Great Basin Heritage Trail (Oct 11-24 2024)

[OTG Ben]

*** You must have a ticket to attend this event ***

Oct 11-24
Trip duration:14 days/13 nights
GPX File:

• GBHT File 1
• GBHT File 2
• GBHT File 3

Trip Lead: "OTG Ben"

Meeting Location Oct 11
Virginia City @ 10am.
Meet at the large parking lot at 20 E Street. The lot runs nearly the length of the entire block from Union St to Sutton St.
You should arrive with a full tank of gas, plenty of food and water.

Please make sure you arrive with a full tank of fuel and all of the necessities required for the duration of the trip. We will be camping at a new location every single night, with plans to travel 100-150 miles on most days. Because of the length of the trip and other variables in play, it's difficult for us to stick to the exact itinerary laid out below but we'll do our best. We'll likely try to identify at least on location along the way where folks can shower and clean up, but most of our camping will be in dispersed locations.

Documents/Fees
coming soon

Food/Water
We'll stop two times to allow the resupply of food along this trip, which means your food rations should last you an absolute minimum of 6 (7+ is better) days. Water will be easier to come across, but we recommend carrying a 4-day supply of water. We highly recommend bringing plenty of non-perishable food (chili, soup, etc) to ensure you have extra food supply if your perishables run out.

Grocery Shopping
Expect to stop twice along the trip specifically for groceries. We make make some quicker stops along the way given that we're going to be in the middle of nothing for the first leg of this trip until we reach Wendover, which means we may do a very quick ressuply in Winnemucca. Opportunities to resupply:

• Winnemucca (Ridley's)
• Wendover/West Wendover (Smith's)
• Ely (Ridley's)
• Tonopah (Raley's)

Showers/Hygeine
Given the length of this trip. We will stop mid-way through the trip to let folks shower and freshen up. There may be opportunities to shower at developed campgrounds along the way as well (bring quarters!). I expect the stoppage time to be around 1-2 hours and we may also use the opportunity resupply as well. Shower facilities are at:

• Wild Horse Reservoir
• Austin, NV (Austin Baptist Church and RV Park)
• Eureka, NV (Eureka County swim facilities $3)
• West Wendover, NV (Pilot Travel Center, make shower reservations on app $12)
• Ely (White Pine aquatic center, $3.50), and other shower facilities around town as well
• Tonopah (Love's travel center, reserve using app)

Camping
Expect to be dispersed camping for the duration of this trip but we may possibly spend a few nights at developed campgrounds (but plan not to). You should bring the appropriate gear to pack out all of your garbage, including wagbags for solid human waste. Bring at least $60 with small bills for developed campgrounds.

Firearms
This is a family friendly event. We ask that you leave your firearm at home or keep it stowed away in your vehicle at all times.

Pets
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on this trip.

Gear & Fuel
You must carry a full size spare tire. If you don't have an auxiliary or long distance fuel tank, you'll need to carry at least 10 gallons of fuel. Be prepared to travel up to 350 miles between fuel stops, in 4 wheel drive.

Medical Info / Emergency Contact
Please print a copy of pertinent medical info and emergency contact info (at least two persons) on a card/piece of paper, and have this attached to your visor.

Comms: GMRS channel 15, freq 462.550
Firewood: please bring firewood if you can!


===============================================================

Itinerary

Please note, given the overall distance of this trip, we likely aren't going to follow the day-by-day itinerary, and it's possible our daily travel schedule deviates significantly from the planned itinerary. However, expect to travel between 100-200 miles on most days. Much of the distance will be traveling across the basin flatlands where roads tend to be graded gravel/dirt roads, where we can often travel 40+ mph.

Day 1 | Virginia City to Stillwater Range

Camp: Stillwater Range vicinity
Mileage: 165

• Virginia City (spend 30 minutes exploring)
• Sunrise Pass & Pine Nut Mountains
• Fort Churchill State Monument
• Carson River
• Hootens Wells PNX Station
• Stillwater Nat'l Wildlife Refuge

Day 2 | Stillwater Range to Willow Creek Reservoir

Camp: Willow Creek Reservoir
Mileage: 185
Refuel in Winnemucca

• Winnemucca >> quick resupply of groceries (plan to spend less than 30 min)
• Golconda hot springs
• Midas ghost town

Day 3 | Willow Creek Reservoir to Bruneau River

Camp: Willow Creek Reservoir
Mileage: 95
Refuel in Winnemucca

• Tuscarora ghost town
• North for of the Humboldt River
• Wild Horse Reservoir
• Jarbidge mountains

Day 4 | Bruneau River to Forks of Jarbidge

Camp: Forks of Jarbidge
Mileage: 95
Refuel in Jarbidge

• Continue through the Jarbidge Mountains
• Visit outpost of Jarbidge (30-45 min)
• Forks of Jarbidge

Day 5 | Forks of Jarbidge to Thousand Springs Creek

Camp: Thousand Springs Creek vicinity
Mileage: 110

• Tuscarora ghost town
• North for of the Humboldt River
• Wild Horse Reservoir
• Jarbidge mountains

Day 6 | Thousand Springs to Gold Hill

Camp: Gold Hill vicinity
Mileage: 140
Refuel in Wendover
Resupply/groceries in Wendover (Smith's)

• Wendover
• Historic Wendover Airfield
• Bonneville Salt Flats
• Gold Hill

Day 7 | Gold Hill to Eureka, Utah

Camp: Eureka Vicinity
Mileage: 140

• Hot Springs Cave
• Multiple PNX stations
• Dugway Geode Beds
• Historic Eureka

Day 8 | Eureka, Utah to Notch Peak

Camp: Tule Valley / Notch Peak vicinity
Mileage: 140

• Gunnison Massacre Historical Site
• Hermits Cabin
• Notch Peak

Day 9 | Notch Peak to Cave Lake State Park vicinity

Camp: Cave Lake Vicinity
Mileage: 100

• Refuel in Baker
• Great Basin NP Visitor Center
• Osceola ghost town
• Cave Mountain

