Until today, I’d only seen the vastness of the salt flats on a flat TV screen. This experience had always piqued my curiosity – I yearned to see, feel, and truly understand these unique places. Today, that day finally came. On my way from Flat Top Mountain to North Schell Peak, I stopped at the Bonneville Salt Flats and spent an hour or two venturing out across the seemingly endless expanse. Walking barefoot, I could fully utilize the nerve endings on my feet. The salt felt surprisingly smooth, yet firm beneath my toes. It was like walking on another world.
Out in Utah, the Bonneville Salt Flats sprawl out like a giant’s forgotten salt shaker. This dense expanse of sodium chloride is all that remains of ancient Lake Bonneville, a prehistoric giant that has long evaporated.
The flats hold the title of biggest salt west of the Great Salt Lake, and they’re a haven for daredevils chasing land speed records on the Bonneville Speedway. Believe it or not, beneath that blinding white crust lies a staggering 147 million tons of salt – that’s enough to season every french fry on Earth… for a while, at least. Fun fact: 90% of that mountain of salt is the same stuff you sprinkle on your scrambled eggs!
Over an hour lost in this crazy salt labyrinth! The whole place is like a smashed kaleidoscope—forget squares, it’s all random, uneven shapes. What’s causing these funky borders? Each shape has a weird little salt mountain hiding somewhere inside, not even in the center. Plus, the edges are creepy-cool with these hairy salt crystals! Three big mysteries in just one hour—time to hit the books and crack the code of this salty wonderland!
I’m very happy about this short detour and stop. At least now, I have some small understanding of how it looks and feels with bare feet. Heading back to the car and driving towards North Schell Peak!
