Eastern Nevada Outback Gravel Riding

I enjoyed camping and riding so much a couple of weeks ago I decided to do it again. Just an hour from Ely is the remote Lake Valley where I found the nice Patterson Pass Campground. No water, but it does have pit toilets, picnic tables and sun shades.

I drove down, set camp, and went for a spin out towards the Fortification Range.

I rode out across Lake Valley on a decent two track. Looking back at the Schell Creek Range, Patterson Pass is the deep notch left of center.

I came across this seemingly abandoned well and trough. Dutch John Mountain far right. I believe wells like these were powered by a generator which ran the "grasshopper" style pump.

Just above the well I entered the Pinyon Juniper forest into the foothills of the Fortification Range. The roads were soft here. Not terrible riding, just slow.

I took a spur to the base of this nice outcrop then cruised back across the valley to the campground.

Much like my last camp & ride the next day dawned cloudy and mild and staying that way throughout the day. I had a nice looking loop mapped out, but pondered whether to do it clockwise or counter clockwise, eventually electing to get the hardest climb, Patterson Pass, done first.

The climb from the campground to the pass is not long, just 3.5 miles, but gets steep at the top with gradients reaching up to 17%. Once over the top I plunged down into gorgeous Cave Valley.

 

 No windmill, no "grasshopper" pump, just a solar panel and a submerged pump.

Not a building in sight, nor any vehicles. Just roads, fence, cattle, and a few wells.

As if the scenery wasn't enough, the riding was ideal. Hard packed, smooth dirt. No washboard. Yes!

As I reached the southern end of Cave Valley these dramatic limestone peaks beckoned. I would turn left in front of them to Sidehill Pass.

Nearing the pass I took my last glimpse of Cave Valley.

I dropped off the east side of Sidehill Pass into Muleshoe Valley where I picked up the road to Muleshoe Pass. That road was unmaintained and held stretches of dried mud with ruts and cattle hoofprints. Not easy going! 

Much of the valley there had been burned recently, so the scenery was not as pleasing as Cave Valley, but there was an impressive Lupine Bloom in progress. Sadly I neglected to take any photos. I guess I was preoccupied with the rough road!

Thankfully the road improved as I rose to the pass and I enjoyed good riding over and down the other side into Lake Valley. I veered off the main road below the pass to avoid riding on the highway. Still good riding. Lots of fun rollers!

Swell views too. Looking across Cave Valley to the Wilson Creek Range.

And looking back towards Muleshoe Pass and Dutch John Mountain.

What a day!

Gravel Riding in the Nevada Outback

Last week I spent a couple nights camping and two days riding at the Dave Deacon Campground in the Kirch Wildlife Management Area (KWMA). What a phenomenal area! The riding was terrific, the hot/warm springs were soothing, and the campground was simple, but decent.

 I drove down early morning, set camp, and went for a moderate ride. The Moon River Ranch sits adjacent to the KWMA. Loved the sign. Looks like a pretty prosperous operation.

I rode across the White River Valley into the foothills of the towering Grant Range with Troy Peak, it's high point, at over 11,000'.

The vast White River Valley.

That evening I spun the mile or so over to the hot/warm springs. The water is about 85F, so not exactly hot, but felt great.

The views aren't bad!

The next morning dawned cloudy and remained so all day. I headed out early for a long ride, quickly arriving at the Adams-McGill Reservoir. So many birds!

 

I followed the White River south along several beautiful ponds, reservoirs, and meadows before turning west over a shallow pass into Coal Valley.

This area, in Basin and Range National Monument, has a wonderfully remote feel with dramatic limestone outcrops jutting above endless plains.

Almost all of the riding was on packed, smooth dirt - ideal for gravel riding. This is Garden Valley.

Soon after I returned to camp it started raining and an hour later I enjoyed a dramatic thunderstorm with a long, strong deluge.

Next morning I rode over to the hot/warm springs for one more soak. So serene. A real nice way to end the trip.

 Just over an hour from Ely, but a whole 'nother world. Wow!

Back in the Eastern Sierra 2: Riding

Conditions on the Eastside were good for skiing, but were also good for riding with cool, but not cold temps and damp but not wet soil. 

I joined BxCx for a spin out in Adobe Valley. When dry these roads are brutally sandy, but with some moisture they were at least rideable.

We came across this interesting abandoned corral.

The walls were constructed of Tuff (light tan), grouted in place with some sort of mud/sand mix, then capped with dark, flat rocks to keep the rain from eroding out the grout. Engineered!

