top. It was fabulous a great way to take a break and get some exercise on a long drive.