Eureka to Jackson Hole
Bonneville Salt Flats, Salt Lake City & the Grand Tetons
Day 29 — from the Nevada desert to the foot of the Grand Tetons, via the most famous speed venue in the world.
Day 29 covered an enormous amount of ground — and an enormous amount of American history.
The Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway in Utah: the vast white expanse of salt where land speed records have been set since 1914. The salt flats are the remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville, which covered much of Utah 14,000 years ago. At 12 miles long and 5 miles wide, the flats are one of the flattest places on Earth — perfect for going very fast.
Salt Lake City: the Mormon Temple, the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple took 40 years to build and is one of the most recognizable buildings in the American West.
Then north through Idaho along the Snake River — one of the great rivers of the Pacific Northwest — and east into Wyoming. The Grand Tetons appeared on the horizon as Ray approached Jackson Hole.
Photos from the Day
The Day's Route
Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway — UT
The Bonneville Salt Flats — where land speed records have been set since 1914. The vast white expanse of salt is the remnant of ancient Lake Bonneville. The World of Speed event and Bonneville Speed Week draw racers from around the world every year.
Mormon Temple — Salt Lake City, UT
The Salt Lake Temple — the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, completed in 1893 after 40 years of construction. The six-spired granite temple is one of the most recognizable buildings in the American West.
Snake River, WY
The Snake River — 1,078 miles long, draining much of southern Idaho and western Wyoming before joining the Columbia River. The river runs through Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park.
Jackson Hole, WY — The Grand Tetons
Jackson Hole — the valley at the foot of the Grand Teton Range. The town of Jackson is a gateway to both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.