Our Four Wheel Camper

Twelve days in Nevada - Part 3/3

2012-01-13T11:11:00.000-08:00

We drove NE from Tonopah on the Gabbs Pole Line Road passing the controversial Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project.

When driving to the site of Pactolus we passed a shepherd's camp and later saw him high on a ridge with his herd.

Sunset at Pactolus camp. Not much here to see. We did not find the lone building reported at this site.

Jan silhouetted by a Nevada sunset.

The next morning when driving west toward Simon we notice that the shepherd started his day much earlier than we started ours.

Climbing a ridge on the approach to Simon Mountain.

Hiked to the summit of Simon Mountain and rebuilt the marker.

Entering Simon. There are over 25,000 feet of underground workings at Simon, some more than 1000 feet deep.

Note the two different building styles of this structure.

The sun silhouettes an old ore bin.

Rawhide Ranch. Jan really wanted to meet Rowdy Yates but no one was home.

Finger Rock looms over our truck.

Jan zooms the camera in on me as I look down from the top of Finger Rock. The route to the top was easier than it looked.

If cows could talk this one might explain how it all happened.

Exploring mining roads west of Rhyolite Pass.

The sun begins to set as we look for a place to camp.

Sunrise at our west of Rhyolite Pass camp.

Driving down to Rhyolite Pass.

On our way to the Blue Sphinx.

We spot our objective.

Getting closer.

It must have been quite a surprise for a prospector roaming these mountains to encounter the Blue Sphinx.

We drove around the mine camp but only found this small dugout and the usual adits and shafts. On a ridge to the north we could see a structure at the Golden Pen mine.

We drove down from the Blue Sphinx and turned toward Poinsettia.

Poinsettia. From what I have read it isn't really a ghost town but the remains of a cinnabar (mercury) mine camp.

My favorite structure at Poinsettia was this dugout. A look inside revealed that it was used for storage.

Leaving Poinsettia Camp.

The name on the map read, "Car Frame Windmill." With a name like that you have to visit. The windmill seems to be made out of any odd piece of steel on hand, including at least two car frames and an old military vehicle.

On our way to Rawhide Hot Springs. We drove through about 1/4 mile of deep sand north of Black Butte. Thought about stopping and taking a photo but we didn't bring sand ladders and it wasn't worth the risk of getting stuck.

Rawhide Hot Springs. An incredible amount of junk and debris scattered all around the springs. The springs appear to have been developed sometime in the past.

This is the actual spring and from here the water is routed into two other pools. When I was walking near one of the other pools I startled a duck that was feeding. Was it spending the winter at Rawhide?

Rawhide Wetlands.

More sand east of Fissure Ridge. This time the sand wasn't very deep.

Getting close to Downeyville. Many ruins here but we did not find any standing structures. In the remaining light of the day we decided to drive to Craig Station.

Craig Station in the light of a new day.

Dawn at Craig Station. The temperature dropped to 17º during the night.

Pavement ahead.

Time to fuel up because we don't know if the gas station in Gabbs is still open.

We drove on to Gabbs and the station was as I remembered it.

Sunday, the nearest gas was 60 miles away in Hawthorne and it was time for us to head for home.

Junction with US 395 January 2012.
No snow this year at the intersection. We were surprised by the lack of snow during the entire trip.

Junction with US 395 January 2011.

Looking east January 2012.

Looking east January 2011.

Driving south of June Lake we noticed a volcano in the distance preparing to erupt. ;)

Twelve days in Nevada - Part 2/3

2012-01-05T18:32:00.000-08:00

We departed Tonopah and drove about 40 miles east on US 6 to our first stop, Warm Springs.

We hiked about two hundred yards up to the hot springs.

Closer look at Warm Springs.

The water flows down a ditch to the buildings.

Some of the water is diverted into the pool.

Here is a photo of the pool from a spot that is probably used by everyone who visits this site. The fence has been pried apart just enough to take an unimpeded shot.

On the other side of the highway a cow gives me a curious look when I interrupt its solitude.

A sign for Nevada 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway, beckons us to turn south but we are headed east for Tybo.

The road to Tybo passes through a small government airfield named Basecamp.

One of the buildings still standing in Tybo, Trowbridge's General Store. Several of the structures in the town are being used as residences.

Headframe and portal for the Two-G mine. More information about Tybo here.

Farther up the canyon is a water tank manufactured by J.F. Holbrook of Los Angeles.

We drove up Tybo Canyon to another set of charcoal kilns,

The keystone in the door arch is missing.

The kilns at Tybo are made out of local rocks rather than bricks like the structures in Kiln Canyon.

Found this weathered bastard flat file in the middle of the road. It is now on display on a boulder a few feet from the road.

Spotted this cool formation of folded rocks while driving south out of Tybo.

Still haven't figured out what to make of this pile of debris.

We are on our way to Lunar Crater. The cows are on their way to another location.

Easy Chair Crater.

We arrive at Lunar Crater about 30 minutes before sunset and search for a campsite.

Sunrise at Lunar Crater. More on the Lunar Crater volcanic field here.

The area around Lunar Crater was used by NASA to train Apollo astronauts. Astronauts Eugene Cernan (right) and Harrison Schmit.

40 years later Jan stands in the same spot as Cernan.

The bottom of this maar is 400 feet below the rim. We decided to park parallel to the crater to avoid having nightmares about rolling into the abyss.

The next morning I walked to the summit of North Kidney Butte.

Many commercial jets fly over this portion of Nevada because of the Flight Restriction Zone over the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Approaching the Faultless nuclear test site. More about Faultless here.

The ground zero plug. Video of the test here.

Unnerving to think that a few thousand feet below this plug is gigantic cavity filled with radioactive sludge.

I was curious about the top of the plug.

Plenty of warning signs around the site. All the signs warn of petroleum impacted soil. Not a single sign mentions radioactivity.

Time to leave Faultless before something odd happens.

Frozen Moore's Station Creek.

We visited the petroglyphs near Moore's Station.

We drove on to Pritchard's Station after stopping at Moore's Station. Moore's Station looked very interesting but was fenced off and hidden behind trees. Jan spotted this balanced rock about two miles from Pritchard's Station.

Pritchard's Station. It was active between the 1870s and 1880s on the old Belmont-Tybo-Eureka stage line.

Sunset on the Little Smokey Valley a few miles south of Summit Station.

We were driving an old road west of Red Ring Mountain looking for a place to camp when Jan commented that, "it doesn't look like anyone has driven this road is quite a while." Five minutes later we discovered why. The road was blocked by a landslide. I scouted the area and found a way into a nearby wash.

We engaged the 4WD, drove into the wash, followed it for about 50 yards and regained the road.

Dawn at our west of Red Ring Mountain camp.

A mile from Squaw Wells we saw the first tire tracks.

Exiting Jumbled Rock Gulch.

