Utah - Nevada Back Roads Adventure

We just returned from adventure unlike any trip we've ever taken. We traveled more than 250 miles on dirt roads; way out in the boonies, no cell phone signals, no people and no gas stations. We carried gas and we used it all. The Deep Creek Mountains of Utah are full of history and some of the most amazing scenery anywhere. Crystal clear streams flow from high in the mountains which are used by the small communities in the valley below for farming. We crossed over into Nevada and discovered the Blue Mass Scenic Area, what a treat and we had it all to ourselves. Granite formations of every shape and size. Two and a half days into our trip we got a cell phone signal at the Kalamazoo Summit, so we made contact with family members to let them know we were safe. No trip is complete without a good hike, however the weather forced us to end our hike just 300 ft. short of the Summit of South Schell Peak. We have no regrets and the best souvenir to prove it.

This storm was behind us all the way to Delta

Topaz Mountain is a popular spot for those in search of Topaz, the Utah State Gem

We passed by quite a few mines, both old and new

A migratory route for thousands of birds

An oasis in the desert, notice the storm is still following us

We are headed towards Callao

Extra gas is a must for this long journey

Pony Express National Historic Trail runs along this section of the Old Lincoln Highway

Boyd Station remnants

This sign shows Callao has about 14 families

Old cabins were abundant

From 1915-1928 the Old Callao Hotel was a welcome sight for travelers along the Lincoln Highway; 25 cents for a meal & 25 cents for a room

Pony Express Marker

This route is loaded with historical sites

Callao is a farming and ranching community

Beautiful healthy horses

A fixer-upper ?

Very few people have ever heard of the Deep Creek Moutains

One of several Pronghorn we saw on our journey

We are headed to Toms Creek Canyon for the night

This aqueduct built by the CCC in 1948 moves water from the mountains to the ranches in Callao

We drove about 8 miles up into the basin

We found the perfect place to camp

Kent caught this Bonneville Cutthroat trout right beside our tent

This aspen laying in the creek looks like bronze

After a night of rain.......it's rise and shine in the morning

It's so nice to see the sun shining, it rained for a couple of hours last night

It was fun finding several old cabins from the mining days along Toms Creek

The valley below is seen through this uniquely shaped granite rock

The Deep Creek Mountains Scenic Backway

In the late 1930's this was home to over thirty buildings and 100 men

Today the breeze was perfect for drying out our tent at the CCC Camp

The CCC stored their explosives in this Powder Magazine

Next we headed up to Granite Creek

The lizard was enjoying the sun

We had to cross the creek twice

The road got bad so we got out and walked

What is Kent looking at......

Pictographs made with red pigment

We read about these....otherwise we never would have seen them.

The Trout Creek road was rough and bumpy

A rock building......I'd rather have a log cabin

Tungsten and zinc were mined in this area

We are in Nevada now

Heading into Blue Mass Canyon nestled in the Kern Mountains

Doesn't this look like a mother and child ?

How about a bear wearing a baseball cap

Looking back towards the Deep Creek Mountains in Utah

An old abandoned hometead

Blue Mass is a neat place to explore

Imagine the stories behind these walls

This section along our route was very scenic

There were granite formations in every direction

Continuing along the Grass Valley Road

Cabin at Grass Valley Spring

An old mine at Mike Springs

Tungstonia

Kalamazoo Creek

Peek-a-boo.......we see you

At the Kalamazoo Summit we made contact with family members.......our first cell phone signal since Delta, Utah

Good views from the 8953 ft. Summit

One of several bucks we spotted

Berry Creek is the Trailhead for South Schell Peak

Starting off in the aspens on an old jeep road

Basque sheepherders once walked this way, too

We followed the creek for about 1 1/2 miles

So pretty and soothing

Pretty fungi of some sort

After the jeep road we had to make our own trail

Here's a big buck

Don't let this picture fool you.......we have a long way to go

Bristlecone

Pretty little flowers growing in the rocks

It was steep and the loose scree and rock made it difficult

Lupine growing high among the rocks

Kent.......you're going the wrong way

So close.......yet so far away

I found this Insulator on a fallen Telegraph Line......my best souvenir ever !

We made it to the Saddle between South Schell and Taft Peaks

Looking south at Black Mountain

Mt. Moriah and the Snake Range to the East

Looking back to where we started from.......whew !

Rocky and steep

Pretty buckwheat

At 57 Kent can still climb mountains like a mountain goat

We needed to get one quick picture to prove that we were here at 11,400 ft.

The clouds were building and it was starting to rain
 so we cut the hike short by about 300 ft.......ugh !

Here's an aerial view showing the route we took (in green).
We completed the hike, taking a different route (in red) in 2016.

Heading back down......we didn't reach the summit, but to us it is still a huge accomplishment

Yes it really was this steep

We sort of skied down through the aspens......it was fun

Hiking up in this loose scree was not fun at all....skiing down....now that was a blast !

Taking a break now that we're back down in the bowl area

It's too early for yellow leaves

Berry Creek just pours out of the mountain

Elderberries

This downed pine tree had a Telegraph Line Pin attached to it, although the Insulator was gone

Back down the jeep road and off to work he goes......hi ho hi ho !