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Gauging Interest: Black Rock Desert August 2011


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Our first family overland journey was a couple of years ago in the Black Rock Desert. We've got the itch to go back.

 

This would be a relaxed family friendly expedition and doable in any stock Rover (heck we did it in our Ford Expedition). We will be stepping into the past and tracing the Applegate-Lassen Emigrant trail from the 1800's, traveling from Imlay, NV to Cedarville, CA. We'll camp in places where the early settlers camped, see the remains of a covered wagon, experience graffiti left by settlers on the walls of High Rock Canyon, and if we're lucky we'll see some wild horses.

 

We're thinking of driving up on Wednesday August 10 and camping or moteling in Imlay, then hitting the trail from the 11th-13th and heading home on Sunday the 14th. This is 3 weeks prior to Burning Man and we will be quite a bit north of that location.

 

**NEW - The new planned week for this trip coincides with the Perseids Meteor Shower! Although it will be a full moon, we still have a chance of getting a great show**

 

Total mileage on the trail will be 150-200 miles with no services. One of our campsites may have an outhouse.

 

I'll post up more details later.

 

http://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bac-3c80-fa98.jpghttp://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bac-3cc1-9e36.jpghttp://tapatalk.com/mu/a6cd8bac-3cef-ee6e.jpg

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might be running close to Burning Man Aug 29 - Sep 5th

 

also BLM Winemuca controls access through Black Rock. Insurance requirements and day use fee per person applies for a group.

 

Thanks for the heads-up Will. In 2009 our trip ended 12 days before Burning Man. If we do 17-21, we'd be within 8 days...the prior week might be better. I'll see what people think.

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I was talking to Bregman about this. Would really like to do it, but will be at my sisters memorial run during the same time frame. Looks like I'll miss this trip, but for good cause..
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I was talking to Bregman about this. Would really like to do it, but will be at my sisters memorial run during the same time frame. Looks like I'll miss this trip, but for good cause..

Nigel & Mike, do both weeks conflict, or is one better than the other? Another option would be a drive up on a Friday, Sat-Mon on trail, and Wednesday return.

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Will,

 

I heard from the Friends of the Black Rock Desert...

 

"The trail, running from Rabbit Hole to Black Rock,

is far away from anything happening on the drivable

parts of the playa; its over 17 miles from the trail

tangentially to the Burning Man site"

 

He doesn't think we'd be bothers by Burning Man activities during the 2 potential weekends we'd be there.

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I'd like to go, but as of right now, I'm planning on attending Burning Man for the first time this year. My roommate, who is a long time BM coordinator, is also getting married on the Playa.

 

Ohhhhh noooooo! Better bust out the Glo-Sticks B! Sounds like a train wreck of a weekend. Have fun!!!!!

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Weekend? I'll be on the Playa close to a week. Last 4th of July weekend was a good test of gear and environment. I'm deciding if I want to build a dome or not right now.

 

I'd suggest to anyone who crosses the Playa to use a vinegar/water mix and spray under your truck when you get home. Follow this link and scroll down to the "Your Car" section.

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Ok, I'm hearing on this forum and through direct contact that the Aug 10-14 would be a better time frame for the majority so I'm shifting to that weekend. How does that work for folks?

 

This is also the weekend of the Perseids Meteor shower and we should get a nice show.

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Here's an update of the surface conditions on the Playa:

 

From Tony Perez AKA Coyote:

 

 

Greetings all!

 

Anybody notice changeable weather lately? It's

that global cooling.

I'm sure you all remember that we were chased

off the playa last year

just two days before the annual BLM Playa

inspection by a torrential

rain storm leaving a massive lake that remained

through the winter

and most of the spring, resulting in the

extended postponement of

this inspection.

 

This last Sunday of June 5th was when the Playa

inspection was

rescheduled, and again we passed it by a large

and comfortable

margin! ...

 

Equally good news is that the lake that has been

washing around since

last October has literally scrubbed the playa

flat again, and it is

like driving on pavement. It's the best

conditions I have seen in my

sixteen years. It will never stop astounding me

out there!

 

Thanks again to all of you.

 

Tony "Coyote" Perez

City Superintendent

DPW / BRC

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Ok, I'm hearing on this forum and through direct contact that the Aug 10-14 would be a better time frame for the majority so I'm shifting to that weekend. How does that work for folks?

 

This is also the weekend of the Perseids Meteor shower and we should get a nice show.

 

Thank You Sir! We're On-Board.

 

Can I help in way? And is the B-man considering going?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Wow...it's almost the end of June already. So far, it sounds like there are 6 people interested:

 

DiscoChef

Sasquatch

NigelCowan

THoult (new member?)

HMBRover

DBregman

 

I hope to have some time this weekend to put a few more details together, but plan to depart on Aug 10 and return on Aug 14. I'll post the details up in the member's only area.

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Some good news. I was in contact with Friends of The Black Rock Desert and they informed me that our group is not large enough to warrant a BLM permit.

 

Also sounds like Black Rock got some of the heavy rains/snows that we did in the Bay Area. Recent report:

 

"Sat 6/25: still sunny and nice

Soldier Meadow Road is reported to be in bad shape, go slow. There is a particularly bad spot about one mile north of the Mormon Dan playa entrance road.

There is still a lake in the middle, and likely unpassable in many areas! Please travel with caution. "

 

Should be dry by the time we get there.

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