Spring Camping In The Desert

It's the end of April and I just have to say how beautiful the desert is this year.  We've had record breaking rainfall so far this year and it's paying off in a big way with tons of color and a green desert.  It's great to get out and see it. 

Timm lead the Dunes and Trails ATV Club weekend ride this month just a short 70 miles from home near Mesquite.  We headed out on Thursday...a cold, windy, rainy day...but we knew the weather was getting better each day.  No riding on Thursday, just relaxing and catching up with friends.  Friday we headed out with Keith in the lead on the way to Virgin River.  Upon reaching our location we found out that all the rain that passed thru (and headed north) had covered the sand bar and the river was just moving too swiftly to play with any safety in mind. 

On our way back we topped out on the mesa and actually found a place Timm had seen on the internet...Double Negative.  It's considered 'earth art' if you can believe that.  Here is the link for more info.

We had lots of day trippers show up on Saturday morning and ended up with 18 riders.  We headed down the mesa and across the river and up the mountain.  Our first stop was at the slot canyon. 

Our real treat and adventure for the day was Cabin Creek.  We were heading up it.  Years ago it was a paved road up the canyon to a mine operation but the road was totally wiped out by the creek and now it is just an awesome trail on an ATV.  Keith's Rhino had a few tight squeezes but nothing he couldn't handle, even the sport quad did an fantastic job.  We also ventured to the Great Eastern Mine and the Key West Mine, along with an old steam engine remains (why it's there I don't really know). 

Oh, Nickel Creek was flowing and had a great waterfall.  We all hiked up to it and had our pictures taken there.  Here I am (the short one) with my BBF Liz.

Cassy rode 80 miles this weekend (Friday & Sunday).  Here she is with her daddy at the stone cabins on Sunday's ride.  What an amazing dog she is.  It was great to get out for the weekend with friends.  We shared great campfires each night and good rides during the day.

Crystal leads her first ride

As Trailmaster for Dunes and Trails ATV Club for 2009, Crystal lead the last official ride of the year.  We rode a new area close to home for us called Cottonwood Valley.  We enjoyed wonderful weather on the day we rode.  I actually post-poned the ride a week.  The original date was cold, rainy, snowy and down right miserable.  Thanks to all who showed up to support me...22 riders in all!

We rode from the parking area, south to Good Springs.  Along the way we made several stops including this fabulous view of the Las Vegas Valley.  We enjoyed ice cream and a mini tour of the historic Pioneer Saloon in Good Springs.  On our way back we stopped at a couple of mines, let the riders explore them for a while.  We also stopped at an old house just past one of the mines.  It's an old A-frame cabin tucked up one of the canyons.  Still standing but in much dis-repair.  It's so cool to find stuff like this out there.  We also found some indian petroglyphs near our lunch stop.  No wild burros this trip although we did see a pair of them on our pre-ride.  I got stuck in a snow drift...dang bald tires...most embarrasing for being the leader.  No one made fun of me but I was embarrassed.  Timm came to my rescue and winched me out...my hero.  He was also my backup, giving me support all day.  Thanks goes out to Alan for being my tail gunner, what a great guy.  Timm has lead many rides for the club and I am glad I pay attention to what he does, it really came to good use on this ride.

DAT Anniversary

Last Saturday we headed out to the outskirts of Tecopa for the club's anniversary party.  We didn't take the ATV's, mine has a torn boot but we did bring out the BBQ, barrels, and a canopy for shade.  The weather couldn't have been any better...unlike last year when Timm was in charge of the event (40+ mile an hour winds at the dunes...horrible).  The morning offered a poker run for those on ATVs, the rest of us played some games in camp.  Timm and I won the egg toss.  Cassy did a great job cleaning up after those who lost.  Timm and Alan cooked lunch while I assisted, Keith relieved them so they could eat.  They were some yummy hamburgers and hot dogs...everything tasted better cooked outside, why is that.  The ATV rodeo was a real hoot!  More people participated than signed up when they saw how fun it was.  I think the sled pull was the best.  Bob and Dave won that in something like 27 seconds...maniacs those two are.  You know how Cassy loves to ride the ATV.  Even though we didn't have ours she still got to go for a ride.  Thanks Keith for the use of your Rhino, Cassy enjoyed it. 

She loves her Daddy.

Okay, it's not really an adventure, but these two really love each other.  Cassy was laying on her back on Dad's pillow but I missed that shot...dang the delay in my camera.

She did have a busy weekend with Dad though.  Cassy went to park, found a new dog to play with (a poodle with a blue mohawk), shopped at Lowes, attended the Dunes and Trails booth at the Trails Day event in Henderson, had her picture taken on the ATV, and more. What a busy Saturday that was.

