I recognize your painting:
One of my favorite places is the east side of Winnemucca Lake. Spent lots of time exploring there. Also really enjoy the east side of the Humboldt Sink. Keep posting!
2013 SR5 4x4 Update
- Thread starter Ron4RNevada
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One of my favorite places is the east side of Winnemucca Lake. Spent lots of time exploring there. Also really enjoy the east side of the Humboldt Sink. Keep posting!
Ron4RNevada
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Trek 335 - The Crater - 9 May 2017
Out at the north end of the Hot Springs Range in years past I had noticed a crater on the topo maps. Today I decided to find it. There is no mapped trail to it but I found a track through the rocks to it.
It's an old volcanic crater about 300 yards in diameter and perhaps 100 feet deep. The bottom is sand filled.
After leaving the crater I checked out some other tracks - I'll get back to this and add photos later - seems the wife has some rush "honey dos...
Honey does taken care of - From the crater I followed the main track to where trails branch off up a narrow canyon that eventually led me to a spot where the canyon wall had caved in due to spring flooding and made passage imposssible. I turned back and went to to
some diatomite prospects I'd checked out four years ago. The prospects had become a major quarry and looks like it has already been abandoned.
fom the ditomite mine I went across the low pass and then headed along a pole line road back to Hazen
Out at the north end of the Hot Springs Range in years past I had noticed a crater on the topo maps. Today I decided to find it. There is no mapped trail to it but I found a track through the rocks to it.
It's an old volcanic crater about 300 yards in diameter and perhaps 100 feet deep. The bottom is sand filled.
After leaving the crater I checked out some other tracks - I'll get back to this and add photos later - seems the wife has some rush "honey dos...
Honey does taken care of - From the crater I followed the main track to where trails branch off up a narrow canyon that eventually led me to a spot where the canyon wall had caved in due to spring flooding and made passage imposssible. I turned back and went to to
some diatomite prospects I'd checked out four years ago. The prospects had become a major quarry and looks like it has already been abandoned.
fom the ditomite mine I went across the low pass and then headed along a pole line road back to Hazen
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Ron4RNevada
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Ron4RNevada
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Ron4RNevada
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Some calcs
Now at 73,000 miles
First owner (New Jersey) 30,000 miles (probably never in 4wd)
Since I've had it:
a bit over 70 off-road trek
Total miles off-road = approx 10,500 (approx 25% of my 43,000) Total miles in 4wd = approx 7000
Total miles 4Lo with A-Trac on = approx 3000
Some thoughts about how it performs in N. Nevada terrain (mostly mountains [rocky] and playas [sand], rarely muddy, rarely water crossings) - sitting on E rated Toyo LT-265/70-17 MTs:
Never aired down
Always use A-Trac with 4Lo
Momentum never required except in dunes
Downhill assist used about four times
Almost stuck twice in dune sand
Almost stuck once in snow
Some likes about this vehicle:
*I have learned to love the combination of rear-view camera and rear sonar when making u-turns on very tight trails and backing down dead-end trails.
*The H2-H4-L4 knob shifter works great once used to it.
*A-Trac is very good and much improved over the system that came with the Land Rovers (but noisier)
*The DAC works about the same as Land Rover (but niosier)
*Liftgate and openable rear window a big improvement over the LR Discovery swinging door.
*The stock skid plates work just fine (when you take your time crossing very rocky areas).
*Ride both on road and off-road both an improvement over the LR Discovery with it's solid front axle and 100" wheelbase.
*Never had a single check engine light.
*17-21 mpg a big improvement over LR 13-17 mpg. Also the fact that I usually do get what it's rated at.
*Brakes excellent.
*Engine HP and TQ perfect for my uses.
*The Toyo Open Country LT-265/70-17 (E) are perfect.
Some dislikes about this vehicle:
*Hate the switches on the steering wheel that get bumped while reading a map and turn stuff on.
*Would love to have some steel instead of plastic.
*Wish I didn't have a sunroof-but at least it doesn't leak.
*Got a lot of tiny paint chips.
*Someday I will put a Toyo LT (E rated spare under it. Probably when replacing tires.
