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Copyright © 2022 D. Craig Young.
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Playa and Pottery – Black Rock Desert Region, NV

Playa and Pottery – Black Rock Desert Region, NV

Posted on January 4, 2022by D. Craig Young2 Comments on Playa and Pottery – Black Rock Desert Region, NV

The playa passes quietly beneath the truck, a narrow path traced by the headlights in the predawn darkness. I had left Desna at Planet X to see what the sunrise might bring on the Black Rock Desert playa. A canopy of bright stars suggested that the desert sunrise would be…

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Nevada High Points #96 – Sahwave Mountains

Nevada High Points #96 – Sahwave Mountains

Posted on January 4, 2022by D. Craig YoungLeave a comment on Nevada High Points #96 – Sahwave Mountains

Juniper Mountain 7475 ft (2278 m) – 1960 ft gain 2021.11.27 Juniper Mountain – Sahwave Mountains Collection Desna, my wife and partner, was at Planet X for the weekend, it is winter sale time. Although the forecast remained stable with blue skies as far as any meteorologist could see, I…

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Whitney Views – Owens Valley, CA

Whitney Views – Owens Valley, CA

Posted on January 3, 2022by D. Craig YoungLeave a comment on Whitney Views – Owens Valley, CA

After coming down from the crest of the Inyo Mountains, having wrapped up our small project at the Saline Valley Salt Tram, I set up camp at a small playa on the east side of Owens Valley, north of Dolomite. Desna met me and we circled the wagons in a…

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Saline Valley Salt Tram – Inyo Mountains, CA

Saline Valley Salt Tram – Inyo Mountains, CA

Posted on January 3, 2022by D. Craig YoungLeave a comment on Saline Valley Salt Tram – Inyo Mountains, CA

In early November, a few colleagues and I traversed the challenging 4×4 trail that skirts the ridge line of the Inyo Mountains, from Cerro Gordo high above Owens Lake, to the remaining historic-era structures of the Saline Valley Salt Tram. Although subject of a heroic restoration project several years ago,…

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Nevada High Points #95 – Palmetto Mountains

Nevada High Points #95 – Palmetto Mountains

Posted on January 3, 2022by D. Craig YoungLeave a comment on Nevada High Points #95 – Palmetto Mountains

Harvey Peak 9285 ft (2830 m) – 1775 ft gain 2021.11.12 Harvey Peak – Palmetto Mountains Photo Collection I had planned to get out early for Second Friday, but because my brother, Darren, could not join this weekend and my back has spasmed oddly yesterday, I slept late. The schedule…

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Fall Color – Smith Valley, NV

Fall Color – Smith Valley, NV

Posted on December 18, 2021by D. Craig YoungLeave a comment on Fall Color – Smith Valley, NV

A storm had set in; great wind and slashing rain at StoneHeart throughout the night. And yet the Sierra seemed to have caught the storm by the tail keeping it from breaking further east. When this happens, the sunrise has promise. Hunting color at the edge of the storm, I…

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Fall Color: A Rainy Evening in Hope Valley

Fall Color: A Rainy Evening in Hope Valley

Posted on December 15, 2021by D. Craig YoungLeave a comment on Fall Color: A Rainy Evening in Hope Valley

Finally, rain. I spent the last week in the Mojave Desert, gouging around Las Vegas Valley, walking several ranges, and spending too much time in a casino conference center. I cannot complain about returning to in-person gatherings with colleagues and friends, but I still felt I needed the solace of…

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Nevada High Points #94 – Bird Spring Range

Nevada High Points #94 – Bird Spring Range

Posted on December 4, 2021by D. Craig YoungLeave a comment on Nevada High Points #94 – Bird Spring Range

Peak 5695 5695 ft (1736 m) – 1050 gain 2021.10.15 Peak 5965 – Bird Spring Range Photo Collection Thankfully, my time in Vegas was about over. Leaving the conference hotel in the early evening, I worked my way south toward Jean, Nevada, eventually turning west toward Goodsprings. I hit the…

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Nevada High Points #93 – River Mountains

Nevada High Points #93 – River Mountains

Posted on December 1, 2021by D. Craig YoungLeave a comment on Nevada High Points #93 – River Mountains

River Mountain 3789 ft (1155 m) – 1013 ft gain 2021.10.13 Away from hotel early, going for two days in a row. If I must hang around Vegas for the week, I can focus on a few highpoints in some of the smaller local ranges. Continuing east of the city,…

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Nevada High Points #92 – Frenchman Range

Nevada High Points #92 – Frenchman Range

Posted on November 9, 2021by D. Craig Young2 Comments on Nevada High Points #92 – Frenchman Range

Frenchman Mountain 4052 ft (1235 m) – 2400 ft gain 2021.11.12 I slept much better in Kyle Canyon the other night. The past two nights, however, have been strange. I have a room at the Flamingo in Las Vegas; it is a perfectly fine room with a nice view, but…

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Copyright © 2022 D. Craig Young.
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