Sierra Valley
Wander
Lots of cool stuff off of HWY 50 including some great hot springs. If your interested i can message you some dropped pins.
My Journey
- Thread starter YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
- Start date
wolfgang92025
New member
I have enjoyed reading about travels for more than a year now.
Being a transplant, the wide open roads out west are a real tread.
Hwy 6 between Delta and Ely is just special, but not for everyone.
Nothing but wide open spaces except for Baker at the state line. And if you blink, you missed it.
Being a transplant, the wide open roads out west are a real tread.
Hwy 6 between Delta and Ely is just special, but not for everyone.
Nothing but wide open spaces except for Baker at the state line. And if you blink, you missed it.
ITTOG
Well-known member
Loved the pics of the night. The one of the trash looked like you hid Yukon in there. The very middle of it, on a phone looked like a snout to me.
Quite
I'm typically not looking for anything in particular.....I just love looking.....
Very interesting and thought provoking. Most of us need to do exactly that!!!!!!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Quite
I'm typically not looking for anything in particular.....I just love looking.....
Very interesting and thought provoking. Most of us need to do exactly that!!!!!!
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Last edited:
tgil
Well-known member
from Sept 7 2018
I'd like to see the falls and hot springs from this post some day! I've made this comment before, but I will say it again, I had no idea Idaho was so pretty! In my mind, I guess I pictured a state full of potato farms!
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
tgil.....identifying public lands is a real crap shoot. The National Forest Service does a pretty good job of labeling their roads, and the BLM not so much. So sometimes it's well marked in the field, sometimes I'm assuming that its public land, and sometimes I may be able to identify it from on line sources such as ioverlander or Google Maps possibly.....
Regarding Idaho, I swear there's little difference between northern Idaho and western Montana. Idaho is just as amazing.....
180out.....thanks for the tip but that will have to come at another time. I'm usually posting at least a week or two out so I was long gone from that area when you posted.....
Ace.....I'm just finishing up Denison's Ice Road and was thinking it's time for Desert Solitaire (again).....
Sierra Valley.....I actually thought about messaging you cause I remember last year you offered to help me out. That being said, I didn't cause I was not sure of my route. Thank you.....
wolfgang.....I thought the comment you made "but not for everyone" to be very interesting cause that was me once but not now. I always wanted to love the desert and I tried real hard but my love of the mountains & the forests always got in the way. It wasn't until I quit trying that I finally fell in love with the desert.....just like the mountains & the forests.....
ITTOG.....thanks.....I'm assuming you're freezing in Calgary ?
Our next stop would be Great Basin National Park.....a park I had found on my road atlas, a park I knew almost nothing about, although I had recognized the name when I saw it on my atlas. It turns out that Great Basin National Park is the least visited of all sixty one U.S. National Parks (this I learned at the visitors center).....
Prior to arriving I had gone onto summitpost.org and found out that Nevada's second highest peak, Wheeler Peak (13,063') was located within the parks boundaries. My one goal while visiting the park was to climb this peak so after getting a bit of good information (where we could camp) and a little not so good information (climbing beta), we headed to the campground.....Wheeler Peak was easily visible from our campsite.....
There were few campers.....the scenery was outstanding....as was our campsite.....
This babbling creek flowed right by our campsite.....the sounds of the flowing water had such a calming effect on our stay.....
Since it's a national park the dogs weren't allowed on the trails so we walked along the roadways and while walking we came across this Siamese cat perched up in a tree. All I could think is that he must have escaped from an RV (I actually saw this happen in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and now he lives a life in the forest.....
The ranger told me to get an early start since the winds later in the day, near the summit and on the summit as well, could be in the 70 to 80 mph range. He also told me to expect at least an 8 hour climb. Now this climb was only 8.5 miles with approximately 3,000' of elevation gain so I was a little apprehensive about the beta that I received. The following morning I left the dogs in the camper and drove to the trailhead.....
The weather was near perfect at the trailhead located at roughly 10,000'. It was cool, not cold, and there was a slight breeze, not windy.....
As I climbed I crossed paths with several flocks of turkeys.....
And of course there were Mule Deer.....
Regarding Idaho, I swear there's little difference between northern Idaho and western Montana. Idaho is just as amazing.....
180out.....thanks for the tip but that will have to come at another time. I'm usually posting at least a week or two out so I was long gone from that area when you posted.....
Ace.....I'm just finishing up Denison's Ice Road and was thinking it's time for Desert Solitaire (again).....
Sierra Valley.....I actually thought about messaging you cause I remember last year you offered to help me out. That being said, I didn't cause I was not sure of my route. Thank you.....
wolfgang.....I thought the comment you made "but not for everyone" to be very interesting cause that was me once but not now. I always wanted to love the desert and I tried real hard but my love of the mountains & the forests always got in the way. It wasn't until I quit trying that I finally fell in love with the desert.....just like the mountains & the forests.....
ITTOG.....thanks.....I'm assuming you're freezing in Calgary ?