After exiting Jumbled Rock Gulch we drove to Morey.

This cabin was interesting because of what was on the wall of one room.

Two walls were covered with old newspapers and photos.

Looks like Lillie Langtry.

Esther Mitchell murdered her brother in 1906.

A few miles from Morey there is a drill hole for another test site. We drove back to US 6 and then south to Little Lunar Cuesta.

As we approached the cuesta I noticed that we were being watched from above. Then I noticed the moon above Little Lunar Cuesta.

I hiked to the top of Little Lunar Cuesta because it looked so cool. My big horn buddy had left the summit.

Back at US 6 the fuel gauge read empty. While we were fueling up a Four Wheel Camper on what we think was a green truck drove by on US 6 headed west. We wish they would have stopped to say hello. You don't see many vehicles in this part of Nevada, let alone another FWC.

Near Lunar Crater.

We camped an Lunar Crater for a second night.

Dawn at Lunar Crater.

Tonopah just a few miles down the road.

Another night at the Mizpah Hotel.

Twelve days in Nevada - Part 1/3

2011-12-31T18:25:00.000-08:00

We drove north to Bishop and then NE toward Montgomery Pass.

As we passed through Benton, Jan remembered that she used the facilities at this establishment in July. We didn't stop and see if a plaque had been placed to mark this event.

About 20 minutes later the sky behind us erupted in orange and yellow.

Dawn at our Montgomery Pass Camp.

We drove on to Rhodes, Nevada. Before the completion of the Carson and Colorado Railroad salt was transported from here to Virginia City using camels.

The only structure still standing in Rhodes.

We climbed to the top of a prominence named Rocky Hill to survey the surrounding desert. The White Mountains are far in the distance with Montgomery Peak on the right.

We decided to drive east into the Monte Cristo Mountains and visit the Devil's Gate.

Around 1 PM I suggested to Jan that we stop and prepare some hot dogs for lunch. She told me that just minutes before the same idea had crossed her mind.

The Devil's Gate appears less ominous than the name implied. There are 18 features using the word devil in Nevada. 98 in California. Draw your own conclusions.

Exiting the Monte Cristo Range.

McKinney Tanks east of Tonopah. Some report that it was a stage line station.

Driving south of Yellow Cone looking for a campsite.

Our camp at the southern end of the Monitor Range looking south into Nellis Air Force Range now known as the Nevada Test and Training Range(NTTR). Groom Lake (Area 51) is SE.

Dawn at our second camp. The spot we found had been dozered flat around 40 years ago as evidenced by the 55 gallon drum containing some charred pulltab cans. "By June 1963, 40 brands were using pull tabs. By 1965 three quarters of the breweries in the U.S. were using them. The designs kept changing, however, in response to customer complaints and comments. Ten years after the "ring" version of the pull tab was introduced, an answer to this environmental and safety nightmare finally came when the "stay-on-tab" style was introduced. " From Squidoo.com.

When ever we find something abandoned alongside an old road it makes us curious about its story.

Remains of a cabin SW of our camp.

Jan spotted this shovel strategically placed in a rock outcrop along the road. Did someone leave it to mark a spot or forget it after digging out a stuck vehicle?

Driving back to US 6 on an old road on a seldom traveled road. Jan's shovel find is about 50 feet behind the truck.

Driving up Kiln Canyon in the Hot Creek Range.

Approaching our destination. If the reader chooses to visit these charcoal kilns prepare for a slalom like drive between the trees.

These kilns were probably built in the 1870's to support the smelter in nearby Tybo. A lost treasure may still be hidden near the kilns.

Inside looking up. There are three more kilns about 1.5 miles to the south but we did not visit.

Exiting Kiln Canyon. We decide to cross Hot Springs Valley and drive through McCann Canyon on our route back to Tonopah.

A frozen marsh near the ruins of McCann Station.

"Grace McClosky was born in Ireland in 1838 and came to America in 1855. She arrived in Nevada first living in Virginia City for a short time and then in 1866 moving to Belmont following the mineral strike. While there she married Bernard McCann and had five children. The family relocated to Tybo where two more children were born. Bernard died there in 1879. Grace ran a boarding house for some time in Tybo after her husband past away. Later Grace went over the summit to purchase a Stage Station between Tybo and Belmont where she would run a toll road for several years." - by Robert Wynn

I found this Smirnoff Ice bottle after photographing the ice covered marsh. An odd coincidence in McCann Canyon.

Another frozen marsh in McCann Canyon.

Off in the distance we spot a large grouping of hoodoo's on the western side of McCann Canyon.

December 31, 2011. We arrived at the historic Mizpah Hotel, built in 1907. An excellent location to usher in 2012. Our stay at the Mizpah was a wonderful experience. The room was comfortable with a flat screen television, wifi and more than a hint of history. We heartily recommend that anyone passing through Tonopah spend the night at this elegant hostelry. If any additional encouragement is required; dining at either of the hotel's two restaurants is also a wonderful experience.

Mendocino National Forest

2011-12-13T01:30:00.001-08:00

Drove north from Vacaville to Willows, fueled up and then turned west toward Elk City.

Stoney Gorge Resevoir

The old Stoney Creek Bridge. This open spanderel cross wall bridge, very few of these in CA, was built in 1919 for $23,420.00.

A curious doe peers over the brush near Elk City.

Spotted this barn just before entering the national forest.

A sign like this one is a nice alternative to a locked gate.

Looking back at Gravelly Ridge and Stoney Creek Valley,

Near Kern Point.

Headed south toward Felkner Hill.

Encountered the first snow and ice at about 5000 feet on the north slopes of Felkner Hill.

Felkner Hill summit.

Felkner Hill benchmark.

The first of many roads displayed on my topographical maps that are now closed. One was the road to the summit of Sheetiron Mountain.

Near the summit of the Kneecap is an interesting piece of art. Several questions come to mind when viewing this stump and chair. Who put the chair there and how long has it been there?

Kneecap Camp.

While standing in the dark looking at the stars I felt a presence over my right shoulder. I turned and saw what seemed to be someone hugging the tree next to me. It was a creepy moment.

Preparing to leave Kneecap Camp before dawn.

Driving a snowy, icy road down from Kneecap Camp. A lot of animal sign on the Kneecap.

Dawn slowly arrives and lights the road ahead.

An open gate provided access to the Kneecap.

On just about every trip we find errant balloons. When we do it always make me think about how many Japanese Balloon Bombs remain undiscovered in the Western States.

More snow and ice near Hell's Half Acre.

Hiked over to Pole Point. One of six peaks bagged on this trip.

Crossing Horse Creek,

Many steep grades equals 117 miles on 2/3's of a tank. Time to head out of the forest and find a gas station.

The bridge across Rattlesnake Creek is still covered with frost at 11:30 AM.

Close up of frost crystals.

Elk herd near Lake Pillsbury.

