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Interstate 8 dips down where it crosses the New River, just west of El Centro, California. The New River begins in Baja California, runs north across the border, and ends up in the Salton Sea. Due to untreated wastewater and massive agricultural runoff, it has the distinction of being one the most polluted rivers in the U.S.
A storm threatens near Silver Zone Pass, Nevada, about 17 miles (28km) northwest of Wendover. I was exploring what appears to be part of the pre-interstate highway "because it's there." My curiosity had been aroused from having seen it numerous times as I drove by on I-80. Looking at it in Google Earth gave the impression that it could act as an access route to the Union Pacific Railroad grade just to the southeast. This walk was an exercise in checking the condition of the road.
At the Shafter exit the road is asphalt, but soon turns into dirt. Four miles (6.4km) from the exit it reaches this road cut. At that point it narrows considerably to a width best described as "extremely one-lane," so I parked the Green Weenie and started walking. I shot this shortly after leaving the car.
This section was littered with rocks that had fallen from the hill. Only very small rocks are visible here. The rocks got worse farther along. During my walk, dark clouds were hovering to the east. By the time I had reached the end of the road cut I had seen enough and was worried about getting rained on, so I returned to the car. Just before I reached the car the rain started pouring down. A few minutes later, while driving back to the Shafter exit, I took the picture below.