Thanks for the report! We'll be North of VC so won't hit Como, but the roads all over are worked over pretty well.
Rained all weekend, but it's supposed to be hot again by Saturday!
-M
Rained all weekend, but it's supposed to be hot again by Saturday!
-M
Pathfinder III
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- First Name
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- Reynolds
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1632
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Looks like it will be a hot one! ill be at the meet up 0900 hrs Saturday.
Can I get some air after the trip my compressor went out last weekend in the Bodie Hills?
Can I get some air after the trip my compressor went out last weekend in the Bodie Hills?
Last edited:
I know! It's been SOOOOOOOOOOOO Nice all week, and it SNOWED last week.
EVERYONE BRING WATER! As mentioned this is primitive camping. There is no services of any kind, no water sources at all. Not even really camp sites for that matter. But I know you guys can handle it because you're all #overlandAF.
I will have a compressor that you can use.
-M
Pathfinder III
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1632
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Sorry for the late notice but I can't make it. I'll try for the fall
Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk
Off-Road Ranger I
Off-Road Ranger I
Great Trip! Glad you guys could join us for this!
Just sorted all my photos. I have a whole sequence that look like some African safari with horses in place of lions... Will post them all tomorrow
For now here's a shot of the view from our campsite:
Campsite overlooking Reno, NV by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Cheers,
-M
Just sorted all my photos. I have a whole sequence that look like some African safari with horses in place of lions... Will post them all tomorrow
For now here's a shot of the view from our campsite:
Campsite overlooking Reno, NV by Mike Henderson, on FlickrCheers,
-M
Influencer II
Great photos. Wish I could have made this but I had some issues to attend to this weekend. Looks like it was a great time.
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Sent from my LG-H810 using OB Talk mobile app
Off-Road Ranger I
Thanks @Wolfy for leadìng this trip through the Virginia Range. Good times!
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Sent from my SM-T530NU using OB Talk mobile app
OK, guys, here's the official report for the first Virginia Range Mustang Safari!
Meetup
Meetup went as planned at the I-80 freeway offramp at Lockwood. We arrived to find @Kent R waiting in his white JKUR. My crew consisted of myself and my wife, Danielle and our boys, Rocket (2) and Lightning Dragon (7). They wandered down to the river access park just off the main road to get wet and sandy. In the future this is where we should meet rather than the off ramp. I'd just forgotten that it was there. Eventually @DaveD rolled in. making a total of 3 rigs for the safari.
For LITERALLY the first time ever all three drivers were licensed radio amateurs, but I'f forgotten to bring my radio. Fortunately, Kent had a spare Yeasu FT60 for me so we didn't have to slum it on CB. I went and collected my family from the river and we were off!
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Before we rolled, Kent asked what I thought the chances were that we'd see horses. With the above report from @Slamson00 I felt confident enough to say 100%...
Lousetown Road
The road takes off up lousetown creek just before the Cemex mine. It's rough for the first 100m but not bad. The whole of the trail is pretty rough compared to years past. The only real obstacle on the first section are loose ruts that get your suspension all crossed up. I usually don't have trouble, but my new tires are a bit large and were rubbing all the time.
We saw a few mustangs just before getting on the trail vindicating my bold prediction. We then spotted a few on the hillside across from the road. Fortunately Kent and Dave both had the foresight to bring binoculars, so they were able to view the wildlife from afar the whole way.
The road ascends out of the creek bed and we made a vista stop at a mine site up on the hill.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Lagomarsino Petroglyphs
We made it to the petroglyph site for lunch. It was a bit warm, but not horrible. The petroglyphs as usual did not disappoint. This is truly one of the most impressive petroglyph sites I've ever seen.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Long Valley Road
To get back to Virginia City we decided to take the Long Valley Road instead of Lousetown Road. Lousetown is usually the faster route, but after the wet winter it isn't. Dave and Kent were up for following me on Long Valley Road which I'd done, but didn't have a GPS track. If you spend any time following me around you spend a lot of time getting lost and backtracking and wondering where the heck I think I'm going. But they didn't know that..