Day 10 | Cave Lake to Lunar Crater

Camp: Lunar Crater vicinity
Mileage: 180

• Refuel in Ely
• Ward charcoal ovens
• Rock Cabin
• Lunar Crater

Day 11 | Lunar Crater to Eureka, NV

Camp: Eureka vicinity
Mileage: 100

• Project Faultless Nuclear test site
• Morey ghost town
• Eureka, NV

Day 12 | Eureka, NV to Monitor Range

Camp: Eureka vicinity
Mileage: 150

• Historic Hotel at hot Creek
• Miniature Grand Canyon
• Camp in Monitor range (get as close to Manhattan as possible)

Day 13 | Monitor Range to Toiyabe Range

Camp: Eureka vicinity
Mileage: 150

• Manhattan ghost town
• Diana's punch bowl
• Historic Potts Ranch
• Spencer Hot springs (Great place to camp!)
• Austin mining town
• Ione???

Day 14 | Drive Home
Depending where camp on day 4, we may need to drive down the mountain via Silver Canyon Road.

 

[pete_coh-5689]

I'm really excited about this trip. I may need to bug out a day early though. I have a class to teach on the 23rd that I would rather not miss. Looking forward to seeing a route or GPX file.

-Pete

 

[shierei]

Hi Ben,

I wanted to let you know that I’ll attend this overlanding trip. In preparation for the journey, I’ve added 10-gallon fuel tanks and a microwave to my rig to ensure I’m well-prepared for the long trip.

Looking forward to the adventure!

Best,

-Shierei

 

[Sean Bonick]

Looking forward to another adventure with OTG
Sean B.

 

[OTG Ben]

Hi Ben,

I wanted to let you know that I’ll attend this overlanding trip. In preparation for the journey, I’ve added 10-gallon fuel tanks and a microwave to my rig to ensure I’m well-prepared for the long trip.

Looking forward to the adventure!

Best,

-Shierei

Test that microwave with your power source first. We had someone destroy a jackery with their microwave.

 

[OTG Ben]

I'm really excited about this trip. I may need to bug out a day early though. I have a class to teach on the 24th that I would rather not miss. Looking forward to seeing a route or GPX file.

-Pete

We'll be following the Great Basin Heritage Trail, heading to Jarbidge first if the weather holds! we may end up skipping a few sections for expedience (thinking the zig zags through the basin ranges in the south).

 

[suryanshu]

Looking forward to this adventure with OTG. First one with OTG for the books.

--
Suryanshu

 

[pete_coh-5689]

We'll be following the Great Basin Heritage Trail, heading to Jarbidge first if the weather holds! we may end up skipping a few sections for expedience (thinking the zig zags through the basin ranges in the south).

All three segments seem like a lot of ground to cover in 12 days. I'm for sure bringing two spare tires this time.

 

[OTG Ben]

All three segments seem like a lot of ground to cover in 12 days. I'm for sure bringing two spare tires this time.

No guarantees we will complete the entire thing, but we'll try! A lot of the tracks through the basins are graded dirt/gravel roads where we can definitely make good time.

 

[shierei]

Test that microwave with your power source first. We had someone destroy a jackery with their microwave.

I tested it during my lost coast trip with BenS for three days. It worked perfectly. This microwave only uses 800W max power and my Jackery 1000 has a 1000W inverter.

 

[ScLeCo]

I'll be attending as well. Nice to see another Bronco will be there as well.

 

[SteveL3o7]

Hi Ben; I would love to go on this trip. As you know it is contingent on my truck repair! Thank you

 

[Rolandooltg]

Hey Ben. Just to double check, you put my name down for this trip Right? So I can prepare my self. Thanks

 

[OTG Ben]

@Rolandooltg @SteveL3o7 @ScLeCo @shierei @pete_coh-5689 @suryanshu @Ed Heston @Sean Bonick

Hey folks, thanks for signing up for this trip! Please make sure you read through all of the details in the original event post (I'm still adding to the daily itineraries), especially as it pertains to fuel, groceries, and showers. We'll have two big stops to resupply with groceries, and perhaps an expedited stop grocery trip in Winnemucca to gather a few days of supplies as well. Everyone absolutely needs a full size spare tire for this trip as well, and be sure to plan to carry plenty of water and food, especially non-perishable food.

 

[SteveL3o7]

Hi Ben; I will have to withdraw from this trip. My truck repair will likely not be complete until Oct 11th. Catch you on the next trip!
Thank you
Steve

 

[pete_coh-5689]

@Rolandooltg I just noticed you were on this trip. We were at the Lake Pilsbury campout in April 2023. Did some radio stuff on 10M. Did you ever get an HF rig and get on the air? I'll be bringing a bunch of kit and you can get on 10M if you like. If you've upgraded to a general license you can do 10m-80m with my gear. I'm planning on doing a bunch of radio on the trip.

 

[OTG Ben]

The complete itinerary and GPX files have been posted. Just a reminder, this is a very loose itinerary, and I expect over time we'll deviate from the daily schedule. However, it'll give us an idea of what lies ahead and places to visit, camp, refuel, etc.

 

[OTG Ben]

Can we get a final roll call of folks that are attending?

@Rolandooltg @pete_coh-5689 @ScLeCo @suryanshu @shierei

Also, if you have a Garmin, Zoleo or other satellite communicator. Can you please DM with your contact info? We'll be sharing this with the group but not posting it on a public forum.

 

[ScLeCo]

 

[shierei]

Shierei here to confirm again. Look forward to this trip!