A bull elk seems to know that I have eaten elk steak and liked it.

The drive to fuel was another 45 minutes.

Near Harper Dry Lake

2011-11-27T17:37:00.000-08:00

Our first stop, The Buttes. We were scouting for a rendezvous spot to be used next spring. I climbed the highest butte about ten years ago and remembered a large camping area nearby. The camping spot was as I recalled but filled with holiday weekend campers and their RV's. That was to be expected because a Thanksgiving weekend is a crowded weekend in the Mojave Desert. (A F-22 Raptor crashed a few miles from The Buttes back in 2009.)

We drove on past the Harper Lake Solar Electric Generating Station on our way east from The Buttes.

The station uses a field of parabolic collectors to supply thermal energy to a conventional electric power plant.

We stopped to take a photo of the Lockhart General Store. I have driven by the store many times and always have the same two thoughts; it would have been so very cool to visit when it was open for business and will it still be there the next time I drive by.

The general store once 'sold everything' but nothing much is left of Lockhart. It was once a thriving farming community. The dry lake to the north was used during WWII as a secret aircraft testing field.

We arrived at the Harper Dry Lake wildlife viewing station and were surprised at how much water was there in November. Later I read that the Solar Electric Generating Station supplies up to 75 acre feet (93,000 m3) of water per year to the lake as part of the mitigation agreement for solar field expansion.

Ducks feeding on the lake with Black Mountain in the background. Climbed Black Mountain in 1999.

FWC and Harper Marsh with our next destination, Lynx Cat Mountain, in the distance.

Driving up a 4x4 trail to the saddle and the start of our climb to the summit of Lynx Cat Mountain.

Looking down on our vehicles as we approach the summit.

A zoom of the camera catches a golden sunset silhouetting Double and Tehachapi Mountains about 70 miles away. On the lower right in the photo Tule Fog creeps over from the San Joaquin Valley. Climbed Tehachapi in 2004.

Another sunset photo from our camp looking across Water Valley. We sat in our chairs eating dinner and Jo Ann remarked that, "it's a lovely, peaceful evening, .......except for the explosions." Down in the valley about a mile away a camp of RV'ers were creating some really powerful explosions. To give the reader a feel for the size of the explosions, we thought at first that they were making bombing runs over at China Lake NWAS.

Sunrise at Lynx Cat Mountain camp.

Fremont Peak about eight miles to the Northwest. Climbed it in 1998.

Driving a sandy road just because we want to see where it takes us.

A familiar target of sportsmen everywhere. Considering how close it was to the road the shooters must have needed the practice.

Just like elephants, sofas need a place to die. We counted seven sofas at this location and wondered why someone would drive all the way out here just to dump them.

Jo Ann spotted this den, one of several in the area. Feral hogs would be my guess.

Lynx Cat Mountain from the Northeast.

We crossed this small rime crusted playa on our journey back to the main road.

To quote Kevin Bacon in the movie Tremors, "Freeway."

We followed the well maintained powerline road back to pavement and headed for home.

Double and Tehachapi Mountains are now only 20 miles away as we near Mojave.

Frazier Mountain Getaway

2011-11-21T17:42:00.000-08:00

Late Friday afternoon I gave Jan a call at work and suggested a quick trip to higher elevations and the sound of whispering pines. Frazier Mountain at 8013 feet seemed like a convenient destination.

We started driving up the mountain just after sunset.

Around 6500 feet we saw the first snow, drove on to the summit, headed west for about a mile and set up camp.

While cooking supper I remarked to Jan that we would still be putting up our tent and arranging gear in the pre-FWC days. Instead we were sitting comfortably inside listening to a football game on Sirius Satellite Radio.

The next morning we spotted these bobcat tracks.

This campfire ring reminded us how nice it was to have a camper and furnace instead of having to start a fire in the morning.

It was 25º outside but 32 degrees warmer inside.

Four Wheel Camper framed.

Hungry Valley to the south covered with fog.

Ice makes a crusty cover at a water crossing.

Many cool formations in the ice.

Deer tracks spotted in the thawing ground.

We arrive back at the summit.

Survey marker next to the lookout.

Parked next to the old fire lookout. The summit is now festooned with many towers and antennas.

Years ago a visitor to this location could climb the stairs and visit with the person manning the lookout. Now the once proud lookout has been vandalized.

Sad that idiots have to destroy such unique places.

One last look to the south.

Lockwood Valley Road is six miles away.

There were several steep icy sections on the drive down the mountain.

Lockwood Valley in the foreground, Cuddy Valley and the San Andreas Fault running diagonally in upper half of photo.

A familiar landmark on the Frazier Mountain Road.

After taking this photo we continued down the mountain to pavement, turned right, drove on to the interstate and headed for home.

Truck Camper Magazine Photo Contest

2011-11-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

Over the past several years generous readers of this blog have complemented our photos and suggested that we submit a few to the Truck Camper Magazine Calendar Contest. This year we submitted three photos and are pleased to write that one of the photos was selected for the calendar. The hardest part of the contest was choosing the three photos to submit. We gathered the photos below from blog entries of the past year and began to cull. Which three would you have chosen?

Saddleback Butte SP

2011-11-07T17:05:00.000-08:00

We set up camp and started the hikers on their journey.

The objective, it is two miles and 1000 feet of gain to the summit.

A zoom reveals that the first hikers have reached the summit. A cell phone call a few minutes later confirmed that everyone made it to the top.

Sunset spreads a golden glow over our camp as we await the return of the hikers.

Jan and Michelle pose with the peakbaggers who are basking in the glow of both success and sunset. After the photo was taken it was time to cook dinner and relax around around a campfire.

The next morning dawn breaks through the clouds southeast of the butte.

Clouds heavy with moisture loom over our camp.

It rained several times during the night and some campers reported that it snowed after midnight. We were snug in our camper and did not see the snow but our recording thermometer showed that the temperature at midnight was 30º.

Leaving the park and heading for home.

A look back at Saddleback Butte from Avenue R.

On our way home we stopped for breakfast at Crazy Otto's. If you like eating breakfast this restaurant is a must.

Return to Monache Meadows

2011-10-05T16:46:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: After posting our trip to Monache Meadows last year I was asked by several people to let them know when we were planning to return. Originally we were headed east of Long Valley to the Glass Mountain area but I was ill and this delayed our departure by a day. Monache was a last minute decision.

Early October and it seemed like a good time to return to Monache Meadows in the Sierra Nevada. We visited the same weekend last year.

Crossing the bridge over Snake Creek. Back in 1993, when some extreme groups were trying to close the road into Monache, they testified that there was no bridge on the road. We cleared up quite a bit of trash around the campsite near the bridge.

Kern River and Olancha Peak.

We spent two nights at our favorite camp. The night time temperatures were warmer than the year before. First night a low of 31º, the second night the temperature never dropped below 40 degrees.

