Tahoe to Reno

Over 60 rivers and streams flow into Lake Tahoe. The Truckee River is the only one to flow out. The Truckee flows across the California state line into Reno, Nevada. It continues north eventually ending at Pyramid Lake.

Rt. 80 parallels the Truckee River all the way to Reno.

It was a scenic drive

illustrating the rain shadow effect. Warm, moist air masses move east from the Pacific Ocean. As they slam against the wall of the Sierra Nevada Mountains the air-pressure drops. These low-pressure systems gets pushed up in elevation, releasing their moisture as rain on the winward side of the Sierras. The leeward side is in the "rain shadow" and receives much less rain.

 By the time I crossed into Nevada, I was well into the desert.