NV 2012 - In Memory of the Crewmen.

[Rusty Rocket]

Originally Posted by Rainshadow

Thank you for taking time to honor lost airmen. A lot of us would think to ourselves that there should be something like a plaque at the site to honor their memory, but we wouldn't act on it. You followed through and deserve the thanks and admiration of the entire ADV community.

I don't think I could say it any better, so I'll copy it and say "+1"

My dad was 42 years in the Air Force, so this story has a special meaning to me. Thank you very much.

wartime crashes happened too often. This one is 15 miles up the road from me.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/W...24J_Mt_Holyoke

[Klay]

Great story.

[Baja Ho]

Great job on the memorial. Awesome area to ride in, I need to get back up there. Thanks for the report.

[marty_uiuc]

Great ride report!

I think I saw you guys at the Mama's pizza place in Battle Mountain. I moved from IL to BM, arriving saturday afternoon. while trying to get to the new house I drove by that pizza place and saw a gaggle of KTMs. can't beat that for a first bike sighting at my new home town!

[Clodhopper55]

[QUOTE=Hodakaguy;18863499][U]Day 2 - June 2nd.[/U


A audit close to the mill site...I'm sure with tailing piles this big there are more audits in the area.




Great story and pics....these are "adits"....maybe auto complete gotcha. Ha. AWESOME trip and writing. Thanks!

[RidingUpAndDown]

Big Kudos on the Memorial - so well done! That was such a great idea and follow-thru; one class act you guys!

Thanks to all, d

[Hodakaguy]

DAY 4 - June 4 2012

Miles on bike: 1852
Hrs on bike: 68.1


Woke up at Bog Hot Springs to another beautiful day...ready to head south.




Trever removing the GPS brackets and mounts from his bike since his Montana is no longer functioning.




Andy and his twin kick stands....LOL. He's getting ready to change his broken unit out for the good unit, since we arrived at the springs after dark he just used two kick stands for the night.






Some time during the night this cool VW Vanagon slipped into the springs.




We head into Denio Junction again to get fuel and a hot meal :-)




No ride report that includes Denio Junction would be complete without a picture of "Gods Ride".




With full stomachs we head south to Soldier Meadows to stop for fuel and say hello to Kathy. Kathy's husband Jim recently passed away and Kathy is selling the ranch. Hopefully it will remain open to people traveling through this barren country. Kathy and Jim will be missed!

Rolling into Soldier Meadows.










Soldier Meadows has a rich history. It was originally called Mud Meadows and was used by the settlers as a rest stop as they made their was out west on the Applegate Trail. The US army built a Fort here to protect the settlers as they made their way westward. Read more on Soldier Meadows Here: CLICK HERE

Kathy's house.




And the original Army Fort still standing!




Kathy is gone to Reno for the day taking care of paperwork for the sale of the ranch, bummer we were hoping to say hi. We chat with the ranch hand for a bit and check out the facilities.








We debate if we need to take on fuel or not. It's never wise to pass fuel out here so we all take one gallon of fuel. (we'll be glad we did!).

We roll up to the "pumps". Soldier Meadows uses a very reliable way of measuring your fuel, a old 1 gallon cider jug :-). We line up and all get our gallon of fuel.






Trever sipping on a little unleaded...Hmmm....good vintage!






Filling my bike.




We leave Soldier Meadows and head up Fly Canyon, High Rock Canyon, and Yellow Rock Canyon. This is the original route of the Applegate Trail, Lots of History Here! The scenery is incredible!




Along the way trail markers share the settlers experiences with quotes from diaries. I can't imagine how hard it was to make that voyage.






Heading out in search of adventure!










We arrive in High Rock Canyon. We stop here to take a rest and check out a few historical items along the trail.

Setting up Marks kick stand. Andy found a piece of tent pole along the trail so they propped Mark's bike up with it, it lasted till we walked up to the cave then the bike decided to take a nap :-)






A couple Panoramic shots of High Rock Canyon.






This is called Mail Cave. Settlers on the wagon trains would leave mail in this cave for family members or friends that were coming behind. It's hard to imagine what it would have been like to travel through this country with horse and wagon.






Here comes a dune buggy down the trail.




We take a walk down the canyon to check out a few more historical items.

Looking for the 2nd cave...it's well hidden!







Historical Graffiti on the bluff next to Mail Cave, 1852!




The walls were a couple hundred feet high in places!






Arriving at the second cave.








I love looking at this kind of history....Amazing it's so well preserved.




Exiting the second cave.




One of the many stream crossings on the trip.






A couple dune buggies crossing a stream.












Sky's are starting to turn nasty and the temperature is dropping rapidly....Hmmm...




We reach Yellow Rock Canyon right as it starts to rain. We all stop at the abandoned shack to put on the cold weather gloves and rain cloths.

Arriving at the shack.




Hey...this will make a great kick stand!














Foundation to a long lost cabin or ?




After leaving Yellow Rock Canyon we started to climb in elevation. The trails were absolutely beautiful....unfortunately the rain was making them take on the consistency of a well greased baking pan! The trail was not only slick but the mud will pack onto your bike so thick it will lock up your chain, front wheel etc.

The bikes are handling like a humming bird with a bowling ball duct taped under one wing!

It was slow going for a while.


















Oh yeah...this has to be good for the bikes lol.








Mud and more mud....




Hey Trevor....Look at the camera....It's for prosperity LOL.








My rear tire.





Here's a short video of Andy riding a slick section of mud like a pro!




The last of the nasty mud...back on a solid trail!






After this picture the weather turned really cold and our tracks took us right up to 7500' where we were riding in snow! It was starting to get dark and we were all cold and hungry, not having eaten since breakfast in Denio Junction. We look at the tracks and find the fastest way down off the mountain to try to get to Gerlach before Dark, a nice hot shower is sounding pretty good at this point! We are all really glad we took on fuel at Soldier Meadows since are tanks are starting to look pretty low.

We didn't tank any more pictures after the mud section, it was just to cold and we were all concentrating on making it to Gerlach before dark...the prospect of camping in the snow at 7500' wasn't to enticing!

Gerlach! We made it in right before Bruno's restaurant closed and had a great meal. We got some rooms at the Bruno's motel and settled in for the night.




Trever found a hose and decided to get some mud off his bike....I was to tired to care and figured I'd get it off in the am.



Another great days riding!!

End Day 4

Miles on Bike: 2086
Hrs on Bike: 74.9


More to come!

Hodakaguy

[wachs]

Excellent! The mud is challenging for sure. Came through Summit Lake in the rain once solo, barely made it.

[killurtv]

Awesome guys, really cool. I can't wait to go see the memorial at the crash site. An amazing tribute. I am heading out there next week, I will be in your tracks part of the way. Thanks for RR.

[Honkey Cat]

Holy Mud oly, not looking forward to that crap.

[Rusty Rocket]

in the video, the mud is flying off in what looks like dry chunks. Never saw anything like it.

[Bob]

Another great report, thanks!

[Utah Bones]

This report is on my favorite list!

[DRZ Charlie]

A really cool tribute! Thank you for taking us along.

[larryboy]

Good thing you got that extra gallon to burn in the mud!!

Sad about the ranch being put up for sale, I'd buy it in a second if I hit the lotto.