High, wide and lonesome

High, wide and lonesome, to borrow a title from a book about growing up on the Colorado plains, is the best way I know how to describe diving through the Basin and Range  to Las Vegas today.  These photos are from valley (unnamed as far as I know) north of Preston NV.

During the trip today, I encountered something of a mystery to me.  These curious clusters of  sand circles that typically had small cones in the center.  If anyone knows how these formed, i wold welcome an explanation.

Finally I arrived in Vegas, but first I made a detour to Frenchman Mountain where you can find the same rocks as are in the Grand Canyon, except they've been tilted by faulting.

VEGAS, BABY!!!!