The view of Tonopah is stunning, rounding a sharp turn that looks directly down onto the town. A lone dog has been barking at me from the hillside neighborhood, and I turn my back on him to keep hiking up the road. Another sharp turn, and I reach the summit.
Read MoreCricket Mountain ATV Trails, Camping, UNP5748, and UNP6180. Red Rock Knoll - UT, quadrangle.
I search the surrounding roads and valleys. No campers, no dust clouds to mark a traveling car. I haven’t seen another hint of humanity for 46-hours.
Read MoreCricket Mountain ATV Trails, Camping, and UNP5797. Red Rock Knoll - UT, quadrangle.
Among the cans, I note a bottle, and to my surprise, a note is in the bottle! My hopes for a treasure map, dashed when I read about someone's cross-country motorcycle trip and camping in this spot sometime in 2020.
Read MoreUNP6851 and Mound Mountain. Dry Willow Peak and Baboon Peak - UT, quadrangles
I wander the back roads to Mound Mountain. The sheep are gone, already being trucked to higher, greener pastures. The roads are in good condition, with a recent grading taking the winter ruts away.
Read MoreUNP6173 and UNP5740. Topaz Mountain - UT, quad
I drop my pack and take a water bottle when "boom" I hear the first of two 10:00 am blasting that the rock club will be working.
Read MoreBroze Knoll. Lund - UT, quad
I've stopped at Broze Knoll twice already, intending to reach the summit of this non-ranked peak. And twice I've turned away. Today is the day as I make my way down a short connecting trail to a pleasant campsite.
Read MoreUNP6312 and Flat Top Mountain - South. Enterprise and Hebron - UT, quadrangles
A horizontal pipe on the flagpole reveals the monument's purpose to honor Pilots Charles Butterwick and Charles Ives, who lost their lives in a plane crash on this site in 1943. The metal surrounding the monument are pieces of the plane that hikers have found and retrieved from the hillside.
Read MoreRed Rock Knoll. Red Rock Knoll - UT, quad
I'm excited that I have 35 peaks marked on my map, and they are all concentrated in a relatively small area. That is unusual. It is also uncommon that a trail system leading between the various ranges makes access more readily available.
Read MoreATV ride on Hardscrabble Trail System. Big Mountain & UNP 6926. Enterprise & Central West - UT quads
The trail takes a sharp turn up the ensuing bank at a weird angle, and a stupid tree sits just on the left. As soon as the tires stop sliding, I gun it at the turn and nearly lose my grip. But the tires take the traction and spin me back onto the trail. A lot of people love the adrenalin rush of a close call like that one. I don't.
Read MoreUNP 4869 Attempt. Riverside - NV, quad
Exiting the Virgin River Gorge, I decided to stop at the new Pilot truck stop and pick up a sandwich and chips. Easy off and easy on the location is ideal for a quick grab of gas or snacks when the sign flips over to announce the $249 million Arizona lottery ticket drawing tonight.
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