Snowy Passes & Quail Creek State Park UT

The storm we saw last evening has brought rain to Green River State Park. A late winter-style storm is moving in with snow predicted for the upper elevations.  We will need to drive over three passes along our way - the first at 7886', the next at 7923', and the last at 7076' just before I-15. Peter again reassures me that we won't have any trouble making it through as the van is stable in bad weather - Germans built it.

Rainy day headed west on I-70

Is that snow mixed with rain?

Yup - it's snaining (snow mixed with rain)

Whiteout

almost to the first summit

the side roads are getting covered

Whew - over one and two to go

By the time we start up the second summit, we see more vehicles going west. Most are semi-trucks that are good for plowing through any snow accumulating on the roadway.

Semis climbing the pass ahead of us

Ah - we're on our way down again

Buttes and canyons ahead

After making it over the second pass, we drive through interesting canyons, at least from what we can see through the snow flurries.

The last pass is just before we reach I-15 and it has the most accumulation of snow so far. In fact, the snow plows are out clearing access roads. Traffic is moving steadily on I-15 until we come to a construction zone. We're surprised to encounter a construction slow down on a snowy Mother's Day Sunday - especially in "family values" Utah.  Turns out - the slow down was due to a terrible accident in which a large semi-trucks was dumped on it's side into the median strip. EMTs are pulling people out of another small car close-by. Nasty looking accident.

Snow plows clears access road to I-15

Roadwork on Mothers' Day?

Semi on its side - what a mess!

We pull off to get fuel just outside of Cedar City. Teenagers buying snacks at the convenience store are wearing shorts and flip flops in the snowy weather. Odd - they must dress by the calendar (it's mid May) rather than what the weather actually is. We consider staying around Cedar City as the storm is clearing, but it's quite cold and we've both had enough of snow for the day, so we press on towards St. George - the "banana belt" of Utah. Before reaching St. George, we find Quail Creek State Park. It's warm and sunny, so we set up camp.

All's well that ends well.

Clearing by Cedar City

Ahhh - Quail Lake

Campsite with a view

Sunset at Quail Lake