Now at 73,000 miles
First owner (New Jersey) 30,000 miles (probably never in 4wd)
Since I've had it:
a bit over 70 off-road trek
Total miles off-road = approx 10,500 (approx 25% of my 43,000) Total miles in 4wd = approx 7000
Total miles 4Lo with A-Trac on = approx 3000
Some thoughts about how it performs in N. Nevada terrain (mostly mountains [rocky] and playas [sand], rarely muddy, rarely water crossings) - sitting on E rated Toyo LT-265/70-17 MTs:
Never aired down
Always use A-Trac with 4Lo
Momentum never required except in dunes
Downhill assist used about four times
Almost stuck twice in dune sand
Almost stuck once in snow
Some likes about this vehicle:
*I have learned to love the combination of rear-view camera and rear sonar when making u-turns on very tight trails and backing down dead-end trails.
*The H2-H4-L4 knob shifter works great once used to it.
*A-Trac is very good and much improved over the system that came with the Land Rovers (but noisier)
*The DAC works about the same as Land Rover (but niosier)
*Liftgate and openable rear window a big improvement over the LR Discovery swinging door.
*The stock skid plates work just fine (when you take your time crossing very rocky areas).
*Ride both on road and off-road both an improvement over the LR Discovery with it's solid front axle and 100" wheelbase.
*Never had a single check engine light.
*17-21 mpg a big improvement over LR 13-17 mpg. Also the fact that I usually do get what it's rated at.
*Brakes excellent.
*Engine HP and TQ perfect for my uses.
*The Toyo Open Country LT-265/70-17 (E) are perfect.
Some dislikes about this vehicle:
*Hate the switches on the steering wheel that get bumped while reading a map and turn stuff on.
*Would love to have some steel instead of plastic.
*Wish I didn't have a sunroof-but at least it doesn't leak.
*Got a lot of tiny paint chips.
*Someday I will put a Toyo LT (E rated spare under it. Probably when replacing tires.
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Ron4RNevada
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Ron4RNevada
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Trek 336 - back to the Volcano Crater and Looking for 2nd
170520 - Trek 336 - Two Craters - 20 May 2017
Pat and I headed out at about 9 this morning to better explore that volcanic crater that I found last week. After about twenty five miles to Brady’s Hot Springs and then another five miles on the really crappy geothermal service road I found the very miss-able track through the andesite up to the rim of the crater. Actually, this is crater number 1. According to the topo map there appears to be a second crater to the east of it. Stopped on the edge, Pat was blown away!
After driving over the edge of the rim down onto the silt filled bottom of the crater Pat was even more blown away. The crater after some odometer measuring is a bit more than 1000 feet wide at the bottom. The rim of the crater measures between about 60 feet to 150 feet deep. The rim is broken andesite boulders from pebble size to a couple feet in diameter. Makes for very slow careful traveling in the boulders. Driving across the packed flat silt is a piece of cake.
After some pictures it was next to try to locate and drive to crater number two. We drove around the south rim for about about 200 yards to a steep two track climbing up the east rim. This was perhaps a 100 foot climb; pretty steep but not too many boulders to navigate through. Toyo E rated = tough/good. At the top of the rim and across perhaps 100 feet we were looking down at crater two. Almost identical to crater one. More pictures taken on the rim. I couldn’t locate any track down into the crater nor any tracks going out the other side. So it was just more pictures and headed back to crater one.
Back on the first crater rim I spotted a way back to the bottom that avoided most of the jagged rocks. Drove across the bottom and exited the way we had first come in. After getting back to the geothermal road I asked Pat if she wanted to drive the rest of the way around the Hot Springs mountain. “Nope, I’m ready for lunch in Lovelock.” So off we went to Lovelock, another 40 miles.
170520 - Trek 336 - Two Craters - 20 May 2017
Pat and I headed out at about 9 this morning to better explore that volcanic crater that I found last week. After about twenty five miles to Brady’s Hot Springs and then another five miles on the really crappy geothermal service road I found the very miss-able track through the andesite up to the rim of the crater. Actually, this is crater number 1. According to the topo map there appears to be a second crater to the east of it. Stopped on the edge, Pat was blown away!
After driving over the edge of the rim down onto the silt filled bottom of the crater Pat was even more blown away. The crater after some odometer measuring is a bit more than 1000 feet wide at the bottom. The rim of the crater measures between about 60 feet to 150 feet deep. The rim is broken andesite boulders from pebble size to a couple feet in diameter. Makes for very slow careful traveling in the boulders. Driving across the packed flat silt is a piece of cake.