Looking south at Jackass Peak and Granite Knob. Climbed them both back in 2004. Jackass Peak has anchors for a Tyrolean traverse from the summit to a secondary peak about 50 feet away.

On the morning of our third day we had the pleasure of meeting Tony and his son Erik, from Bakersfield. We met them last year while fueling up in Personville. This year we met them closer to our camp. They were hunting deer and usually spend an entire week camping in the area. I neglected to take a photo.

Driving the winding road back to pavement. Just for curiosity we drove back in 2WD. There were two sections where the tires broke loose for a second but the weight of the FWC provided for excellent traction.

The trip continued but no more camping with the FWC.

2011-08-10T18:06:00.001-07:00

We camped in Nebraska for one night and then stayed at several motels, the last near the airport in Omaha. Jan had to return home so she boarded a plane at Eppley Airfield
for LA. For the remaining two weeks of my journey I stayed with friends or relatives.

Drove through a wonderful thunderstorm in Iowa.

I once lived in Chicago and driving the city through reminded me why I left.

Spent about 50 minutes in Indiana on my way to MI.

Near the Michigan/Ohio border I drove into a tremendous thunderstorm with hail, wind and driving rain.

The Buckeye State.
The nut of a Buckeye tree.

Warning: The nuts are slightly poisonous and shouldn't be eaten unless they are heated and leached.

My brother Dave has a two-post lift in his garage. I decided to use it and track down the leak on the suspension air bag system. The good news was that we found it. The bad news, the leak was in an air bag.

Upon leaving Ohio I drove straight back to California. The journey took 51 hours. I stopped three times to take naps at rest areas in Missouri, Kansas and Utah. Having the Four Wheel Camper was a great benefit because I could just park, open the camper door, slide onto the couch and sleep.

Originally was headed west on I-80 to meet a friend in Utah but plans changed and I decided to drop down on I-69 to I-70.

When 18, I drove west from Ohio to the Mississippi River. At the time it seemed like quite an adventure.

My first nap in the FWC was in Missouri.

Second nap in Kansas. Takes a long time to drive across this state.

Colorado, halfway home. When the Rocky Mountains appeared on the horizon I felt that I was back in the West.

Bought a melon in Green River. Gotta be the best melons in the world. Driving across the San Rafael Swell was gorgeous at sunset. When I reach I-15 in Utah it seems all down hill.

Always enjoy driving through the Virgin River Gorge on I-15.

After fueling up in Mesquite the next stop was Baker.

7,918 miles total miles.

On to the Cowboy Trail

2011-07-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Leaving Moorcroft we paid a quick visit to a familiar location and I learned that Jan had never seen the movie.

An extremely large camper passed by on the way to Sturgis, ND. Jan commented, "I would like to have a camper like that because I would have a king size bed, a bathroom and a walk-in closet."

FWC at Sturgis, SD three weeks before the rally. Back in 1979 I drove over from Gillette to visit the rally. It seemed really crowded and rowdy back then. I don't really need to see it now.

Sturgis Main Street. It will look much different the first full weekend in August.

Noticed this sign while leaving town.

Headed for Nebraska through SW South Dakota. The sign was a discouragement for dry camping in the area.

Entering Badlands NP. We drove south from here across the Pine Ridge Reservation and on to Nebraska.

We disturbed this vulture from his aromatic meal of rotten road kill.

Our site at Steer Camp in the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest. It is a man-made forest of pines and doesn't seem to get many visitors. The register showed only six campers in two weeks.

We drove on to Valentine, NE.

Yep, the temperature reads 154º. The reporters should be arriving soon. The highest recorded temperature on Earth was 139º in Libya, 1922. The actual temperature in Valentine was 104º.

The beginning of the Cowboy Trail - the country’s longest rail-to-trail conversion. It follows the old Chicago and Northwestern Railroad right-of-way.

The temperatures were 20 degrees cooler the week before but this is the week that I have to ride.

I start my ride of the Cowboy Trail. Jan will drive ahead to our motel and monitor the ham radio.

About three miles east of Valentine is a quarter-mile long trestle crossing the Niobrara River.

On the trestle 140 feet above the river.

These horses gave me a curious look as I rode by on the old RR grade. They were probably wondering why someone would be riding a bike in 100º heat.

Spotted what I think was a Western Ornate turtle (Terrapene ornata ornata) crossing the trail east of Valentine.

Jan, the FWC and an air conditioned Tacoma waiting ahead at a parking lot off of US 20.
After 17 miles I had had enough. I have ridden in 100 plus heat before in CA but the humidity did me in. The next day I gave it another go, thinking that it would be better the second day. It wasn't. It was worse. I had to stop every two or three miles and sit in total shade and hydrate. After 16 miles sweat was dripping off of my eyebrows and my clothes were soaked. I radioed Jan and she drove back to pick me up.

Notes on the Cowboy Trail:

Interesting when it follows the old RR grade away from the highway.

Boring when riding next to highway.

Very easy grades.

Crossing old trestles was fun.

Sometimes the trail is used as a road and while driving on washboard is annoying it is really a pain when on a bike.

On a few sections there were ruts from ATV's.

Riding through the small towns along the trail was refreshing in many ways. (I spent 1/2 hour at a Subway in Atkinson cooling down and eating lunch.)

The rider gets a different view of farms and fields.

Wildlife doesn't spook very quickly. (A couple of deer kept browsing until I was ten feet from them.)

East to Gillette

2011-07-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

We departed Odgen, UT with no plan other than to drive to Flaming Gorge spending as little time on the I-80 as possible.

Photo of our retreat from Mount McKinnon back to Utah Route 39. Seemed like an easy half mile drive to the summit but once again snow drifts blocked our way.

Crossing under I-80 at a ranch exit in Wyoming.

Near Dowd's Hole, Utah.

Dusk darkens the clouds over Flaming Gorge Reservoir.

Dowd Mountain Overlook camp. Flaming Gorge NRA is a very beautiful area.

Cart Creek Bridge just before Flaming Gorge Dam. Jan and I both thought it odd that here we were visiting a huge reservoir filled with Green River water. Several years ago we spent six days on a canoe trip paddling the Green River to its confluence with the Colorado.

Cart Creek Bridge and a FWC. We visited the Flaming Gorge Dam and then drove north to Wyoming.

In Wyoming looking south into Utah.

Spotted this buck pronghorn north of Rawlings. He was the first of many.

Visited Independence Rock because I had read about it many times and wanted to see the inscriptions carved by emigrants on the Oregon/California Trail.

The moon rises over Wyoming as we drive to our next camp.

Our Green Mountain camp. Five dollars a night, tables, toilets and water - great campground.

Looking back at our route leaving the Green Mountains.

Driving north to Lander when we stopped at the modern ghost town of Jeffrey City.

