Mormon locusts west of Elko

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on July 6th, 2005


We’re in Elko, NV, heading for home…with a stop for a private party in Pontiac, IL, on Saturday, so we’re taking our sweet old time. Which is fortunate, since we were stopped dead for almost TWO HOURS on Interstate 80 eastbound, just about 200 miles downrange from Reno. Seems that the hillsides were ablaze about twenty miles up the road. When we finally got to the area that was on fire, it was impressive– several hundred acres to our south was still fully involved, throwing smoke and not quite contained. Beautiful in a menacing kind of way. (We got off easy, though– we managed to not be delayed by any of the wildfires in Arizona last week!)

While waiting, we were somewhat entertained by the mini-swarms of Mormon Locusts– evil-looking creatures who immediately sought out any shadow cast by our stopped vehicles and, while they were waiting, climbed on the tires and formed small piles beneath each. Occasionally, we’d see one hopping across the highway bearing the dead carcass of one of his compadres. Charming. Welcome to the high desert! (See the blurry photo above and keep in mind that the tire pictured is that of a tour bus– very large– and that each bug is approximately 2-1/4 inches from stem to stern. Formidable!)

We cashed in early in Elko. Got a dialup connection, via long distance, since Mindspring doesn’t offer a local number in Elko. (And, we missed Basque days by just 24 hours. Hmmm…coulda had tongue family style!)

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