Hoover Dam & Lake Mead

Norma & Friend For the Day -- Billy
Norma and Helicopter Pilot Scott

During my recent visit to Las Vegas, I decided to visit one of America’s most iconic landmarks – the Hoover Dam.

According to the US Dept of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation website, “Hoover Dam is a testimony to a country's ability to construct monolithic projects in the midst of adverse conditions. Built during the Depression, thousands of men and their families came to Black Canyon to tame the Colorado River. It took less than five years, in a harsh and barren land, to build the largest dam of its time. Now, years later, Hoover Dam still stands as a world-renowned structure. The Dam is a National Historic Landmark and has been rated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders.”

While at the dam, I watched the eight-minute film, which gave a synopsis of the project. Then we were escorted into the tunnels down to view the generators. At the time, they had just pulled one of the turbines for repairs and inspections. The tour guide said this major inspection is done just once every 25 years.
Check out the link below to reach the official Hoover Dam website. It has some amazing facts and photos.

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/index.html

You’ll also see in one of the photos from atop the dam, parts of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. It’s purported that it will be the longest concrete arched bridge when completed.

Information from the official website http://www.hooverdambypass.org/ says the following: “Construction of the Colorado River Bridge is advancing with construction of the 1,060 foot twin-rib concrete arch. The Colorado River Bridge is the central portion of the Hoover Dam Bypass Project. Construction on the nearly 2,000 foot long bridge began in late January 2005 and the completion of the entire Hoover Dam Bypass Project is expected in June 2010. When completed, this signature bridge will span the Black Canyon (about 1,600 feet south of the Hoover Dam), connecting the Arizona and Nevada Approach highways nearly 900-feet above the Colorado River.

For a really good explanation and some amazing footage, check out the link below to watch a YouTube piece taken from the Discovery Channel’s Extreme Engineering show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAm5cjvrRbc

After taking my tour of the inside and on top of the dam, I decided it was time to take a Lake Mead excursiton to view the lake and to visit the dam from its front side.

But the best part was seeing Hoover Dam and Lake Mead and the surrounding area from high above in a helicopter. The helicopter flight was the highlight of the entire trip! This makes my third trip in a helicopter and I love it and I wish I could go more often. Enjoy the aerial photos!
Hoover Dam, Lake Mead & the Mountains

A Closer View of Hoover Dam

The construction of the Colorado River Bridge

A front view of Hoover Dam & Lake Mead

Side view of Hoover Dam & Lake Mead

Mountains around the lake

Lake Mead Cruise Boat

Enjoying the cruise on the boat

View of the lake and marina

Looking over the face of Hoover Dam

Givens Hot Springs

I had more of an adventure in mind when I was planning a weekend hot springs outing, but a fierce, biting wind on the last day of February forced me to chose a place that would be sheltered from its incessant force.

I decided upon a private establishment called Givens Hot Springs, which is 11 miles south of the town of Marsing, Idaho and about 40 minutes from my home. I chose the family-owned-and-operated business established in 1891, primarily because it was indoors and I figured it would be a great way to escape the wind. I mustered up a friend and her daughter and the daughter’s friend and off we went in search of warmth and fun.

We weren’t disappointed and I couldn’t have chosen a better place for the day. As we slipped into the silky, soft mineral water, its warmth wrapped around us like a winter blanket and we all exclaimed at the exact same moment, “ahhh, it’s so warm.” It especially felt good, after escaping the wind that had chased us from the car to the front door.

The large indoor pool, complete with a kiddie pool separated by a divider and a basketball hoop, gave us plenty of space to just relax, play water games and shoot baskets with lots of soft, vinyl balls floating all around.

After our water workout, it was time for lunch. We settled in on one of the several picnic tables around the sides of the pool. Guests are allowed to bring in their own lunch or you can get a few lunch items at the snack bar.

Now satiated with full bellies, we slid back into the life-relaxing liquid and let it’s warmth soothe our bodies. As I bobbed around in the pool, I couldn’t help but wonder about all those who had enjoyed this place long, long before our arrival – for thousands of years, according to the historical marker that greets you in the parking lot.

It seems the natural hot water available here has been a popular attraction and served as a winter village site for 5,000 years and was even used by emigrants using an alternate Oregon Trail route. I’m sure the pioneers appreciated this place as much or even more as I did on their cross-country trek. What a warm respite in such an arduous journey – as much for them as well as for me.

Learn more about Givens Hot Springs by visiting their website at www.givenshotsprings.com