The stop signs are faded and grass is growing in the streets but 30 years ago 4,000 people lived in Jeffrey City.

Men's barracks.

Close up.

Crossing Boysen Dam.

Downstream of the Boysen Dam. While visiting the dam I wondered how the RR dealt with the problem of the dam. Found the answer here.

Boysen Dam spillway and FWC.

Boysen Dam spillway and Jan.

It was difficult to take this photo because of the mist flying up from the roaring water in the spillway.

We drove north through the beautiful Wind River Canyon to Thermopolis, WY. Jan bravely walked 30 feet out on the suspension bridge, Remember: She doesn't like bridges.

The hot springs in Thermopolis are an awesome place to visit.

Spotted this buck north of Thermopolis.

The moon rises as we drive east from Ten Sleep.

We camped near the top of old US 16 Ten Sleep Canyon road in the Big Horn Mountains.

The morning sun lights up the cliffs to the north of our camp.

Mr. Johnson entering Johnson County. Back in the 70's when I lived in Wyoming this always seemed worth a laugh to my friends.

Powder River Pass, Big Horn Mountains.

FWC and the Big Horn Mountains. We drove to Buffalo, WY where we both enjoyed a buffalo burger before continuing on to Gillette.

I worked at the Belle Ayr Mine back in the 70's.

When driving back to the main road we passed vehicles driven by gray bearded men going to work. Jan commented that I probably worked with a few of them more than 30 years ago. We drove on to Moorcroft and a motel.

Driving the Transcontinental Railroad National Back Country Byway

2011-07-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

Also known as the Central Pacific Railroad Grade, the 90-mile road, the Promontory Branch, winds through remnants of railroad camps, towns, and trestles.

We drove north about 45 miles from the salt flats over Leppy Pass along the eastern edge of Pilot Mountain to the abandoned RR town of Lucin.

Along our path we crossed the infamous Hastings Cutoff. Pilot Peak to the north.

We arrived at Lucin the beginning of the byway. This old dugout is the only structure remaining in the abandoned RR town. Although there were two circular concrete railroad dispatcher telephone booths still standing near the road crossing.

Our mapping program showed a body of water east of Lucin. An old pipeline was still bringing water down from the Pilot Mountains. Quite a surprise, this small oasis in the desert.

The original railroad grade has remained unchanged since the Lucin Cutoff was constructed in 1903. It traversed a more difficult route, 42 miles longer, from Lucin, around the north end of the lake to Brigham City. It travels along the northern rim of the Great Salt Lake Depression.

About 10 miles east of Lucin.

Most of the old trestles need to be bypassed.

A few of the smaller trestles can still be used.

Not much remains of the abandoned RR town of Terrace, Utah. The sign notes that in the maintenance yard there was a 16 stall roundhouse. I read that most of the homes were moved to Montello, Nevada.

The Terrace Cemetery can be found about 1/2 mile east of the town. Terrace Mountain in the background.

Few markers remain in this lonely place. This is one that can still be read.

Storm clouds forming to the west.

Driving around the eastern edge of Terrace Mountain looking for a site to camp.

We decided to camp on the southern shoulder of Terrace Mountain. View from our camp looking SW.

After sitting for a while in camp I decided to hike to the summit of Terrace Mountain. After hiking for ten minutes I photographed this view of our camp with the New Foundland Mountains to the south.

Sunset from the summit of Terrace Mountain. When we stayed in the next motel of this I searched the internet looking for information about this remote peak. On of the places that mentioned the mountain was a neat peakbagging site named Peakery, which I joined, all because of this little mountain that stands alone a few miles south of the old transcontinental RR.

Dawn at our Terrace Mountain camp.

Jan discovered this aged spike

and I found this old drug vial near our camp.

Both items are still there if you would care to give them a closer examination.

Terrace Mountain from the RR grade.

On the road again.

While charting our route I noticed an curiously named feature on the map. It was named, "The Fingerpoint." We decided to take a 40 mile detour and visit.

End of the road, at the tip of "The Fingerpoint." On the east side of the point there is some sort of pumping station.

Returning from "The Fingerpoint." Nothing much interesting at the point. Don't believe we will be visiting again.

Driving east toward the Golden Spike NHS. We stopped following the grade about 15 miles from Promontory Summit. The surface of the route became a constant series of potholes and ruts and there was a well surfaced county road headed to the same destination.

The our drive along the Transcontinental Railroad National Back Country Byway ends at this a 1½ mile section of track that was relaid for the centennial anniversary in 1969.

On May 10, 1869 Promontory Summit was the location of quite a celebration. Union Pacific's No. 119 and Central Pacific's No. 60 (named the Jupiter) are replicas built back the 1970's. The original locomotives were sold for scrap in the early 1900's.

We departed GSNHS and drove on to Odgen. Needed five gallons of our extra fuel on this trek.

North to Jarbidge

2011-07-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Driving east from Nevada 225 on our way to Jarbidge. Independence Mountains and McAfee Peak in background.

Cruising through a sea of Mule Ears.

Getting closer to Coon Creek Summit.

More Mule Ears. Gotta love high elevation flora in summer.

Looking back on the road just traveled.

Only ten more miles to Jarbidge.

Our journey to Jarbidge ended here. The road had several snow drifts before and after this downed tree.

Looking for a campsite we are stopped by snow again.

Our camp near Coon Creek Summit.

Spotted this lake west of the road.

We retraced our route for ten miles and started down an alternate route to Jarbidge. After about three miles on the new route we met some people on quads who told us the road was blocked by a mud slide five miles ahead.

Wild Horse Reservoir.

Our third route to Jarbidge and it is also closed. It seemed that the only route into this remote Nevada town was the long loop up into Idaho and then south. We put Jarbidge on our Idaho/Montana trek itinerary.

Spotted these unique figures on the way to Maggie Summit.

Passed two of these signs as we drove east on the Maggie Summit Road. We continued on knowing that sometimes you can still get through.

The signs were correct. Makes one wonder what conditions were like weeks before.

The hole was only three feet deep but had sharp steep sides, a muddy bottom and narrow slippery sides that fell into larger holes. I was pondering our line through the washout when a shepherd strolled up and we began to talk.

Well, sort of talk. Using hand gestures, pointing and drawings in the dirt he told us that the road further ahead was washed out even worse. A few minutes later another truck arrived, its driver confirmed that there was a larger creek ahead and said it could be much worse. The other driver turned around and drove away while we gave the shepherd a drink and snacks.

Leaving Sheridan Gulch after deciding not to cross the first washout.

The time has come to drive on to Utah. Bull Run Mountains in background. We needed five gallons of our extra fuel to make it back to Elko where we gassed up and drove east on I-80.

Pequop Mountains Camp about a mile south of Pequop Summit.

Same camp, different time, light and angle.

Noticed this odd succulent near our camp.