The next day I rode in Long Valley taking a delightful stop at Little Hot Creek. The hot spring here is a little more off the beaten path than others in Long Valley although still quite busy during summer. This day I had it all to myself.

Cruised along the Alkali Lakes.

Great ride!

One of my favorite Owens Valley gravel rides is the circumnavigation of Tinemaha Reservoir. I got a nice early start from my old home in Wilkerson and enjoyed a fine long day in the saddle.

I especially like the stark desert scene on the eastside of the valley with the Sierra Crest jutting into the horizon.

The riding is super there too!

The riding is definitely not super everywhere though. Took a solid NO to this track. Hoofprinted sand is the worst!

 I've signed up for some gravel racing in June, so my focus has taken a decided turn towards riding. Sadly, skiing is on the backburner for now.

Back In the Eastern Sierra 2: Skiing

Massive apologies for letting the blog languish! I'll do better. I hope.

Mid April I took another trip to the Eastern Sierra. It's such a good time to visit with good skiing in the mountains, riding at lower elevations, no crowds, and pleasant temps

 I was fortunate to arrive post storm, so skiing was up first. Access at this time was a little bit tough since the normal winter trailheads were too low and a long way from the better skiing while the county road crews had not yet started clearing snow to the higher spring trailheads. Long approaches!

I elected to ski Bishop Bowl despite the 1000' hike up the snowless moraine. It payed off!

This was my view from the top of the moraine with the storm winding down.

The view across the Bishop Creek Canyon to Table Mountain and Jawbone Canyon.

Skinning wasn't much of a chore especially on slightly solar aspects where a supportable, but not slippery crust helped. View from the top. So stoked!

I very much enjoyed great skiing down the main run and quite good skiing all the way to the edge of the moraine.

The next ski outing was more of a novelty ski. A fantastic novelty ski! The stark Mono Craters under a beautiful sky.

Short but sweet runs on good corn snow.

 Glad to get out for some touring while out on the Eastside.

Back in the Eastern Sierra

Been away from Ely for a while. Back to my old home. The Eastern Sierra!

Good to see old friends, ride the bike a little, and ski.

Toured up near Chicken Wing from Deadman Summit.

Found quite pleasurable skiing in widely spaced, mature forest.

 Views to the west with The Negatives prominent center and Ritter/Banner poking out right.

Dead but still proud.

The following day it rained 3" in Bishop. Six feet of snow fell on the upper slopes of Mammoth Mountain! Figured Bishop Creek might be good to go. Table Mountain.

The grand Bishop Sierra skyline. From left to right, Emerson, Humphreys, Basin, and Tom.

Took four short, but quite fun runs in these glades.

 Had a super day skiing wind buff at Mammoth too. 

Back here in Ely skiing's been funky due to warm temps. Riding the bike and waiting for a reset. It's coming!

Last Week's Adventures

 Early last week we had a spell of spring like weather here in the Ely area. Warm! Windy! I wasn't real optimistic about the quality of skiing, so I opted for more of a "hike on skis" to explore new terrain.

 Travel proved to be largely pleasant and easy. This was the typical scene on the way up canyon.

When I at last reached treeline I spied a couple of impressive ski lines. The narrow couloir up left and the broad chute right of center.

A slightly different view. Wind wracked!

There were several fine looking short runs too.

Swell, but dry views on the way out.

Knowing the winds and warmth had messed up skiing in my usual zones I tried my hand in a very sheltered north facing spot. I skinned into this forest hoping to find good snow and some open glades.

I found neither! Apparently during the end of the warm spell there had been a light rainfall event here that froze, creating a rain crust. A descent in the forest would have been harrowing, so I attempted to attain the ridge above me. That option proved difficult as this limestone wall blocked me.

I finally found this little ramp up. Out of purgatory!

Once on the ridge I found the coverage thin but manageable and the skiing fair to poor, but doable.

Yes, there is lousy skiing here now and then. Hoping for a reset soon!
 

Since the skiing hasn't exactly delivered, I've been enjoying some nice hikes. 

Smith Valley and Heusser Mountain.

Steptoe Valley with the Schell Creek Range on far side. Wheeler Peak just poking out on the right under the clouds.

Tuff with Juniper and Pinyon.

 A stunted Juniper hanging on for life.

Steptoe Valley with the Duck Creek Range (dry) and Schell Creek Range (snowy)

Hiking up the south ridge of Heusser Mountain. Ely far left and North Ward left center with snow.

Another view across Steptoe Valley.

Nice to be able to keep a little fitness and enjoy the scenery, but I'm ready for snow!