Our next stop would be Great Basin National Park.....a park I had found on my road atlas, a park I knew almost nothing about, although I had recognized the name when I saw it on my atlas. It turns out that Great Basin National Park is the least visited of all sixty one U.S. National Parks (this I learned at the visitors center).....
Prior to arriving I had gone onto summitpost.org and found out that Nevada's second highest peak, Wheeler Peak (13,063') was located within the parks boundaries. My one goal while visiting the park was to climb this peak so after getting a bit of good information (where we could camp) and a little not so good information (climbing beta), we headed to the campground.....Wheeler Peak was easily visible from our campsite.....
There were few campers.....the scenery was outstanding....as was our campsite.....
This babbling creek flowed right by our campsite.....the sounds of the flowing water had such a calming effect on our stay.....
Since it's a national park the dogs weren't allowed on the trails so we walked along the roadways and while walking we came across this Siamese cat perched up in a tree. All I could think is that he must have escaped from an RV (I actually saw this happen in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and now he lives a life in the forest.....
The ranger told me to get an early start since the winds later in the day, near the summit and on the summit as well, could be in the 70 to 80 mph range. He also told me to expect at least an 8 hour climb. Now this climb was only 8.5 miles with approximately 3,000' of elevation gain so I was a little apprehensive about the beta that I received. The following morning I left the dogs in the camper and drove to the trailhead.....
The weather was near perfect at the trailhead located at roughly 10,000'. It was cool, not cold, and there was a slight breeze, not windy.....
As I climbed I crossed paths with several flocks of turkeys.....
And of course there were Mule Deer.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
I'd guess that it was at about 11,000' that I left the calmness and safety of the forest and broke out into the wide open rocky outcroppings. And it was here that I noticed that the winds were starting to pick up substantially and that the temperatures were dropping rapidly as well.....
I met a climber down climbing and he said to prepare for gale force winds. I continued climbing and I'd say at about 12,000' things got pretty crazy. I met two more climbers on the way down that day and they said that the winds up higher were knocking them down and that they had to use their hands to stay upright. Temperatures plummeted.....my face and hands were nearly frozen solid. I considered aborting the climb but I really wanted this summit.....
I persevered and eventually I did get that summit.....
The summit was covered with rock walls to hide from the winds.....
It was beautiful up there but I stayed on the summit for no more than ten minutes.....
It was amazing the difference two thousand feet in elevation made.....and it felt great to be back in the protection of the trees.....
It took me 5 hours roundtrip which is what I was guessing it would take me and that's why I questioned the ranger when he said to expect 8 hours. Later that day we were back on U.S. Highway 6.....just looking for a free spot to spend our night.....
I met a climber down climbing and he said to prepare for gale force winds. I continued climbing and I'd say at about 12,000' things got pretty crazy. I met two more climbers on the way down that day and they said that the winds up higher were knocking them down and that they had to use their hands to stay upright. Temperatures plummeted.....my face and hands were nearly frozen solid. I considered aborting the climb but I really wanted this summit.....
I persevered and eventually I did get that summit.....
The summit was covered with rock walls to hide from the winds.....
It was beautiful up there but I stayed on the summit for no more than ten minutes.....
It was amazing the difference two thousand feet in elevation made.....and it felt great to be back in the protection of the trees.....
It took me 5 hours roundtrip which is what I was guessing it would take me and that's why I questioned the ranger when he said to expect 8 hours. Later that day we were back on U.S. Highway 6.....just looking for a free spot to spend our night.....
ITTOG
Well-known member
I think yesterday was a low around 0f with high in the 20s. Today it was around 40. I like the cold so it has been nice. I don't get this in Houston so a nice change. I am looking forward to my hike Friday at lake Louise. Hopefully I will have some good pictures to share with you.
Congrats on your summit.
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Congrats on your summit.
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Ace Brown
Retired Ol’ Fart
I climbed Wheeler Peak around 2005. It was and is my highest climb, though I’ve driven to higher spots over the years. It was there coming down that I concluded hiking poles could be beneficial. Use them routinely now.
Did you check out the glacier there? It’s supposed to be the only one in Nevada. The caves there were interesting too. Nearby town of Baker is a funky spot but worth stopping.
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Did you check out the glacier there? It’s supposed to be the only one in Nevada. The caves there were interesting too. Nearby town of Baker is a funky spot but worth stopping.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The Benchmark series of state-by-state Road and Recreation Atlases do a good job of showing NF, NP, NM,Reservation, Wildlife Refuge, and BLM lands. Also, State Parks, State Forests, etc are generally shown. At a scale of (generally) 1" = 4 miles, and with Federal lands generally being whole 1 mile on a side square sections, the Benchmarks provide enough detail to give me comfort I'm on public land.
Foy
Sierra Valley
Wander
You should def hit me up let me know what your thoughts are on where you are headed. I have lots of great spots for you. Glad you went to Great Basin one of my fav places. Ill be headed out HWY 50 on Tuesday towards Ely. Let me know be happy to point you towards some cools spots. Looks like you camped in one of the spots I used when last there in the park.
