In Search of...........Aliens?

[84-4runner]

sorry I just couldn't resist. A friend and I thought that we would take a short trip up thru area 51 and then go to the
Great Basin national Park. He is in California and I am in northern Arizona, so we would meet in Las Vegas, NV to
begin the trip. I did change the location of the spare tire for the trailer just before the trip to keep it out of the air
stream. I will not bore you with the drive on I-40 west to Kingman, AZ and then to Las Vegas. When I arrived
in Vegas I dropped the wife off with a school friend. I was warned about the spaghetti bowl and they weren't kidding.
It was a mess so my friend coming up on I-15 and I agreed to me at an exit northeast of town towards Salt Lake.
I missed the exit and ended up touring the large Amazon Distribution center and finally was able to get myself back
on I-15. My friend and I had lunch there, before heading north.

 

[84-4runner]

After a nice lunch. The weather was nice and warm we head north to our planned camping
area. Pahranagat wildlife area. It was a nice area but for the middle of the week seemed full.
The south gate was closed and we drove to the north gate and headed in. Lots of full camp
sites so we gave up and drove north. where we found a road heading into some hills. There
we found a nice camp site.

 

[84-4runner]

we found a nice place for my fireplace. I brought that and wood since everything out here
was burning and I didn't know what the local restrictions were. Once having set up camp;
since the weather was warm it was simple just cots. We found where something else had
had their dinner and set up the fireplace ther. We cooked some sausages for dinner and
BSs some and enjoyed the stars.

 

[84-4runner]

It was a lovely, warm, evening with lots of stars and enough clouds to make an
interesting sunset.

 

[84-4runner]

The next morning, we were up had breakfast and put everything away. Noticed that
clouds were coming in. The wind kicked up so long pants were the uniform of the day.
Up the road in Alamo we came across a Sinclair gas station, market, convenience store
all rolled into one. If they didn't have it, you don't need it. I meet the owners, a man and
wife who were really friendly and helpful. PLUS the gas was cheaper that even Vegas.
We found out that all the truck traffic was due to a detour from I-15. We head up past
Ash Springs to Crystal Springs and the Alien Research Center. We bought trinkets for the
grandkids and had a good time. We had seen a large number of 4x4s, SUVs etc. They had
numbers and stickers pasted all over them. The woman told us it was a rally and that a
woman from the rally camped at Ash Springs didn't realize how close to Highway 93 she
was and gave the passers by a show.

 

[84-4runner]

We show lots of the rally vehicles with " Iridium " stickers and not until later did we find out
that it was, allegedly" a female rally. Anyway, we took the extraterrestrial highway ( 375 ) towards
Rachael. We arrived and did all the touristy things and bought a 50 cent map. However begin guys
we didn't open it until later. But we had an excuse the wind was howling and the temperature was
going down. Down the road stopping for a break, we finally looked at the map and saw we missed
the main gate which was past Rachel. We would have gone back but the wind was just miserable. We
did stop at the black mail box.

 

[84-4runner]

heading back south we stopped at the Black Mailbox

 

[84-4runner]

Further south where 375 bends around Groom Lake Road we took it. It is a dirt road but it seemed
like a freeway. We were running about 55 or 60 with me leading and my friend call me on the radio
and said someone wanted to pass us. So I pulled over and stopped with my friend following. A white
pickup stopped and waited a minute then passed like the devil himself was chasing him. The wind was
still increasing and more and more clouds were showing up. We came to the sign, no gate here and
could see the pickup go up a hill to watch. Seems we caught the guard off the reservation. Scenic area
with joshua trees. Took pictures and headed back to 375.

 

[84-4runner]

We head back to Crystal Springs and Hy 93 and headed to Caliente and north to the
Great Basin National Park. In the Delamar Mountains the rains began. We headed north to
Pioche still in the rain and decided what the hell and turn east on a dirt road into the
Wilson Creek Range when the weather turned to hail and then snow. We had intended to
spend the night there. But due to the snow and cold temps we continued east and northish
to get somewhere, hopefully drier. But found some signs with critter warning so decided
to push to lower elevations.

 

[84-4runner]

we managed to get to lower elevations and found an opening in the cloud cover. However not
pot of gold.

 

[84-4runner]

we ran into an old ranch/settlement on our way north in the sunshine. But looking
all around we could see the storm was still there.

 

[84-4runner]

we finally came to some farms and a sign for a highway in Utah. The antelope were in the
fields fattening up for winter.

 

[84-4runner]

We found our way back to Nevada and found some overhead and a grill to make dinner.
The storm was rain again here at a lower elevation but was continuing, especially where
we want to go the next day.

 

[84-4runner]

after a rainy and windy night we could see our snowy objective. But we were in for a disappointment.
The park service closed all the road from the main office up. They didn't want tourist sliding off cliffs in the ice.

 

[84-4runner]

we wander around and the rain had at least stopped but not the wind. So
we made an executive decision and call the trip and split up and headed for
home. He thru death valley and me back to Las Vegas. I did find the look for
cows signage up north to be better, IMO, than the normal milk cow sign. Got
the trailer put away until the next trip.