After some pictures it was next to try to locate and drive to crater number two. We drove around the south rim for about about 200 yards to a steep two track climbing up the east rim. This was perhaps a 100 foot climb; pretty steep but not too many boulders to navigate through. Toyo E rated = tough/good. At the top of the rim and across perhaps 100 feet we were looking down at crater two. Almost identical to crater one. More pictures taken on the rim. I couldn’t locate any track down into the crater nor any tracks going out the other side. So it was just more pictures and headed back to crater one.
Back on the first crater rim I spotted a way back to the bottom that avoided most of the jagged rocks. Drove across the bottom and exited the way we had first come in. After getting back to the geothermal road I asked Pat if she wanted to drive the rest of the way around the Hot Springs mountain. “Nope, I’m ready for lunch in Lovelock.” So off we went to Lovelock, another 40 miles.
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OK those were all in the first crater - Now for the rim shots looking at the second crater
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Trek 337 - Some Sand Some Rocks and
Some new power stuff.
Went out north of Black Butte to see where some of the new tracks went.
Seems as if the Patua Geothermal Project has put in a couple of new wells.
And now I know what all the sheetmetal was for - they're putting up a bunch of solar arrays - Lots of them - Now PATUA GETHERMAL AND SOLAR.
Some new power stuff.
Went out north of Black Butte to see where some of the new tracks went.
Seems as if the Patua Geothermal Project has put in a couple of new wells.
And now I know what all the sheetmetal was for - they're putting up a bunch of solar arrays - Lots of them - Now PATUA GETHERMAL AND SOLAR.
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New gas mileage record
Yesterday traveled to a family reunion in Yuba City CA. 330 miles round trip.
Tires set before leaving at 39psid all around. Approximately 150 lbs cargo. Just me driving. Weather between 55F (leaving Fernley) 80F (arriving Yuba City), Sunny, Slight cross winds both directions.
Fernley to Reno I-80, over Donner summit, turned onto CA-20 then thru Nevada City on to Marysville/Yuba City. Other than crossing the Sierra Nevada this was mostly downhill = 3 hours, 165 miles = 24.6 mpg.
Returning same route mostly uphill = 3 more hours, grand total 330 miles = 21.9 mpg. So obviously coming back I was getting about 20 miles per gallon.
BTW: Traffic was rather light - speed limit all the way both directions.
Yesterday traveled to a family reunion in Yuba City CA. 330 miles round trip.
Tires set before leaving at 39psid all around. Approximately 150 lbs cargo. Just me driving. Weather between 55F (leaving Fernley) 80F (arriving Yuba City), Sunny, Slight cross winds both directions.
Fernley to Reno I-80, over Donner summit, turned onto CA-20 then thru Nevada City on to Marysville/Yuba City. Other than crossing the Sierra Nevada this was mostly downhill = 3 hours, 165 miles = 24.6 mpg.
Returning same route mostly uphill = 3 more hours, grand total 330 miles = 21.9 mpg. So obviously coming back I was getting about 20 miles per gallon.
BTW: Traffic was rather light - speed limit all the way both directions.
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Filled her up yesterday at 350 miles on the Odometer = 15 gallons.
That equals 23.33 mpg = ECO GAGE was reading 22.0 - close enough.
Then riding around checking out the big dig around Fallon and the levels of the Stillwater lakes. That where the water from Carson Lake via the big dig is routed to.
Ranchers in Fallon area dug the ditch without city, county or state money.
That equals 23.33 mpg = ECO GAGE was reading 22.0 - close enough.
Then riding around checking out the big dig around Fallon and the levels of the Stillwater lakes. That where the water from Carson Lake via the big dig is routed to.
Ranchers in Fallon area dug the ditch without city, county or state money.
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North of Ragtown
170531-Trek 338-Ragtown and the California Trail-Carson Route
Got up early because I had an early morning dental appointment; then realized it wasn’t until next Tuesday. Well heel, I hate to waste the morning; so decided to do some more exploring.
About halfway from Fernley to Fallon on US-50alt is a trail historical marker for Ragtown. This is the spot where the 1840s pioneers who had just completed the worst stretch of their journey (The Forty Mile Desert) had just reached the Carson River and took time to refresh their livestock and wash clothes; hence “RAGTOWN”
Across the road is the Fallon Stockyards and a road called Trento Lane. The road runs due north where the old trail through the dunes used to end. So off I ewent headed north.
The road is paved for about half a mile, then graded gravel for another half mile, then graded dirt for a bit more, then sand, then softer sand, then even softer sand over dunes, finally becoming just a bunch of non-mapped 4wd track through the brush.
There are several ponds out there that may not have existed in 1848 but they are there now in this “wettest on record year”.
