Returning to the desert – Nevada and Oregon 2012

[Baja Ho]

Thanks for this great report, pics & narration. I was able to ride in this area a few years ago, but only touched the tip of the iceburg. Need to plan anther trip.

[oregonlmd]

Originally Posted by MasterMarine

Also, do you have any pics of the rough wagon trail road up from there to the Shirk Ranch? That was a bad mother! Definitely not recommended for the big bikes!

I was out for a fall ride last weekend starting Nov 3rd, ending Nov 6th. I made a point of re-riding this road so I could take some pics. Its odd that I never did take any pics of it before. I guess I was just trying to get through it. Its funny that now that I've ridden that section 4 different times, it doesn't seem as long, and not as rough. I think maybe I've figured out some smoother lines.

Anyway, some pics:
The gateway to the start

Rough

And rougher


The "rough" pic is pretty representative of most of that route. The "rougher" pic is representative of many short sections, though.

[killurtv]

Fantastic!!! One of the best RR's of the year, THANKS!! Awesome photos.

[MasterMarine]

Originally Posted by oregonlmd

And rougher


The "rough" pic is pretty representative of most of that route. The "rougher" pic is representative of many short sections, though.

Thanks for posting the pics oregonlmd. I thought the "rough" pic was how it was the whole way! It is funny how it always seems like a section is tougher in the late afternoon / early evening!

[F.P.]

And rougher




That shit sucks! My buddy has a place near Plush and his "driveway" is about 1 mile of this. Beautiful country there, but those rocks, WTF? Not fun with a fully loaded GSA w/luggage!

[IanInCalgary]

Great RRs and pictures. I hope to work my way down there in the next couple of years.

A couple of questions about your setups and travel speeds. What kind of gearing were Dan and Chuck using on their DRZ400's and what was your typical maximum sustained speed when riding on the paved sections?

Ian

[DUCKSPANKER]

Originally Posted by IanInCalgary

Great RRs and pictures. I hope to work my way down there in the next couple of years.

A couple of questions about your setups and travel speeds. What kind of gearing were Dan and Chuck using on their DRZ400's and what was your typical maximum sustained speed when riding on the paved sections?

Ian

Gear setup on both DRZ's were 15/44 65-70 was average on the paved roads. The real trick is getting the jetting right, both Dan and I had the same jetting last year but I got 20 miles + less per tank, this year I leaned it out more and Dan and I are almost the same now.

[slidewayes]

Grate report you A must on the to do list

[kramsetac]

Finally, my last pictures of the trip -- Beatty Butte to Plush.

After a wind blown trip to the top, it was all downhill:











And my pictures of the bunker:



We had a little party on the roof:




A nice view of our arsenal of bikes from the roof:



The entrance to the Hart Mountain reserve:







And finally, the view overlook above the Warner valley and Plush. It looked a little brown:







Here is the same scene from the solo ride a few years before. It was an early morning shot and a little earlier in the year:



Thats it for pics. We got to Plush and three of us took the highway back to Denio Junction -- too many miles and we were finally tired. Mike and Bill pushed on for another couple of hours before also popping out on the highway and running pavement to get back before dark.

Whew. 8 days. 1200 miles. 6 bikes. No crashes (of note). No DNFs.

Kick Ass.

[oregonlmd]

Awesome pics! Beautiful!

[Mr Dual Sport]

Originally Posted by kramsetac

Whew. 8 days. 1200 miles. 6 bikes. No crashes (of note). No DNFs.

Kick Ass.

+1!

AWESOME PICS!!!!!!

[MasterMarine]

Beatys Butte is up for auction.

Go here to help keep it ORV friendly.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=845112

Here is a picture to help you remember how cool the view is.

[Watercat]

Super RR . . . . . . .

Thanks for posting up and taking the time for some fabulous pix. . . . . .

Love the high desert desolation and scenery.

Thanks again.

[RedRockRider]

Just read through the whole report again. Lots of great pics. Hats off to MasterMarine and all the guys.

Nevada has some really fantastic scenery with all the elevation changes and remote dirt/rock roads.

Really successful trip, right to the end!

[pdedse]

It's a grey, rainy evening in OR, but these photos...oh my! ...what a way to let a little sunshine break through the gloom...thanks for posting such wonderful pics...must get out there and see some of this...even if it's only a little.