Looking east at sunset from our Pequop camp. The next morning we drove on to Wendover for gas and a quick visit to the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Lots of water out there. This summer the Bonneville Salt Flats were more an extension of the Great Salt Lake.

The Floating Island about 15 miles away with New Foundland Mountains in background.

The ghost town of Hamilton and the Ruby Valley/Mountains

2011-07-09T05:50:00.000-07:00

A thunderstorm roared through the White Pine Range about an hour before we arrived. The roads became muddier and muddier the closer we got to our ghost town destination. One 50 yard stretch of deep muddy water filled ruts made me comment, "Sure glad we have a winch."

Hamilton, Nevada. More than 10,000 people lived in this mining camp in 1869.

Our camp in Hamilton with Treasure Hill in the distance.

From Desert Magazine - October, 1941: "It was then January, 1868. The high Nevada plateaus and mountains were swept by wintry blasts and snow was piled deep everywhere. The Indian led them to a round-topped peak that reared its snow-capped summit high into the brittle blue sky. The party floundered through the snow drifts up the steep mountainside. Reaching the top, they blinked unbelievingly— everywhere they looked outcroppings of rock poked through the snow gleaming with rich veins of silver. Indian Jim had led them to one of the greatest silver bonanzas in the history of western mining. It was a treasure hill."

Hamilton circa 1941. (From Desert Magazine - October, 1941)

Hamilton, July 2011. All that remains of the Washington Hotel is a small interior room with very thick walls. (Building center right.)

We met John in Hamilton while taking photos of old mining machinery. He was touring the west with his pet ferret, Stumpy. By the time John returned to Georgia he had driven more than 8,000 miles.

These photos of mining equipment are presented to create a pang of envy in my friend Ron who upon hearing where we were headed said, "Have enough fun for two."

Driving the high road to Treasure City.

Treasure City ruins. (elevation 9,000 feet.)

6,000 people lived in Treasure City at its peak. We left TC as thunderstorms were brewing, drove back to pavement and on to Ely, Nevada. In town we ate lunch with John as the rain began to fall. After lunch John motored north towards Wendover and the Bonneville Salt Flats.

We checked into a nearby motel for showers, laundry and internet. The next day our route found us driving northwest through Long Valley towards Ruby Valley.

Crossing the Maverick Springs Mountain Range on the road to Ruby Valley.

Entering a unique region of Nevada.

FWC and Ruby Lake.

Miles of marsh and lake in the middle of arid Nevada. We should have brought a kayak.

Boating with a Four Wheel Camper?

Our actual location on a dike. Ruby Lake NWR has created a self-guided driving tour that winds along the shoreline and the dike system.

Driving south on the Ruby Crest Trail searching for a place to camp.

Looked like there was a nice place near the cliffs to the south.

We found this unique rock formation. Sort of looked like an elephant to us.

Looking east from our Ruby Mountains camp.

Looking south.

After breaking camp the next morning we drove north to Elko.

We need to visit the Ruby Mountains again.

Northeast of Tonapah

2011-07-06T06:43:00.000-07:00

The sign explains why we purchased extra gas cans in Tonopah. The problem was where to carry them. Jan suggested using a milk crate and strapping them on the roof rack. Next problem was where to find a milk crate. None of the local stores had any for sale but while driving past a convenience store Jan spotted two crates. She walked inside the store worked her magic and came walking back to the truck with a milk crate. Two ratcheting straps secured the load and now we could spend a few days exploring the Toquima Mountains.

We drove through Manhattan, Nevada on the way to Belmont. In 1907 4,000 people lived in Manhattan. Today there are about 120 residents.

Visited the old school house which is now a branch of the county library.

One of the classrooms remains as a museum.

This old wall map must date from the 1930's because Japan had possession of Taiwan.

The country store is closed but the Manhattan Bar/Motel is still open for business.

Next stop Belmont, Nevada. This town was booming in the 1870's with a population of 15,000.

The Nye County Courthouse was built in 1876. The Toyota Tacoma 2002, FWC 2006.

The Combination Mill east of Belmont.

Ruins in Meadow Canyon on the way to Jefferson Pass/Summit.

The old Meadow Canyon Ranger Station.

Taking a closer look at the cabin we noticed a bird nesting in the hole to the left of the door.

Our camp about 1/2 mile north of Jefferson Pass/Summit. Mount Jefferson in background. The summit of Jefferson was about five horizontal miles and 3,500 vertical feet away. While sitting in my camp chair watching the sunset cast a golden glow on the mountain I decided to visit the next morning.

Spotted a large herd of big horn sheep east of Mount Jefferson.

Survey marker, there were several on the summit.

South and highest summit of Mount Jefferson, 11,941 feet.

Looking south toward our camp.

During the approach I rode my bike north for about about a mile along a road that follows the ridge line. It made the return to camp much faster.

Second dawn at Jefferson Pass/Summit camp with Shoshone Mountain to the south.

Surprising amount of water in the Monitor Valley.

The road to Diana's Punch Bowl.

The azure 200ºF waters of Diana's Punch Bowl. Jan and I visited this spot ten years earlier. It still looks the same but we have more wrinkles.

Jan gazes into the depths of this remote geothermal feature.

Opening and closing fence gates is the passenger's job. At this gate Jan found it easier to close the gate than she expected. Then she realized that she was on the wrong side of the fence. A great deal of laughter was heard near Diana's Punch Bowl as a result of this maneuver.

Entering Ikes Canyon.

Further along in Ikes Canyon.

High on the upper reaches of Ikes Canyon we are stopped by long snow drift just a few hundred yards from the top of the pass.

This drift blocking our route required us to detour more than 30 miles to reach our destination. The drift also meant that we had to back up about 1/4 mile until we could turn around.

While reversing our route I noticed this field of Mule Ears above the road.

While driving our detour route we got our first flat and I recalled that on our previous trip into this area we limped into Eureka having used both spares and driving on a tire with a leaky plug.

Near Stoneberger Basin.

Dealing with another flat tire. Our bad luck in the Toquima Mountains continued.

Evening at our camp near White Rock Mountain in the Toquima Mountains. We camped here for two nights enjoying the cool breeze.

Driving north toward Clipper Gap on the Fourth of July.

Drove by this three wheeler and noticed a note, inside a plastic bag, attached to the handle bars.

The note.

Crossing Stoneberger Creek.

Celebrating Independence Day at the Indian Ranch Cabins.

Toquima Campground near Pete's Summit.

We spotted these burros near Spencer Hot Springs. A few miles after taking this photo we reached US 50 and turned east for Eureka. Used seven gallons of our extra fuel on this trek.

Near Montgomery Pass

2011-06-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Western boundary of China Lake NAWS.

Dawn at Cactus Flat Camp.

Looking west.

Old Montgomery Pass Motel

Driving to Mustang Point, Sugarloaf in background.

