Trail Log

View from Steamboat Rock in the Black Rock Desert

"To say nothing is out here is incorrect; to say the desert is stingy with everything except space and light, stone and earth is closer to the truth." - William Least Heat Moon

Wanted: Campfire Dead Out

As more folks head into nature for camping trips we want to provide a friendly reminder - never leave your campfire unattended and when you're done make sure it is dead out, these G.I. Joes and Jane won't always be around to help you out.

Destination Recreation: Jarbidge Wilderness

Now that the snow is finally starting to melt it’s time to venture into the high country for a backpacking trip!



Destination: Jarbidge Wilderness
Adventurer: Erin Gray
Chosen Activity: Camping and relaxing by a beautiful alpine lake

Allure: Nevada's first designated wilderness in 1964, this area receives the government’s highest possible rating for air quality and is home to a lush diversity of plant species not often found in Nevada. Jarbidge Wilderness, part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, has many rugged mountain peaks greater than 10,000 feet, several alpine lakes, crystal-clean streams, and is home to a host of wildlife including elk, owl, mountain lion, and coyote. A good network of trails access remote backcountry areas; hike through pine forests, sage and alpine meadows while enjoying the natural splendor all around. Watch out for man-eating spirits according to local Shoshone legends; Jarbidge does come from a native word roughly translated as weird beastly creature or devil. However, after seeing the place for myself, I think that legend was probably meant to scare everyone else away and keep this stunningly beautiful place for the locals alone.


Other Activities: hunting, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, checking out historical mining areas, getting away from it all
Location: Buy a good map – this is in remote northern Elko County Nevada. For Jarbidge townsite and trailhead access, take Mountain City Highway north from Elko, turn right on Elko County Rd 746 to Charleston, head north on local Forest Service road to Jarbidge. The scenery on the drive alone is worth it. Bring what you need, limited supplies available in Jarbidge.
Information:
USDA Forest Service – Jarbidge Wilderness
Community of Jarbidge, Nevada

Visit the Nevada Outdoor School website – Destination Recreation page to explore the rest of our favorite places to play in Nevada.

Plan Ahead, Prepare, and Adapt

Last weekend’s trainer course had a slight change of plans from Lamoille Canyon due to treacherous water crossings from the mass amounts of snow and rain we got this winter. Thankfully this was figured out during the scouting trip instead of when there was a line of participants waiting behind me on the trail at an impassable water crossing – Leave No Trace principle number one: Plan Ahead and Prepare!

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces –
practicing off-trail travel by dispersing their
impact to avoid creating a trail

Even with the change of plans, the course was a huge success with 13 participants, exciting presentations, thought-provoking activities, and a chance to put new-found knowledge to use. We ended up exploring our own backyard by backpacking into Water Canyon. Here are a few highlights from the course!

Dispose of Waste Properly – participants had a
problem or solution taped to their forehead and
had to find their match by asking yes or no questions

Nevada's latest batch of LNT Trainers!

See you on the trail!

Trails

ATV Rider Camp

Eight participants revved their engine for ATV Rider Camp earlier this week! Nevada Outdoor School and Humboldt County Cooperative Extension 4-H Program hosted a three-day camp for local youth to learn safe riding habits, Tread Lightly! ethics, and basic first aid skills. The first two days were at the fairgrounds and full of activities including talks from local ATV shop owners, pop-up obstacles, outdoor ethics dash, a poster project, and more. On the third day, campers were able to bring their ATVs to the Winnemucca sand dunes and practice safe ATV riding habits.

Rider practices his quick turns during camp

We would like to give a special thanks to Jim White, owner of Snowstorm Sports; Jeff Thompson, owner of Ravenswood; and Northern Nevada ATV Association for their generous help with ATV Rider Camp.

Campers display their posters that showed off what they
learned at camp

Beyond the Sagebrush

A moment of quiet on Lake Tahoe during our
sixth grade Sierra Summit Camp

2011 Rendezvous Snap Shots

Playa moonboots after a morning of rain

This year’s Black Rock Rendezvous was full of excitement – including a bit of inclement weather. However, thanks to planning ahead and preparing, our partners were able to weather the storm and continue the festivities by relocating camp off the playa to higher ground.

Gorgeous view from our second camp at Cassidy Mine