Well we left Serrano campground and headed for Nevada. We went down the "back way" out of Big Bear. It's highway 18 East, and the route is shorter down the mountain, but much steeper in places. Some grades are as much as 11% with some tight switchbacks. The key to the decent is GO SLOW and use low gears. I also recommend hitting the turnouts whenever necessary.
Even going slow and using the pullouts to let traffic go by I could still smell the brakes by the time we got to the bottom. It is just a whole lot of weight to hold back on that steep of a grade. I wasn't alone though, there were a few other trucks behind me creeping down the mountain as well.
The next stop was a campground we had not stayed in before, Lake Mead National recreational area. It is a campground that requires an entrance fee to get in every day, so having a National Parks pass is highly recommended. The campground itself has lots of permenant park models that have been here for quite a while, but several of the areas are being refurbished with RV only sites. We stayed in the newest section which is the "Lake View" sites in the very front. They are FHU sites with 50 amp, wide cement pads for the rig and patio area, and new gravel around that. The sites have hookups on both sides of the pad, so you can pull in with your MH or back in with your towable and still have an awesome view of the lake.
The rate for the lake view sites was about $45 a night, and some of the older ones up the hill may have been a little less. There is also a dry camp area next to the FHU section that can be had for $10 a night, or $5 a night if you have the Senior National Parks Pass.
The park is pretty close to Boulder City, and about 19 miles from Henderson. It's a good thing too, since as soon as we pulled into the campground and unhooked the toad, I started hearing the tell tale "screech" from our rear brakes on the Jeep. The early warning wear indicators were rubbing the rotors, and I knew a brake job was in my future.
I was able to hit a Jeep dealer in Henderson that got us in the next day, and with a little pain in the wallet, all is well again. The weather has been great, cool mornings, 70 - 75 degree afternoons and a light breeze off of the lake. I will be back here again.
We head for Arizona today, next stop is Cottonwood Arizona, Deadhorse Ranch Campground. Sounds like an interesting place!
BTW, the DW is doing installments on her trip journal blog with area info and pics. Stop on by!