And they lucked out as I did not get lost!!!
We stopped at the water trough for the boys to play in the slime and scout for horses.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
On the way out, Dave got a flat right when I sighted a band of 30+ horses. So he got to change the tire with an audience.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
We took a quick stop for Ice cream in Virginia City, then took off on the Jumbo Grade Road to find camp. I vaguely had an idea of a spot, but nothing for sure. Of course I didn't tell them that...
The Jumbo Road follows contours up our of VC to the summit, then we turned right and headed up the Ophir Grade road following the ridge of the Virginia Range. As we got close to the prospective camp site, we spotted 3 mustangs in the meadow.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Scoping the mustangs by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustangs at Camp by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Meetup
Meetup went as planned at the I-80 freeway offramp at Lockwood. We arrived to find @Kent R waiting in his white JKUR. My crew consisted of myself and my wife, Danielle and our boys, Rocket (2) and Lightning Dragon (7). They wandered down to the river access park just off the main road to get wet and sandy. In the future this is where we should meet rather than the off ramp. I'd just forgotten that it was there. Eventually @DaveD rolled in. making a total of 3 rigs for the safari.
For LITERALLY the first time ever all three drivers were licensed radio amateurs, but I'f forgotten to bring my radio. Fortunately, Kent had a spare Yeasu FT60 for me so we didn't have to slum it on CB. I went and collected my family from the river and we were off!
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrBefore we rolled, Kent asked what I thought the chances were that we'd see horses. With the above report from @Slamson00 I felt confident enough to say 100%...
Lousetown Road
The road takes off up lousetown creek just before the Cemex mine. It's rough for the first 100m but not bad. The whole of the trail is pretty rough compared to years past. The only real obstacle on the first section are loose ruts that get your suspension all crossed up. I usually don't have trouble, but my new tires are a bit large and were rubbing all the time.
We saw a few mustangs just before getting on the trail vindicating my bold prediction. We then spotted a few on the hillside across from the road. Fortunately Kent and Dave both had the foresight to bring binoculars, so they were able to view the wildlife from afar the whole way.
The road ascends out of the creek bed and we made a vista stop at a mine site up on the hill.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrLagomarsino Petroglyphs
We made it to the petroglyph site for lunch. It was a bit warm, but not horrible. The petroglyphs as usual did not disappoint. This is truly one of the most impressive petroglyph sites I've ever seen.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrLong Valley Road
To get back to Virginia City we decided to take the Long Valley Road instead of Lousetown Road. Lousetown is usually the faster route, but after the wet winter it isn't. Dave and Kent were up for following me on Long Valley Road which I'd done, but didn't have a GPS track. If you spend any time following me around you spend a lot of time getting lost and backtracking and wondering where the heck I think I'm going. But they didn't know that..
And they lucked out as I did not get lost!!!
We stopped at the water trough for the boys to play in the slime and scout for horses.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrOn the way out, Dave got a flat right when I sighted a band of 30+ horses. So he got to change the tire with an audience.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrWe took a quick stop for Ice cream in Virginia City, then took off on the Jumbo Grade Road to find camp. I vaguely had an idea of a spot, but nothing for sure. Of course I didn't tell them that...
The Jumbo Road follows contours up our of VC to the summit, then we turned right and headed up the Ophir Grade road following the ridge of the Virginia Range. As we got close to the prospective camp site, we spotted 3 mustangs in the meadow.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrScoping the mustangs by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustangs at Camp by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrAWESOME CAMPSITE
So if I have a super power, it's the ability to find awesome campsites. As we were admiring the charismatic megafauna, an SUV drove past from the knoll where I was hoping to find a camp. When we checked it out, we found a great campsite with a fire ring and flat land enough for our tents and an AMAZING view of Washoe Valley and the lights of Reno.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Also, wild flowers were great on this trip!
