It’s the place that would be submerged in water – if there ever was any water – but the rest of the time is knee-deep in sand and silt and gravel. We finally crested a ridge and found ourselves at the top of a rocky downhill.ĭescending into a wide canyon, the road deteriorated into a trail, and the trail soon degenerated into a dry river-bottom, called a “wash” in the desert. The riding was more relaxed, and less rocky, winding across the high valley floor toward the rangy peaks on the northern horizon. Slowly, the sun settled over the broad valley, burnishing the scattered Joshua Trees with desert light, stretching long shadows from bushes of creosote and sage.ĭawn repeated the show, this time advancing right to left as we ate breakfast and packed our gear onto the bikes. That statement earned me a dark look from the other side of the cooking pot. Loose bolts, soft tires, luggage attachments, chain lube: I attended to the usual suspects, declaring we were ready for another day of riding. While Yvonne reclined in her folding camp chair, plotting revenge, I cooked my trademark unexceptional dinner and looked over the bikes, her XT and my Husqvarna TE510. Actually, anything was more comfortable than armored jackets and pants in the heat of the desert. We shrugged out of our riding gear and into something more comfortable. When I was informed we were riding no farther that day – a message Yvonne soon delivered by stepping off her Yamaha XT225 and throwing herself on her back – I began setting up camp. That was definitely the way she was looking at it. Or, depending on how you looked at it, I was the source of our problem. And therein was the source of our problem. Then again, I also hadn’t mentioned the possibility of melon-sized rocks and deep sand. And it wasn’t like I had promised her a smooth, hard-packed surface when we set out that afternoon. Road conditions don’t show on maps, or the GPS, either. Bright with reflected sunlight, a solar electricity generating tower concentrated the rays of the afternoon sun as we bounced past, winding up a rocky path into the parched hills. I mentioned it last year in a Ride Guide post. This story was featured in Overland Magazine (Spring 2017) and Canadian Biker Magazine (June 2017). Not a dating decision Dear Abby would have endorsed.īut at this point, I didn’t have any choice…. Obviously, leaving my girlfriend alone in the Mojave Desert wasn’t a good idea. Location: 41.8161239624023, -115.I say “lost,” you say “abandoned” - but let’s not quibble over details…. Camp here and rise early to watch a spectacular sunrise over the lake, then follow the loop portion of the hike to the West Marys River headwaters before climbing over a ridge and returning 2 miles to the Jarbidge River Trail.Info: USFS map: (775) 752-3357Hike provided by Mike White, author of Snowshoe Trails Tahoe: The Best Routes in the Tahoe Sierra (Wilderness Press) Waypoints Early summer brings pleasant daytime temps and Jarbidge’s renowned wildflower displays. From the trailhead, climb 5.7 miles up the V-shaped canyon amid cottonwoods and aspens using the Jarbidge River Trail to serene Jarbidge Lake a 1.5-mile side trip on the Cougar Creek Trail leads to Emerald Lake, a good spot to fish for trout. If you crave adventure and solitude, you’ll want to try this 20-mile semiloop that winds upstream to a pair of subalpine basins nestled below rugged peaks in northeastern Elko County. Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!
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