On a whim one day, my husband and I decided to explore Willow Creek Road outside of Mill City in the Nevada desert. We exited Highway 400 and crossed Dun Glen Flat to the East Range foothills. Gradually we ascended the mountainside and observed evidence of a watershed: a tall willow tree, no doubt the road’s namesake, followed by a lovely concentration of junipers. Within a few moments we came upon this pond with a view of the Humboldt Range and snow-covered Star Peak.
I have seen Star Peak hundreds of times before. I have viewed it from the village of Imlay, Imlay Canyon, Imlay Summit, Rye Patch Reservoir, Antelope Plains, and the Humboldt River. I have gazed at it from Prince Royal Canyon Road as the sun set and the moon rose while my husband played his harmonica.
I have watched Star Peak vanish into a bank of clouds while I sipped coffee in a navy camp chair, nestled under a fuzzy blanket with a faux Navajo design.
On the road to Unionville, I once stared as Star Peak snatched a few black clouds which then unleashed on it a fury of white flurries.
Star Peak is a landmark: a stark protrusion; a regional north star.
And now it is a Shangri-La.
Amazing, such perfect composition in this shot.
Thank you so much Moriah.
A beautiful photo Vivian. What an amazing place!
Thank you Chillbrook! It really is amazing. I feel blessed to have come upon it.
Amazing capture! Must be wonderful to visit.
Thank you for your very kind words. It is indeed wonderful, perhaps one of the loveliest spots we have come across in the Nevada desert.
It’s beautiful! Right now it looks a bit different where I live :>)
It is sooo beautiful! Thank you for visiting and for leaving me such a nice comment!
what a wonderful shot , and lovely place
Dear Amresh, I’m so happy to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to write me!
I am delighted that you like the photo. Yes, this place is very special and now very dear to my heart. Blessings, Vivian
Very beautiful, thank you for sharing!
Dear Vivian wish you a Happy New Year! 
Thank you Cristina!
Happy New Year to you too, my dear.
To say it’s ‘beautiful’ would be an understatement. If there’s some sort of a magical pond in heaven, I guess this is how it would look like!
Surreal & magical capture! immensely loved it!
It is heavenly, isn’t it? I was stunned to find this view of Star Peak. We see a lot of beauty in the desert but rarely is a Nevada desert scene as replete as this one in terms of lushness and variety.
I could not be more delighted that you enjoyed this photo, Teju. Thank you for visiting and for leaving me such a nice note!
You capture the desert’s dual beauties–the peace but also the stirring, the calm before the storm, and all in vivid colors. Lovely.
Thank you for seeing the poetry in the desert. I’m grateful to have captured it in these images!
Wonderful photo
Thank you very much.