"Do you have a definitive answer yet on the Viva Las Vegas location? My first thought is Calif SR 138, northwest of US66/I-15 in Cajon Pass (near Phelan heading up towards the desert and Palmdale). This route has pines, Joshua Trees, all kinds of different landscapes due to the great elevation changes in a fairly short distance. Some of the big mountains look a bit wrong though. Maybe somewhere in the Panamint/Owens Valley?"