ATV Club Rides Ely, NV

Holiday weekends always bring extra members out to ride and Labor Day 2009 was no exception. We based ourselves in the Ely KOA. They were very accomodating and friendly, the spaces are wide so you don't feel like you're on top of your neighbor, large trees shade every site, and you can ride your ATV in and out of the park. They even offered up a BBQ dinner and breakfast Saturday and Sunday for a small fee. We had dinner Saturday night and Timm enjoyed breakfast both days. Eldora is a mighty fine cook and the proceeds go to the children's cancer fund.

Here we are Saturday morning...28 riders strong ready to head out for a day of adventure. Timm was the ride leader so he gave his required speech...ride with your lights on, wait at turns for the rider behind you, and so on.









One of our prettiest places to ride was Sawmill Canyon. What a gorgeous place this is. We pre-rode this area on Friday and tried to connect over to the next canyon but it just got too rough. I hate to say it but I pulled out the 'girl card' and said someone else was taking my quad over that section. (I know, I know...I've never said that before...I was having a really weak moment apparently) It definitely wasn't a trail to try and pursue with so many riders so like much of the area around Ely, we had to backtrack our way out of the canyon.

Eventually, we made our way to Ward Cemetary and Historic Mining District. Unfortunately, the mining district was not accessible. There were large burms with deep trenches behind them where all the roads used to be. GRRRRR! The cemetary was neat though. Our plan was to go see the Ward Charcoal Ovens from there and to head over the mountain at that point. Another big GRRRRR! You can't get close to them without paying $4/person and the trail that connected up over the mountain is now closed! Two years ago, it was a fairly new ATV trail constructed by the Forest Service with wooden bridges to cross the creek and other neat stuff. Now, it's closed to ATV use and a housing development is built on part of what used to be trail access. It is so frustrating!!!!


Anyway, on a happier note, we also rode on the east side of Ely on Saturday's ride. Saw some gorgeous territory, found an old mine site, many took a steep trail to the top of one of the mountains for an amazing view of Ely, the Steptoe Valley, and more. You could see forever and a day.

We enjoyed lunch in a lush meadow that had a spring and some water troughs. I'd like to hide myself there to see what kind of wildlife comes out towards evening.

Our last stop on Saturday's ride where the train stops to turn around. We barely made it in time. It was neat to see them disconnect and re-connect the train. There was a boy losing his mind when he saw all of us along the tracks and the stopping point. Funny stuff.

All in all, it was a good trip, with lots of wonderful people. There were a few issues that will soon be resolved, and a few closed trails that made it really frustrating for Timm. Alan's quad broke down before the weekend even started. Some major repairs need to be done because the service technician didn't complete his job. I don't think those that follow know how the weight of responsibilites feels for the ride leader. Hopefully, someday they will step up and lead a ride.

A great time on Cedar Mountain

We spent last weekend with friends from the ATV club on Cedar Mountain in southern Utah. It was wonderful to get away from the heat and the rat race to enjoy ourselves in the cool mountain air

Our Saturday adventure to us to an awesome overlook, took a group shot there. Nineteen riders went on an 80 mile loop that day that took us to Yankee Reservoir, Panguitch Lake, Hatch, near Duck Creek, Dead Lake, and back to camp on Red Desert Road. Timm was our ride leader and he did another awesome job. For most of the riders this weekend, this was a new place to ride and explore.

This section was much steeper and rougher than it looks here...honest. Most put it in low hear to crawl up over the rocks. A couple of people even used the 'girl' card and had others take their machine over this section.

Mark and Chris at Yankee Reservoir. Lots of people camping there this time. It's a great place to fish.

Keith was there this weekend so you know we had to have a big fire...this time....a really big fire. There was a fire pit that had to be 6 foot across and it was his mission to fill it. The wood was stacked up about 5 foot tall in the pit. Believe me...we had a fire like this both nights. He was on a mission to burn all the wood...and he did.

Dunes and Trails ATV Club wins 1st place!

That's right, Dunes & Trails ATV Club particitpated in the Boulder City parade again this year. Big thanks to Kevin and Vickie O'Keefe for all their hard work and efforts. I'm pretty sure it was the tank that pushed us into first place. Their son, Shane designed and built a cardboard tank 'costume' for one of their quads. It was awesome! He even used a fire extingusher to blow puffs of smoke out of the turret. Wish we your in the parade again this year but we didn't make it, too much going on around here. Again, thanks to the O'Keefe's for all their hard work on this event. I wish I had a picture of the tank...it was the coolest thing ever...so creative!