Ron4RNevada
New member
Trek 353 - Rescue Semi and Bolivia Attempt
180126-Bolivia
Was originally going to be going with Bill and Reid. Reid bailed at last minute due to family obligations so it was just Bill and I. Bill is new next door neighbor driving a modified '94 4Runner Sr5 (body lift, modified front and rear bumpers, geared to 5.88, locked rear diff, big winch, bigger wheels and tires, etc.). He hasn’t seen anything of the terrain east of Fernley.
Started off with a top-off of fuel at Harmon Junction and then on to Sand Mountain where we stopped again. From there I took him past the naval bombing range and finally up to the top of the Sand Springs Range to get a dose of anti-fungal radiation at Project Shoal. Eventually we returned to highway 50 and finally turned north on Dixie Valley Road.
The plan was to run to the north end of the valley and try to explore Cottonwood Canyon up to Bolivia. I had heard that the canyon was pretty rough and that the trail might not go through. After that we were going to return and explore side areas like Eleven Mile Canyon, Coyote canyon, Hercules, Wonder, etc.
We found Cottonwood Canyon alright and the stories I’d heard about being a tough route were correct. Probably less than a mile in we were pretty much blocked. If we’d had quads it might have been do-able. We exited the canyon. I was looking at the map and noticed we could go on north and probably be able to come back to civilization at lovelock. So we headed that way.Navigation was a bit tricky. The north end of Dixie Valley has four very large ranches (hay) and unmarked gravel roads go every which way. Eventually we got to where the road heads toward Lovelock.
We stopped for lunch on the east side of McKinney Pass. Then began the climb up to the pass planning on visiting a couple of quicksilver mines beyond the pass. Pretty soon we were driving in soft snow with mud under it. We started down the west side of the pas and came upon a semi truck with a 53 foot trailer; stuck broadside across the road. Its emergency lights were flashing but didn’t look like anyone was around. At first I thought we would have to turn around but I found a way round the back of the trailer through the ditch and we got past it and stopped.
Upon further investigation we found the driver trying to get a couple of chains on the truck and get unstuck. He had an impossible task. I told him that we could take him to Lovelock and get a heavy duty tow truck at the truck stop. He wanted to try to get it out himself. All he managed to do was dig big holes in the mud, Finally nearing sunset I convinced him we were going to Lovelock. We got him there at about 5:30. Obviously we didn’t visit the Nevada Quicksilver or Pershing Quicksilver Mines.
180126-Bolivia
Was originally going to be going with Bill and Reid. Reid bailed at last minute due to family obligations so it was just Bill and I. Bill is new next door neighbor driving a modified '94 4Runner Sr5 (body lift, modified front and rear bumpers, geared to 5.88, locked rear diff, big winch, bigger wheels and tires, etc.). He hasn’t seen anything of the terrain east of Fernley.
Started off with a top-off of fuel at Harmon Junction and then on to Sand Mountain where we stopped again. From there I took him past the naval bombing range and finally up to the top of the Sand Springs Range to get a dose of anti-fungal radiation at Project Shoal. Eventually we returned to highway 50 and finally turned north on Dixie Valley Road.
The plan was to run to the north end of the valley and try to explore Cottonwood Canyon up to Bolivia. I had heard that the canyon was pretty rough and that the trail might not go through. After that we were going to return and explore side areas like Eleven Mile Canyon, Coyote canyon, Hercules, Wonder, etc.
We found Cottonwood Canyon alright and the stories I’d heard about being a tough route were correct. Probably less than a mile in we were pretty much blocked. If we’d had quads it might have been do-able. We exited the canyon. I was looking at the map and noticed we could go on north and probably be able to come back to civilization at lovelock. So we headed that way.Navigation was a bit tricky. The north end of Dixie Valley has four very large ranches (hay) and unmarked gravel roads go every which way. Eventually we got to where the road heads toward Lovelock.
We stopped for lunch on the east side of McKinney Pass. Then began the climb up to the pass planning on visiting a couple of quicksilver mines beyond the pass. Pretty soon we were driving in soft snow with mud under it. We started down the west side of the pas and came upon a semi truck with a 53 foot trailer; stuck broadside across the road. Its emergency lights were flashing but didn’t look like anyone was around. At first I thought we would have to turn around but I found a way round the back of the trailer through the ditch and we got past it and stopped.
Upon further investigation we found the driver trying to get a couple of chains on the truck and get unstuck. He had an impossible task. I told him that we could take him to Lovelock and get a heavy duty tow truck at the truck stop. He wanted to try to get it out himself. All he managed to do was dig big holes in the mud, Finally nearing sunset I convinced him we were going to Lovelock. We got him there at about 5:30. Obviously we didn’t visit the Nevada Quicksilver or Pershing Quicksilver Mines.