Those views up top! Will have to get back next year for a summit.
Those views up top! Will have to get back next year for a summit.
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
Dougnuts.....I always like to summit but here I wanted to see the Great Basin in its entirety and it was well worth the effort.....
ITTOG.....have fun up north.....thanks.....
Ace.....I've used hiking poles on some of my long treks in the Andes when I was carrying a 70 to 80 pound mountaineering pack. I found that they helped my balance at times but other than that I find them to be too much like work.....always looking as to where to place them.....
Foy.....yep, that's definitely another good resource although I don't have them.....
Sierra Valley.....I had friends message me and they wanted to meet so I headed south but as always grateful for the offered assistance.....
Daniel-J.....the dogs love the lifestyle, and regarding the pictures, it's the phone.....
Arjan.....thanks.....the winds made a rather easy hike into quiet the challenge.....and I loved it.....
I gave thought to continuing west and driving across Nevada but I received a message from friends down south that invited me to hang out so when U.S. Highway 6 intersected with Route 93, we hung a left and went south. I was in no hurry still so not too far down the highway we overnighted in the desert.....
.....very close to Patterson Pass.....
The following morning Tanner and I were off for some bushwacking.....hoping to find the summit of a smaller mountain.....Dutch John Mountain (8,860').....
Apparently the best route up (beta from summitpost) was along the western slope but once I parked the Jeep I realized I'd never find it on my return since it was parked in 20 to 30 foot tall pines (no GPS here).....
So I made an executive decision and decided to try to access the summit by hiking the ridgeline from the north and going south.....
The real problem with this route was the never ending cliffs and trying to find a chute that would provide easy access.....
Now Tanner is quite amazing the way he can climb those cliffs but honestly I just get really, really nervous.....he seriously has no fear.....
ITTOG.....have fun up north.....thanks.....
Ace.....I've used hiking poles on some of my long treks in the Andes when I was carrying a 70 to 80 pound mountaineering pack. I found that they helped my balance at times but other than that I find them to be too much like work.....always looking as to where to place them.....
Foy.....yep, that's definitely another good resource although I don't have them.....
Sierra Valley.....I had friends message me and they wanted to meet so I headed south but as always grateful for the offered assistance.....
Daniel-J.....the dogs love the lifestyle, and regarding the pictures, it's the phone.....
Arjan.....thanks.....the winds made a rather easy hike into quiet the challenge.....and I loved it.....
I gave thought to continuing west and driving across Nevada but I received a message from friends down south that invited me to hang out so when U.S. Highway 6 intersected with Route 93, we hung a left and went south. I was in no hurry still so not too far down the highway we overnighted in the desert.....
.....very close to Patterson Pass.....
The following morning Tanner and I were off for some bushwacking.....hoping to find the summit of a smaller mountain.....Dutch John Mountain (8,860').....
Apparently the best route up (beta from summitpost) was along the western slope but once I parked the Jeep I realized I'd never find it on my return since it was parked in 20 to 30 foot tall pines (no GPS here).....
So I made an executive decision and decided to try to access the summit by hiking the ridgeline from the north and going south.....
The real problem with this route was the never ending cliffs and trying to find a chute that would provide easy access.....
Now Tanner is quite amazing the way he can climb those cliffs but honestly I just get really, really nervous.....he seriously has no fear.....
YukonMontanaTannerTrapper
Explorer
We continued hiking along the bottom of the cliffs looking for that chute in the cliffs that would allow us to get higher. The cliffs were filled with small caves.....
.....and we spent way too much time checking them out. It's simply amazing how much life is supported by the steep cliffs.....
Finally we found that sweet spot where we could both safely access the first ridgeline. I marked it well and built small cairns to make sure that I could find it on our return trip down.....
The views over the valley were outstanding....
I saw no sign that any man had ever walked this ridgeline although certainly elk and mule deer had crossed it many times.....
Eventually it became obvious that we would not summit.....with Yukon in the camper I felt the need to head home.....
On the down climb I said to Tanner "Jeep" (he and Yukon both know the words camper, truck & Jeep) and he absolutely amazed me with his route finding skills as we walked within five feet of the long line of stone cairns that I'd built.....and he led us safely home.....
.....and we spent way too much time checking them out. It's simply amazing how much life is supported by the steep cliffs.....
Finally we found that sweet spot where we could both safely access the first ridgeline. I marked it well and built small cairns to make sure that I could find it on our return trip down.....
The views over the valley were outstanding....
I saw no sign that any man had ever walked this ridgeline although certainly elk and mule deer had crossed it many times.....
Eventually it became obvious that we would not summit.....with Yukon in the camper I felt the need to head home.....
On the down climb I said to Tanner "Jeep" (he and Yukon both know the words camper, truck & Jeep) and he absolutely amazed me with his route finding skills as we walked within five feet of the long line of stone cairns that I'd built.....and he led us safely home.....