180 West in Fresno County

180 at JCT 63, in August 1995.
Here you see fewer trees. The road is a steep downgrade with fewer sharp curves after 63.

This is probably between 63 and Cove Ave.
180 drops you very abruptly down towards the Central Valley. The air quality gets worse, and it gets much hotter in the summer as you drop. On a smog free day, this view would be dazzling. Going down you have a non stop view of at least a tiny bit of the valley. Only the smog is in your way. You could probably easily see the Pinnacles, and most of the Diablo range between US101 and I5.
 

I've noticed that on almost any highway entering the Sierras, as long as it is rural, the first set of foot hills are barren, and the second usually have some trees. 120, 41, and 140 seem to be the same.

Dropping fast into the Central Valley.   (Elevation 1500'.)
The two small hills surrounded by crop land are near Alta Road.

180 West
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