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| Pah Rah Mountain Run, NV 10-9-04 |
| October 19, 2004 |
| By: RonC |
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Trish organized and led this run. Most of us met at a gas station about
6 miles north of I-80 on the Pyramid Highway in Sparks at 9:00. Brian, who
is usually a fairly good navigator in the wilds, got lost on McCarran Blvd
somewhere between Reno and Sparks. He caught up to us as we were airing down
near the Whiskey Springs area about 25 miles north of 80. The group
consisted of a couple of Cherokees (Tom, Rob and Bonnie), a couple of
Rubicons (Trish and Sean), a Wrangler (Keith and Janice), three Hippos
(Brian, Ron, Gary and Mike), and the GMC (Bryan, Curtis and Nick). Did I get
that all right?
After getting underway our first stop was at a cabin and mining site (Ruth
Mine?). Several bullet riddled vehicles lay about and thousands of expended
shell casings. A bit later a stone cabin at another mine site (Jones-Kinkaid
Mine?) and then up into the real mountain country. We take a picture break
at the top of a ridge with a recently built, but already vandalized cabin.
Great views of Reno, Sparks, Mount Rose, Peavine Peak and Virginia Peak with
its radio towers a bit south of us.
After running up Moses Rock Canyon and crossing Moses Rock Spring we arrive
at a daunting hill for Freelanders (those little trucks without low range).
Trish makes the ascent without any trouble and waits at the top. Gary is the
first Freelander to attempt it. About 4/5 of the way up he hits loose stuff
with some holes and grinds to a dirt tossing halt. A few attempts to
extricate himself is of no avail. Trish hooks on and gives him a tug to the
top. Now Brian tries it and begins spinning in the same place. Never one to
give up, he backs down a bit a few times and on about the fourth try nails
it through to the top. We can hear the giggling of the Jeep owners at the
bottom of the hill.
OK, Ron’s turn in the third Freelander. Laughing from the bottom of the hill
is getting louder. Having watched Gary and Brian very studiously, I’m
positive that I can banzai through on the first try – Rev it up, give it
hell, taking the perfect line: Aw crap, the right side wheels slip into that
same stupid hole. The laughing at the bottom of the hill rather loud now. A
couple back ups, some expert spotting by Brian, and bashing through the pine
tree at the left side of the track and I make it through. Much cheering and
“Way to go Banzai Rocky!”
Now we sit at the top of the hill and watch the rest of the Jeeps and the
GMC calmly crawl up the hill – Didn’t even see any wheel spin………Then it is
on to the Berry Aerie at the top of the mountain overlooking Eagle Canyon
and Red Canyon. Beautiful spot!
We reverse back down to Moses Rock Spring and stop for a brief lunch break
there. Amazing how much water can pour out of cracks in a rock at the top of
a mountain in October! Now we head west towards Pah Rah Mountain.
At one point I watch Trish drop over the edge of a steep descent and slide
sideways about fifty feet down – Oh-Oh! I drop over the edge and find the
problem – A big rock hidden behind some sage that kicks you sideways. Not
quite as bad as it looks when viewed following someone else. We find out at
the bottom that Tom had to negotiate the descent in neutral as his Cherokee
popped out of low range on the way down and he couldn’t get it to shift into
anything. That guy could probably drive a lowered Plymouth Reliant over the
Himalayas!
Some rocky ascents, some sandy washes, some off-camber shelves and we arrive
at the saddle on the north side of Pah Rah Mountain parked at about 7,990
feet. We hike a few hundred yards out to the cliff-top overlooking Tom
Anderson Canyon and Rodero creek Canyon. We have spectacular views to the
north of the full extent of Pyramid Lake and Winnemucca Lake. The mouth of
Prozac Canyon, Coyote Canyon and Nache Peak are easily seen from here.
Then it’s reversing our course back down into Rodero Canyon and we
eventually arrive at the old site of Monte Cristo Ranch. A few foundations,
a wood water tank, a couple ponds, a superb view, some nice elderly shade
trees, a large meadow area. What a spot for a ranch! Beautiful! Finally we
head down the canyon, cross an off-camber shelf road over a ridge and then
down Quail canyon inside the Paiute Reservation. Coming down a steep, rocky
ridge, Gary blows one of his brand new tires. Bummer – rock through the
sidewall. We get him to a level spot and do a record setting wheel change.
Amazing what six or seven guys working together can accomplish in just a few
minutes!
Finally we reach Highway 447 again at about 6:00 pm just a bit west of the
reservation boundary. End of a great run!
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