The night was nice and cool with very little wind, thus making it the white whale of epic campsites in Nevada.
Mt. Davidson
In the morning, we broke camp and headed up to Mt. Davidson, the highest point in the Virginia Range. The road is rocky and rough, but not challenging. There are a few spots where you can't quite see where you're going, but you eventually find a parking area on the ridge with awesome 265 degree views of Reno, Washoe, Carson Valley and Virginia City.
We made the short hike to the summit.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on Flickr
Jumbo to Washoe
So the plan was to head down Jumbo Grade Road to Washoe Valley to finish the safari. I expected there to be a little damage to the road, which you can see here, was not all that bad in recent years...
Well, there are several diversions and re-routs around what has become impassible to all but a full on 4x4 with major mods, or a tracked vehicle of some kind. I have some video of these sections, so stand by for that...
We aired up in the OHV Staging area and parted ways.
It was a great trip and it was great hitting the trail with @Kent R and @DaveD! I will definitely plan on leading another run of this in the fall and again in the spring. Perhaps make it a yearly outing!
Have a great week guys and thanks for checking in our little adventure!
-M
So if I have a super power, it's the ability to find awesome campsites. As we were admiring the charismatic megafauna, an SUV drove past from the knoll where I was hoping to find a camp. When we checked it out, we found a great campsite with a fire ring and flat land enough for our tents and an AMAZING view of Washoe Valley and the lights of Reno.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrAlso, wild flowers were great on this trip!
The night was nice and cool with very little wind, thus making it the white whale of epic campsites in Nevada.
Mt. Davidson
In the morning, we broke camp and headed up to Mt. Davidson, the highest point in the Virginia Range. The road is rocky and rough, but not challenging. There are a few spots where you can't quite see where you're going, but you eventually find a parking area on the ridge with awesome 265 degree views of Reno, Washoe, Carson Valley and Virginia City.
We made the short hike to the summit.
Mustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrMustang Tour by Mike Henderson, on FlickrJumbo to Washoe
So the plan was to head down Jumbo Grade Road to Washoe Valley to finish the safari. I expected there to be a little damage to the road, which you can see here, was not all that bad in recent years...
Well, there are several diversions and re-routs around what has become impassible to all but a full on 4x4 with major mods, or a tracked vehicle of some kind. I have some video of these sections, so stand by for that...
We aired up in the OHV Staging area and parted ways.
It was a great trip and it was great hitting the trail with @Kent R and @DaveD! I will definitely plan on leading another run of this in the fall and again in the spring. Perhaps make it a yearly outing!
Have a great week guys and thanks for checking in our little adventure!
-M
Pathfinder III
- 5,200
- First Name
- Kent
- Last Name
- Reynolds
- Member #
-
1632
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- K6KNT
- Service Branch
- Retired Firefighter
Great trip!!! Thanks to Wolfy AKA the Camp Spot Whisperer for leading. And thanks to his two young boys for providing great entertainment.
Beautiful photos and write up. Looks like you guys got to see lots of horses as well. Glad to hear.
Looking forward to seeing the videos of the Jumbo grade. We almost went that route to Virginia City last weekend we were there but with it hailing and snowing that morning I decided to play it safe since I was by myself and took the paved way into VC.
Looking forward to doing this trip if I can in the fall. Hoping to get some inside knowledge from the camp spot whisperer as well as I love this area and would love to not have to stay at established camp spots all the time.
Looking forward to seeing the videos of the Jumbo grade. We almost went that route to Virginia City last weekend we were there but with it hailing and snowing that morning I decided to play it safe since I was by myself and took the paved way into VC.
Looking forward to doing this trip if I can in the fall. Hoping to get some inside knowledge from the camp spot whisperer as well as I love this area and would love to not have to stay at established camp spots all the time.
Pathfinder III
- 5,200
- First Name
- Kent
- Last Name
- Reynolds
- Member #
-
1632
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- K6KNT
- Service Branch
- Retired Firefighter
