Nevada

in

In late May I drove from Seattle through the backroads of Oregon (and briefly in the northeast corner of California) to the Black Rock desert area of northwest Nevada.

Oregon - Hail (May 26, 2006 5:36 PM) Deschutes National Forest - Route 31 (May 27, 2006 8:41 AM) California Route 4, Pass through Modoc National Forest (May 27, 2006 10:53 AM)

Black Rock Desert

I approached the Black Rock Desert from the northwest on Nevada 34, which is a beautifully remote dirt road. A few examples of petrified wood are protected by elaborate fences. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   41.1608, -119.3896 

Nevada Route 34 South (May 27, 2006 1:24 PM) Nevada Route 34 South - Petrified Wood (May 27, 2006 1:40 PM)

I had originally planned on spending a few days exploring the Black Rock Desert area, but because of unusually wet weather, much of the playa (dry lake bed) was too muddy for driving. On some summer days there's a BLM visitor information trailer for the Black Rock Desert on the west side of Gerlach, NV.

Black Rock Desert - Playa - Sportsmobile (May 27, 2006 3:02 PM) Black Rock Desert - Playa (May 27, 2006 3:03 PM) Black Rock Desert - Playa - GPS/computer showing I'm at the Burning Man location (May 27, 2006 3:09 PM) Black Rock Desert - BLM Visitor Info Trailer (May 27, 2006 3:56 PM)

Fairview Peak

Deciding to return to the Black Rock area later, I continued south, camping in the remote hills east of Fairview Peak, 40 miles east of Fallon, NV along Nevada Route 50. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   39.2015, -118.1140 

Camping east of Fairview Peak - Sportsmobile (May 27, 2006 7:44 PM) Looking west at Fairview Peak (May 27, 2006 8:10 PM) Camping east of Fairview Peak - Flowers (May 28, 2006 7:22 AM) Camping east of Fairview Peak (May 28, 2006 7:23 AM)

The next morning I found the steep road up to the communication towers I spotted on the top of Fairview Peak (elevation of about 8200 ft.), and drove up for some amazing panoramic views. Visible in the valley to the west an off-limits US Naval Reservation. Warning signs dotted the west side of the road. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   39.2266, -118.1519 

Fairview Peak, elevation about 8200 ft. - Flowers (May 28, 2006 8:57 AM) Fairview Peak, elevation about 8200 ft. - Sportsmobile (May 28, 2006 8:56 AM) Fairview Peak, elevation about 8200 ft. - Sportsmobile (May 28, 2006 9:08 AM) Fairview Peak, elevation about 8200 ft. - Sportsmobile (May 28, 2006 9:17 AM) Fairview Peak, elevation about 8200 ft. - Sportsmobile (May 28, 2006 9:19 AM) Fairview Peak, elevation about 8200 ft. - Looking west into US Naval Reservation (May 28, 2006 9:32 AM) Fairview Peak, elevation about 8200 ft. (May 28, 2006 9:39 AM) Fairview Peak, elevation about 8200 ft. - Sign for US Naval Reservation to the west - "Warning Restricted Area Keep Out" (May 28, 2006 9:51 AM)