Gooch Camp

Another one of the many ranches out in the middle of Nowhere Nevada. Gooch Camp is located at the entrance of Echo Canyon.

Near the turn of the century stonemasons from Cedarville built some of the old ranch houses that are still standing today...Do think I'm getting carried away with the door knobs lately?

Fallen Soldier

Last Light at Bittner Ranch

The weather seemed to be turning foul and the skies were very dark, so I was just about to put the camera gear away for the night. When the Magic Light appeared on the far ridge for less then a minute...this time I was ready.

Badger Creek

Wild Iris

Wild Iris flourishes in the meadow that surrounds Bittner Ranch

The Bittner Ranch

Located in Northern, Washoe County on Badger Creek is the Bittner Ranch. The ranch was built back in the 1870's during the ranch boom in the northern Nevada. I'm not sure how it came under jurisdiction of the BLM but they are keeping an eye on the place and they would like to clean it up and do some restoration. The ranch sit on a rolling heel above one of the biggest meadows I have seen in Nevada complete with a spring fed running creek It was privilege to spend the night there.

Massacre Rim WSA

We found a place to camp late in the afternoon after driving over muddy roads and under threatening skies for most of the day. The sun broke though for a few minutes in the late afternoon and I ran around like a madman take photos. Massacre Rim is 101000+ acres of Wilderness quality land located in Northwest Nevada. I would of loved to spent more time exploring the place, but we had to move on ...lots of stops on this Road Trip.

Click to learn more about Massacre Rim: http://www.nevadawilderness.org/Library/area.asp?nMode=1&nLibraryID=105

Muddy Travel.

The Sheldon and the surrounding areas are getting hammered by non stop spring storms. I spent a week exploring the back country up there and the roads were terrible. We did get to use our "Bear Traps" to help a person who was stuck and they worked like a champ. A bear trap is a folding metal strip with teeth that you place under your drive wheels to give you some traction in the mud. They worked great...thanks Pat

Antelope...Where? Well I guess your just going to trust me on this one, but there are 115 antelope down there. I didn't have my big lens with me so I did the best I could do with my 24-120mm zoom. They blend in really well although their white butts always give them away. There are Antelope laying down, standing , walking and grazing in the photo...really. I like the way the grazers bend their neck and arch their back to form a curve, it makes them look like Kokopelli. Click on the photo to get a larger image and see how many you can find.

Last Light, Poodle Mountain WSA

Once in a while it happens to every hiker, you push it a bit too far. and you have to hike back out in the dark. We were racing the sun to get back to the vehicle before dark because the place is bony(rocky), real ankle twisting stuff. Just before the final uphill the light went "Magic" on us, WOW! For about fifteen minutes everything that wasn't in shadow just glowed, popped and exploded with color. I decided at that point it was time to blast the rest of my CF card and worry about getting out later... we got headlamps.

"If you're lucky enough to have something magical in happening in front of your camera, don't let it go. Keep shooting until the light fades."
~ Steve Simon

Poodle Mountain WSA 142,050 acres.Poodle Mountain is located in central Washoe County about 15 miles northwest of Gerlach. The hiking is really rough with a lot of ups & downs , once you climb up on top of the table it is easier going. We hiked up to a high point to get the lay of land and we were treated to a once in a life time experience (so far anyway) we were glassing the lower slopes and spotted 115 antelope grazing on a sunny south facing slope below us. Good Stuff! We also spotted smaller herd on another south facing slope. We saw golden eagles soaring above and a playful group of sage sparrows that darted ahead of us as we hiked along with a few juncos. There were lots of coyote signs and the occasional feral horse grazing in the distance. We hiked in the Crooked Canyon area which is dotted with springs which no doubt accounts for all the wildlife we saw. The views were incredible Tule Peak and the Pah Rahs to the south, the Granite Range and Selenites to the east, the Skedaddles to the west and the Warner Mountains to the north, a very impressive view of 700 sq. miles of potential Wilderness lay before us. Our goal was the summit of Burnt Mountain , but we ran out of time and daylight. It was a great day followed by a cheese burger dinner at Bruno's in Gerlach and a speed run down 447 back to Reno in the light of the full moon.

Twin Peaks WSA 90,791 arces

Dry Valley Rim WSA94,308 acres

Fox Range, WSA 75,404 acres

Buffalo Hills WSA

46,143 arces.

Bordering the Smoke Creek Desert in Northern Washoe County are some very cool WSA's These great places are just waitng to be explored.