Oh - yes I was able to make it up to the top of that steep dune on the second try. In low range, A-Trac "ON", 3rd gear, starting at abot 15mph.
170531-Trek 338-Ragtown and the California Trail-Carson Route
Got up early because I had an early morning dental appointment; then realized it wasn’t until next Tuesday. Well heel, I hate to waste the morning; so decided to do some more exploring.
About halfway from Fernley to Fallon on US-50alt is a trail historical marker for Ragtown. This is the spot where the 1840s pioneers who had just completed the worst stretch of their journey (The Forty Mile Desert) had just reached the Carson River and took time to refresh their livestock and wash clothes; hence “RAGTOWN”
Across the road is the Fallon Stockyards and a road called Trento Lane. The road runs due north where the old trail through the dunes used to end. So off I ewent headed north.
The road is paved for about half a mile, then graded gravel for another half mile, then graded dirt for a bit more, then sand, then softer sand, then even softer sand over dunes, finally becoming just a bunch of non-mapped 4wd track through the brush.
There are several ponds out there that may not have existed in 1848 but they are there now in this “wettest on record year”.
Oh - yes I was able to make it up to the top of that steep dune on the second try. In low range, A-Trac "ON", 3rd gear, starting at abot 15mph.
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Looks Great! :thumb3:
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Trek 339 - Carson River - Desert Station
Actually two small treks over two days.
Thursday 22 June to the Carson River below the Lahontan Dam for a couple of pictures under the bridge of the river.
Friday 23 June to Desert Station (nothing left) and Misfits Flat both in Stagecoach (east of Dayton). This was where the movie "Misfits" scenes of the mustangs being captured was filmed. Starred Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe in 1961 (last films for both).
Actually two small treks over two days.
Thursday 22 June to the Carson River below the Lahontan Dam for a couple of pictures under the bridge of the river.
Friday 23 June to Desert Station (nothing left) and Misfits Flat both in Stagecoach (east of Dayton). This was where the movie "Misfits" scenes of the mustangs being captured was filmed. Starred Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe in 1961 (last films for both).
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Trek 340 - 25 June 2017
Took a ride out to Brady's/Nightingale exit. Roamed around in the sand and brush north of the highway until I was kinda lost. Turned on the gps; got out the topos and navigated my way back to a service road near the highway.
Followed the service road until it let me up to a ridge top radio station. Pretty good views from there. Then as there was no other way down except for the way up I returned to Fernley. Lovely day for exercising the 4wd.
Took a ride out to Brady's/Nightingale exit. Roamed around in the sand and brush north of the highway until I was kinda lost. Turned on the gps; got out the topos and navigated my way back to a service road near the highway.
Followed the service road until it let me up to a ridge top radio station. Pretty good views from there. Then as there was no other way down except for the way up I returned to Fernley. Lovely day for exercising the 4wd.
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Fire, fire Everywhere
It all started July 3rd - Fernley was covered with smoke. So much smoke that one couldn't tell where it was coming from. Took a cousin out to the craters that I had discovered two months ago and could see that it was coming from the Truckee Range of mountains. On July 4th the whole range was burning from Wadsworth to Nixon.
Took cousin to the airport on the fourth and there had been several big fires all the way from Fernley to Sparks. In fact Interstate 80 had been closed for most of the afternoon of the third. Two fires near Sprks were about 40,000 acres; one near the halfway point between Sparks and Fernley was about 25,000 acres. At 10:00 pm on the 4th the Truckee Range fire was estimated at 60,000 acres. Today the other side of the Truckee Range has been burnt. My estimate is that it is now nearly 100,000 acres.
Most is uninhabited BLM rangeland = very little property damage.
It all started July 3rd - Fernley was covered with smoke. So much smoke that one couldn't tell where it was coming from. Took a cousin out to the craters that I had discovered two months ago and could see that it was coming from the Truckee Range of mountains. On July 4th the whole range was burning from Wadsworth to Nixon.
Took cousin to the airport on the fourth and there had been several big fires all the way from Fernley to Sparks. In fact Interstate 80 had been closed for most of the afternoon of the third. Two fires near Sprks were about 40,000 acres; one near the halfway point between Sparks and Fernley was about 25,000 acres. At 10:00 pm on the 4th the Truckee Range fire was estimated at 60,000 acres. Today the other side of the Truckee Range has been burnt. My estimate is that it is now nearly 100,000 acres.
Most is uninhabited BLM rangeland = very little property damage.
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