First Good Storm...sorta. Woke up early and I took Henry and Lucy out for a hike before dawn.
After all the build up on the news last night I expected a lot more snow, but that's OK it will come. I have big hopes for this winter.

It's great to be back up north for the Thanksgiving week. Since I'm in Reno I thought it would be appropriate to post on Nevada Outside. Anyway here's a few shots of the howling winds from Mineral County. BTW- Old Glory files proudly over US Army Depot, Hawthorne Nevada.

Moving On...

My new job rocks!!! I have been hiking a lot and trying to get some stuff going with the US forest Service in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area near Las Vegas to help increase the wilderness quality of the Wilderness...in short "Keep it Wild". I'm very busy and frankly I been focused in on Wilderness most of my waking hours. So in order to free up some time and keep my blog going I'm starting another blog focused in on the Spring Mountains. I hope you will continue to follow my adventures in the Nevada Back Country. Although, I'm starting a new blog I will still post here time from time , but my main focus will be in the south. I hope you will join me but if not, I understand. Northern Nevada rocks and it will always be home so thanks for following my blog you folks have been awesome and I will miss your comments and encouragement. However if you want to join me in my mid life Wilderness adventure check out my new Blog Southern Nevada Outside ( yeah I know the title is not really original)I hope will have some Good Stuff to post and I hope to read your comments.Link to Nevadahiker's new blog: www.volunteer4wild.blogspot.com

Good News & Bad News...

Well I'm sure a few of you have wondered where the heck I've been...well Las Vegas that's where.

In between my two Sheldon trips I was laid-off from my job of 13 years. I didn't think I should cry about it on my blog because the blog isn't really about my life, it is about Wild Nevada & folks I love (like Henry). The good news is I found another job with my favorite non-profit group Friends of Nevada Wilderness, as the Southern Nevada Wilderness Program Director ...YEA! I get to work full time for the next 18 months on keeping Nevada Wild...that's a good thing. I will start in LV full time sometime next week. I'm going to miss northern Nevada , but just think of all the great photos from southern Nevada that will start gracing this blog... YEA.

I will be working in the Mt Charleston Area (but exploring all of southern Nevada)as a consultant for the US Forest Service as per a special agreement...Good Stuff

BTW- I couldn't resist the showgirls ;-) Besides, it's always more fun to laugh.

photographer unknown

Andy's Place...

We got to Andy's Place late in the afternoon after a long day on Cat Nip Mountain. Just as I was ready to step inside the cabin the wind suddenly picked up and the sheet metal roof began to flap & bang like an old haunted house. Wow! That cause me to take a couple steps back...Very scary. I didn't want to push it so I didn't even try to sit in Andy's ol' chair

Andy's place is pretty cool not as fancy as Kinney Camp or built with sandstone like Kinny or Gooch , but I love the location, complete with aspen trees near the canyon rim.

Sagebrush Creek

We hiked down into this gorge and came upon a giant rock blocking the canyon. We had to crawl underneath ...scary stuff. We rolled a couple of rocks into the "cave" first to chase out any mountain lions or rattlers.

Upper Cat Nip Creek

Private In holdings

They are a few 40 acre parcel with are privately held, some in my opinion are eyes sores and need to go away (thank goodness there's only a few). I know the Fish & Wildlife Service would like to buy these folks out if they could. Here is an example on one near West Rock Spring... Lovely isn't it...yeah, yeah I know private property...grumble, grumble...

Movin' Doggies

Ranchers haven't held grazing permits at Sheldon since the early 1990's, but we did run into these Cowboys on Hwy 140 near the Oregon Nevada stateline. The young man on the horse was a real nice guy.

Mulies

East Rock Spring Camp

After spending two weeks out in the Sheldon; I think I have a pretty good sense of the place. I've seen the deer and the antelope play. I've marveled at the towering walls of Thousand Creek Gorge. I've felt the power of the wind on Cat Nip Mt. I've heard the songs and calls of the birds just before the sunrise at Cat Nip Reservoir. I've seen the old ranches like Kinney Camp , Gooch Camp, Andy's Place and admired the cultural evidence of the Ancients. But I must say my favorite place hands down is East Rock Spring. Pat and I spent a long day exploring Sagebrush Creek hiking in the sun, and bouncing around in the 3 man dodge( 50+hours one week alone). When we rolled into East Rock Spring just before sundown it was a cool green oasis with aspens and tall grass a real sight for sore eyes. In this land of many wonders East Rock Spring is a real gem indeed.


Did you see the red tail hawks' nest in the third photo from the top....Good Stuff!

Kinney Camp

Kinney Camp is one of the more picturesque old ranch house's (IMHO) in the Sheldon.

Desert Waterfall

There are few things more pleasing to the desert hiker than a waterfall. I have ran across a few and I tell you they are a treat...cool running water...Good Stuff!

BTW- I know I've already posted the rainbow shot , but I love it

Hell Creek...

I'm not sure how this place got it's name, but it seem a bit more like Heaven to me.