We finally got this "XP Rally" together just over a week ago and agreed to meet in the Eastern Sierra on Green Creek road just south of the town of Bridgeport, CA. After some confusion driving up and down Green Creek road trying to find people and locate a good spot, we finally got it all together and found a fantastic spot. Thanks to new member jcbrandon for showing up early and helping us locate the perfect spot. On to some photos:
Green Creek:
Excellent spot - private, on the creek, with plenty of shade and sun:
For reference here is a shot from above of the entire area we were in (I duct taped my camera to an eagle). This spot is the immediate right as you are going up the canyon and cross the bridge - the turn is just past the bridge. Note lots of open space for just about any sized group (middle right you can just make out the white tops of our campers):
So this next part...... I'm not sure I remember everything that went down but I do remember carrying at least poor soul back to their camper in a state of extreme inebriation (not naming any names of course!). Although few memories were intact, I was able to gather some photographic evidence that painted a (fuzzy) picture of the night before:
Amazing food of all types (seemed we had a few chefs in camp):
After Bodie we parted ways with XPmarc and my stalwart wandering buddies Marc and Dick agreed to accompany on a tour of Nevada mining towns (thanks guys you are good sports!). We also picked up some random dude in a GM that wanted to hang with us but the road through Bodie that continues into Nevada is a pretty rough 4WD trail so GM guy didnt last too long (I hope he got out ok):
The goal for the next day was to visit a couple remote mining towns I have not been to: Silver Peak and Gold Point. Unfortunately the out-of-the-way drive to Silver Peak ended up being a disappointment as there weren't many historical buildings left in the town and it really wasn't worth the trip. We had a quick stop in Goldfield on our way south:
We were out here to look for this old cabin based on the story by the bar owner in Gold Point. Dick reminded me some of the details - apparently this cabin was owned by the actress Marie Dressler who starred as Tugboat Annie. She died in 1934.
We had been in Tule Canyon going through these mountains and just as that dirt road rejoins highway 266 there is an old stamp mill here at Pigeon Springs:
Well these guys were finally worn out keeping up with this young buck and they headed back to cali. I had a couple more stops to hit on the way home so its a solo mission now! Drove through Manhattan to get to Belmont, one of Nevada's most charming old mining towns (I said charming with a really manly voice so its all good).
If there was ever a more perfect retirement business for Dick, my name isn't Dirty Dog (its for sale):
The Mount Jefferson trail climbs to almost 12,000 feet over about 6 miles. View from the top - Round Mountain mine in the distance:
Herd of antelope at the top:
Despite the high temps I made it out of the wilderness alive, but exhausted. I'd been in the desert for a week in some of the hottest conditions I have experienced and I was DIRTY! That night I broke down and got a hotel in Winnemucca and had the most satisfying shower of my life.
Great times again guys. Thanks a lot to everyone that showed up!
