Black Rock Desert in the Snow

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We knew that visiting the Black Rock Desert, NV area in the winter was a bit crazy, but we didn't expect snow!

Looking for the famous "tufas" near Lovelock, NV:

Looking For Tufas - Near Lovelock NV - Sportsmobile Looking For Tufas - Near Lovelock NV Looking For Tufas - Near Lovelock NV - Geoff

Seven Troughs

We spotted some wild burros and an old weathered graveyard, before camping for the night at the Seven Troughs mines. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   40.4680, -118.7845 

Seven Troughs - Wild Burros Seven Troughs - Graves near Mining Area - Sportsmobile Seven Troughs Mine - Camping at Night - Sportsmobile Seven Troughs Mine - Camping at Night Seven Troughs - Footprints in Snow Seven Troughs Mine in the Snow Seven Troughs - Sportsmobile in the Snow

Heading west towards Trego and the Black Rock Desert, we passed this sign.

Sign - Trego Gerlach Sulphur - Sportsmobile - Laura Sign - Trego Gerlach Sulphur

Trego Hot Springs

Trego Hot Springs, on the east side of the Black Rock Desert, sure was muddy! It was difficult to stand up straight without slipping over sideways. We didn't risk trying to climb down into any of the hot water. See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   40.7706, -119.1178 

Trego Hot Springs - Black Rock Desert - Laura Black Rock Desert - Sportsmobile - Laura - Mud

Welcome to Nowhere

Stopping for gas just south of the Black Rock Desert, the Empire gas station has a wonderfully honest sign stating, "Welcome to Nowhere." I suspect the strange creature standing on the left was left over from Burning Man . See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   40.5736, -119.3368 

Black Rock Desert - Empire - Gas Station - Welcome to Nowhere - Strange Creature

Hardin City

From Empire we passed Gerlach and drove clockwise around the Black Rock Desert playa surface. We went north on Soldier Meadows Road, then crossed to the east at the top end of the playa at Mud Meadows, and headed back south along Hardin City "Road". We spent the night at Hardin City. (Not much remains but some crumbling foundations.) See in Google Maps  See on a USGS topographic map  See in Google Earth   41.1162, -119.0019 

Black Rock Desert - Soldier Meadows Road - Playa Covered in Snow Black Rock Desert - Sportsmobile - Soldier Meadows Road - Playa Snow Black Rock Desert - Soldier Meadows Road - Someone's License Plates Collection at the Little Jo Mine Black Rock Desert - Road to Hardin City Black Rock Desert - Laura - Road to Hardin City Black Rock Desert - Sunlight on Colorful Mountains

Some amazing clouds...

Black Rock Desert - Clouds Lenticular Clouds - Black Rock Desert Lenticular Clouds - Black Rock Desert

Heading back, we had to retrace our steps, because the playa surface is too muddy to cross in the winter.

Soldier Meadows Road - Black Rock Desert Soldier Meadows Road - Black Rock Desert - Snow on Mountains Black Rock Desert - Snow on Mountains Black Rock Desert

Black Rock Desert Trips

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