Mustang Point camp, with Boundary Peak to the southwest.

Snow gauge near Sagebrush Flat.

Sugarloaf Canyon doesn't seemed to get much traffic.

Close call in Sugarloaf Canyon. I agree with Jan, when after seeing this photograph, she said, "it doesn't really show how close it was."

After making our way back to US 6 we decided to try our luck on the north side of Montgomery Pass. Jan has just finished clearing a tree from the trail and strikes a rugged pose.

We found this Oldsmobile trunk lid alongside the road and wondered how it got to such a remote location.

One mile later the mystery was solved.

Tree number two.

Jan cleared it.

Number three.

The tree succumbs to Jan's mighty saw.

Five trees were cleared from the road to Sagehen Spring.

Cloud bank behind Boundary and Montgomery Peaks.

Sagehen Spring.

Range camp near Sagehen Spring.

Truman Meadow Camp.

Leaving Truman Meadow, Montgomery Peak in distance.

The road down Truman Canyon out to US 6 is a rocky, bone jarring track that we never need to drive again.

The Truman Canyon road is rocky until the very end but the views are outstanding.

Carrizo and La Panza

2011-06-12T22:13:00.001-07:00

Left Bakersfield after paying my respects to an old friend. Drove west to the Carrizo Plain NM to ride the bike on some the old roads that crisscross this unique valley.

Soda Lake looking north.

Walked out on the lake bed and found it much softer/fluffier than the Badwater Playa in DVNP.

Some water remains in the southern lake. Caliente Mountain in distance.

Drove on to the La Panza Range in the Los Padres NF. Spotted this building when passing through the same named ghost town on the way to La Panza Summit.

Water still flowing down Navajo Creek in June.

Navajo Camp to the right, across the stream and up the hill.

Dusk at Navajo Camp. Only one campsite at this location. Two if you count the small site 60 feet from the parking lot.

Nearby is a spring fed water trough.

Constructed 8-25-1948.

Water striders doing the impossible.

Early in the afternoon a hungry California King Snake slithered through camp looking for a rattlesnake lunch.

Dawn at Navajo Camp. Camped here for two nights relaxing, mounting the new weather station, listening to Sirius Radio and reading a couple of books. Not much traffic on the road below camp. (Three cars and seven motorcycles in 48 hours.)

Drove to a nearby mountain top.

Noticed this working weather station.

Looks like there might be a few dead cells in this battery.

Yikes, a UFO hovers over a ridge behind the truck.

FAA facility.

Or maybe satellite television/internet for the Four Wheel Camper.

Turkey vultures soared on thermals over the summit.

The oldest building on the mountain.

The route down the mountain.

The roller coaster road continued. Drove to isolated Friis Camp and while checking the bike tie downs watched a swarm of bees fly across the road. Thousands of bees in a 30 foot high whirlwind of stingers.

Near the San Andreas Fault.

Along the Sespe

2011-06-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

We drove north from Ojai to Rose Valley.

Our first hike was to the Piedra Blanca. In the parking lot Ben and I discussed the "Ten Essentials."

Ben at the crossing the first branch of Sespe Creek.

Crossing the second branch.

The sign points the way.

Entering the formation.

We wandered around Piedra Blanca for about 90 minutes

encountering odd looking formations

and human artifacts.

Elephant Rock.

As we were hiking back down to the Sespe a C-130 flew through the valley.

Looking west as we cross the Sespe, return to the truck and head for camp.

Dusk at Middle Lion Camp.

It's either steam or odor rising from Ben's socks in the morning sun.

Dawn at Middle Lion Camp.

On day two Ben tries a different approach to crossing Sespe Creek.

Hiking east.

We were eastbound he was westbound.

We hiked 4.5 miles to reach this location where a heartbreaking tragedy occurred in 1969.

Click here to read more.

We encountered several pack trains on the trail.

Some flowers were

still in bloom.

One more creek crossing and we are back at the truck.

Waiting to take us home.

East of Red Rock with the Explorers

2011-05-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

Dawn NW of the El Paso Mountains.

We set up camp here on Saturday evening after most of the Explorers were driving home.

Later that evening our campsite neighbors provided some entertainment. When asked if we would mind if they continued a family tradition of firing up a Sobe gasoline bomb. I said, "Okay with me, as long as it is closer to your vehicles than ours." Click here to view explosion in slow motion.

Our trek began by meeting 12 other vehicles at our rally spot in Mojave. After everyone arrived we drove into the desert.

Jawbone Canyon

Burro Schmidt's epic endeavor.

The College Girl

The site of Della's home.

Walt's camp.

This familiar portal.

A mysterious cairn.

Looking back at the road to our camp.

A restoration experiment. Dirt bike tracks in a small wash.

After repairs. Will return in one year to evaluate.

Brandon spotted this gnome camp fire ring. It was about seven inches wide. Knowing that he works for 20th Century/Fox I was suspicious and thought this might be a clever marketing ploy for "Gnomeo & Juliet."

We were expecting a fair showing of wild flowers on this trip after good spring rains but blooms were in short supply. These blooms were some of the few that were to be seen. Below are photos of desert flowers from spring 2003.

A herd of happy herbivores.

Spring Break near US 395

2011-04-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

We made camp at an elevation of 4300 feet about 1200 feet above Indian Wells Valley. At the time we made camp winds were moderate. The exposed location with the camper rocking in the wind made Jan concerned which made me concerned. I guyed the camper down to a boulder. Later that evening NOAA Weather Radio on 2 meters gave a high wind warning for our area predicting winds between 35-45 MPH with gusts over 60 MPH. I rigged a second guy to another boulder. The entire night winds smashed (what it felt like) against the camper, rocking and shaking our little world.

Dawn after a very breezy night. It was the windiest night ever spent in the camper. Outside at 2 AM, with sand goggles on, checking the guy lines, a gust hit me and sent me stumbling into the camper. Around 3 AM a massive gust slammed into us and I commented out loud that it 'was getting a little breezy' and Jan remarked, "no shit, Sherlock." Considering that Jan never uses impolite language the reader can judge the severity of the winds that night. (The NOAA Indian Wells Canyon station recorded gusts over 50 MPH, Five Mile Canyon recorded a gust of 68 MPH)

While drinking our morning tea a couple of 4X4 vehicles from SAR China Lake NAWS arrived and we were told that a training exercise was about to begin.

Twenty minutes later a helicopter roared over our camp. This video is a short compilation of the 90 minute training session. I have seen helicopters in use before but never with wind conditions like they were on this day.

Jan strikes a pose, with wild wind blown hair, while watching the SAR training.

Departing our camp site.

Wild flowers were beginning to bloom.

We drove further up the canyon to explore.

Then we drove to Ridgecrest for some medical attention.

Thought that we would spend hours at the hospital but were in and out in just 90 minutes.

Drove north on US 395 to Big Pine and then west to Glacier Lodge. The X-Country skiing was better than expected.

The trout pond at Glacier Lodge and somewhere back in the clouds would be Norman Clyde Peak.

Jan spotted these snow covered rocks and remarked that they looked like frosted cupcakes.

Bobcat tracks found on our way to the North Fork bridge. Tried to sell Jan on the idea that they were mountain lion tracks but she wasn't buying.

The icy cold waters of the North Fork of Big Pine Creek.

An icy falls 'frozen' in motion.

South Fork of Big Pine Creek

Ice on branches forms inverted crystal goblets.

Closer look.

Jan throws a wave as she returns to the warmth of our camper.

It snowed about 1/2" during our stay.

Jan's route to the restroom.

Driving back down to warmer temperatures

The mass grave site.

Jan spotted Gorilla Rock on the road to McCloud Flat.

Sunset was approaching as we passed this small cabin near the McCloud Mine.

Dawn on McCloud Flat.

An hour after dawn.

Why we love the desert.

View to the south of our camp.

The only snow remaining on McCloud Flat.

McCloud Flat and our Four Wheel Camper from a NE ridge mine site.

Olancha Peak, 12,132 feet, still hidden behind clouds.

Descending from McCloud Flat.

Approaching Cactus Flat. US 395 is about 10 miles away and then we turn left and head for home.

Surprise Adventure: Kelso Dunes

2011-03-31T21:30:00.001-07:00

The invitation read: Surprise Adventure, Pick up directions at Rancho Pico at 5 PM. Follow the directions 221 miles to Mr. Johnson's location.

Morning clouds at our Kelso Dunes camp. We drove out the night before to secure spaces for the adventurous Explorers.

Afternoon clouds drifting over the Providence Mountains.

Sand plumes blowing off the dune summits.

Providence Mountains

Sunset at the dunes and the wind was gusting.

I made a sign (Jan felt it made us look like hillbillies) so everyone would know where to find us because we were expecting about 15 vehicles later that evening. The first vehicle arrived at 8:30 PM and the last at 9:40 PM.

At 10:30 PM about 40 people hiked into the darkness headed for the summit of the 665 foot high dune.

Second dawn.

Hard to see but there are 17 vehicles at our camp. Their welcoming sign from the night before is in the lower right hand corner.

The next morning some in our group decided to summit the dune again.

Most of our group drove to the Kelso Depot for lunch.

Three day weekend in Inyo County

2011-02-23T18:55:00.000-08:00

Our first camp.

View from our kitchen window.

Storm breaking over the Sierra Nevada.

Headed for Westgard Pass in the White Mountains.

Near the OVRO.

We set up camp at 7200 feet and waited for the approaching storm.

The next morning and a little disappointed in the amount of snow. The forecast had called for 8 to 12 inches. We got about six inches.

Enough snow to ski.

Another track in the snow.

The second night just after sunset the outside thermometer read 11º predicting subzero overnight temperatures. We left our Westgard camp and headed down to a lower elevation and warmer climes at 4,600 feet. The early morning sun warms the Sierra at our new camp.

I was sitting outside of our FWC reading when the first jet roared up the valley and spent the next ten minutes watching until I finally thought to get my camera. They never came as close as the first pass but it was an entertaining 20 minutes.

Driving away from our campsite.

Taking a circuitous route to the Shark's Fin. Lone Pine Peak looms over our road.

This set of whoop-de-doos seemed a good time for a driving over the camera shot.

The Shark's Fin.

Snow covered Inyo Mountains in background.

The Inyo's reflect in the seldom seen surface of Owens Lake.

While taking the photo of Owens Lake we noticed an old dump.

A favorite orange soda from the past.

Returning to the 395.

Having driven past Olancha Dunes countless times we decide to visit.

There seems to be only one major dune and Jan climbed to its summit.

Jan attempts to glissade down the dune. She has successfully used this technique on 14'ers in Colorado.

Leaving Olancha Dunes and heading for home. Jan's failed glissade in background.

East of Barstow

2011-02-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Explorers looking for adventure.

They find it.

Sunset: The Explorers are on their way home and it's time for us to set up camp.

Sunrise over the Mojave.

Looking north from our camp. Cady Mountains in distance.

A dormant volcano is our neighbor.

Another angle and our friend's camp comes into view.

The cloud of dust in the center of this photo marks the spot of one of many explosions we observed to south of our camp in the MCAGCC.

After breakfast we drove on to the Kelso Dunes. Hiked to the top, the first time, back in 1990.

Our next stop was the Kelso Depot. Very cool to see the depot fully restored and open. After it closed in 1985 it was boarded up and spent two decades in limbo.

We walked down the shaded veranda of the restored depot

and visited the "The Beanery" for lunch.

Dave personalized

a sign near Baker.

Heading west we made a quick detour to Zzyzx.

The answer to the question.

Rubiconer's wave goodbye.

Last photo before we head for home. Soda Lake in the background.

Winter Northwest Trek - East

2011-01-11T19:08:00.000-08:00

We had planned to drive WA 20 along the Skagit River over the Cascades but it was closed due to avalanche danger. Instead we took US 2 over Stevens Pass where we spotted this unfortunate cabin.

We spent the night in Wenatchee, WA.

The next morning visited A's RV for some propane service.

We headed south and after a good breakfast in Quincy crossed the Columbia River on the Blue Bridge (Pioneer Memorial Bridge).

Continuing south into Oregon we turned onto the Blue Mountain Road looking for a location to set up camp.

Dawn at our Blue Mountain Camp.

The next morning we encountered a rafter of turkeys.

The deepest snow we saw while in Oregon.

Continuing south on US 395 headed for Burns.

In Burns, OR we turned east on Oregon 178 and after 65 miles drove south on the Alvord/Fields Road paralleling the Steen Mountains on our right.

Sunset colors the sky over the Steens.

Our camp near Alvord Hot Springs, Steen Mountains in background.

Alvord Hot Springs. The soaking pools are about 100 yards away from the source.

Driving south towards Fields, OR.

Fields Station is an old stagecoach stop and the only sure place to purchase gasoline in the area. The station in Denio, Nevada is only 30+ miles away but has a sporadic history.

We stopped by the two room school in Fields and the gracious teachers gave us a tour of their remote facility.

We investigated some dirt roads while driving to Winnemucca, Nevada.

Santa Rosa Mountains ahead as we approach the junction of Nevada 140 and US 95. We stopped to have a flat tire repaired in Winnemucca and then continued southwest to California.

Our camp near the CA/NV line.

Looking back at the our route into California.

We turn south on US 395.

Pogonip Fog covering Mono Lake Valley.

Hot Springs Road near Mammoth, CA.

Hot Springs Road and McGee Mountain, on the left, the site of the first permanent rope tow in the Eastern Sierra.

Headed for home.