m3dragon
FRF Addict
The Silver State Adventure is now in the books. 22 trucks covered 560 miles from Reno to Las Vegas with 524.2 miles being dirt. We had hoped to make it only 21 miles of pavement but we ran out of time day two. Unlike some of our other runs/trips, we had to push the group to keep moving at times, we had to cover a lot of ground before we lost daylight, (aux lights were not a requirement, this time). Despite any hiccups, everyone made it each day and overall the trip was a blast and look forward to doing it again next year on one of our 18 routes there.
Before we get to images, let us get the trail tax discussion out of the way. The group had six flat tires, one fuel pump that was acting up but made it to the end, and one rear plastic bumper cover that went flying, and a couple blown shocks. Very little tax for such a LONG trip over such a wide range of terrain. Now to the report and images.
For the entire album of images, please see Road Adventure Drives
Direct link to pictures: 2016-Silver_State_Run
The group meet up at 7:15 am to pass out lunches and go over the plans for the day. The morning of day one was planned to be the slowest section for the entire trip. Despite being slow, everyone had fun climbing up and down the mountains and dealing with a few trail challenges. Two area of the trail worth noting was a mud bog that the only way through was to get muddy and a hill climb that challenged a few trucks to make it up.
Everyone getting ready for the last big hill climb. This was where all the 2wd trucks had to keep the foot down to make it up. It was a tad rocky which was why it was a challenge. After this last “hill”, we could see the promise land of flat trails for the rest of the trip. After a short pavement section, we hit the first fun trail to lunch stop at Churchill.
After lunch, we made the run to the only Fuel Stop on the day. For some people they were limping into the gas station as they were on fumes. From the gas station it would be a straight fast shot to Tonopha where food and rooms awaited.
Last section before entering into Tonopha was nice a smooth with a short canyon section. We got to Tonopha in time to see a great sun set over the hills.
Day 2 would be the longest trail day. We had a lot of miles to cover and we left a little behind schedule. This meant we had to push people a little day 2 more then we like. But everyone knew we had a long way to go and a short time to get there. So SADDLE Up.
We had a quick drivers meeting to go over the day. It was a bit brisk in the morning so it was a very fast meeting. After the meeting, the group headed to the trail had and three of the group took off to setup at some film and picture locations as this was a great section of trail to film / photo. The first section would end at Bonnie Clair Mine for lunch.
What made this section great was it was a canyon trail followed by a sand trail. We called the sand section the beach as the sand was deep and you had to keep the power down. After the beach the group made a stop after passing by a long twisty trail by a bunch of Jashua Trees.
Bonnie Clare Lunch stop offered a much-needed break for the group. They had been doing great and pushing through all the miles of trail we had to cover. After an hour break the group would head to Beatty to make a much needed fuel and restroom break.
On the way to Beatty, there happened to be a set of jump people could have fun on. The group took turns and had a little fun seeing if they could get their wheels in the air. After the jumps it was a fund smooth trail to a small section of Death Valley. The Death Valley section was where the group made a quick stop at Ryholite for quick photo and then off to Beatty for fuel.
The section of trail from Beatty to the lake bed trail was, lets say hell. It was 7 miles of none stop whoops which tested everyone’s suspension and gave a few people whiplash. This section of trail was not pre-ran and became known as whoop Ville 2 as in the pre-run we found another section like this that was 11 miles long. The group slogged through this section and a short rock trail to get to smoother trails which lasted the rest of the day. An interesting crossing the group had was over the freeway where there was a run going on. Everyone made it across but it was a sight to come up to traffic and people running in the middle of the desert. No thank you.
The last section of trail included a long dry lake bed where people where able to have a little fun.
At the last regroup point, the group took a moment to take pictures of the “unknown church” which was carved into a canyon. There was not data on it but it was a good rally point for the group and one of the stops we had planned for our day.
After a long day on the trail and with the sun setting, we reach the end of the planned dirt section. From here, it was a 20 mile freeway sprint to Las Vegas. Most of the group was tired and ready to call it a day. After quickly airing up, we hit the freeway.
Before we get to images, let us get the trail tax discussion out of the way. The group had six flat tires, one fuel pump that was acting up but made it to the end, and one rear plastic bumper cover that went flying, and a couple blown shocks. Very little tax for such a LONG trip over such a wide range of terrain. Now to the report and images.
For the entire album of images, please see Road Adventure Drives
Direct link to pictures: 2016-Silver_State_Run
The group meet up at 7:15 am to pass out lunches and go over the plans for the day. The morning of day one was planned to be the slowest section for the entire trip. Despite being slow, everyone had fun climbing up and down the mountains and dealing with a few trail challenges. Two area of the trail worth noting was a mud bog that the only way through was to get muddy and a hill climb that challenged a few trucks to make it up.
Everyone getting ready for the last big hill climb. This was where all the 2wd trucks had to keep the foot down to make it up. It was a tad rocky which was why it was a challenge. After this last “hill”, we could see the promise land of flat trails for the rest of the trip. After a short pavement section, we hit the first fun trail to lunch stop at Churchill.
After lunch, we made the run to the only Fuel Stop on the day. For some people they were limping into the gas station as they were on fumes. From the gas station it would be a straight fast shot to Tonopha where food and rooms awaited.
Last section before entering into Tonopha was nice a smooth with a short canyon section. We got to Tonopha in time to see a great sun set over the hills.
Day 2 would be the longest trail day. We had a lot of miles to cover and we left a little behind schedule. This meant we had to push people a little day 2 more then we like. But everyone knew we had a long way to go and a short time to get there. So SADDLE Up.
We had a quick drivers meeting to go over the day. It was a bit brisk in the morning so it was a very fast meeting. After the meeting, the group headed to the trail had and three of the group took off to setup at some film and picture locations as this was a great section of trail to film / photo. The first section would end at Bonnie Clair Mine for lunch.
What made this section great was it was a canyon trail followed by a sand trail. We called the sand section the beach as the sand was deep and you had to keep the power down. After the beach the group made a stop after passing by a long twisty trail by a bunch of Jashua Trees.
Bonnie Clare Lunch stop offered a much-needed break for the group. They had been doing great and pushing through all the miles of trail we had to cover. After an hour break the group would head to Beatty to make a much needed fuel and restroom break.
On the way to Beatty, there happened to be a set of jump people could have fun on. The group took turns and had a little fun seeing if they could get their wheels in the air. After the jumps it was a fund smooth trail to a small section of Death Valley. The Death Valley section was where the group made a quick stop at Ryholite for quick photo and then off to Beatty for fuel.
The section of trail from Beatty to the lake bed trail was, lets say hell. It was 7 miles of none stop whoops which tested everyone’s suspension and gave a few people whiplash. This section of trail was not pre-ran and became known as whoop Ville 2 as in the pre-run we found another section like this that was 11 miles long. The group slogged through this section and a short rock trail to get to smoother trails which lasted the rest of the day. An interesting crossing the group had was over the freeway where there was a run going on. Everyone made it across but it was a sight to come up to traffic and people running in the middle of the desert. No thank you.
The last section of trail included a long dry lake bed where people where able to have a little fun.
At the last regroup point, the group took a moment to take pictures of the “unknown church” which was carved into a canyon. There was not data on it but it was a good rally point for the group and one of the stops we had planned for our day.
After a long day on the trail and with the sun setting, we reach the end of the planned dirt section. From here, it was a 20 mile freeway sprint to Las Vegas. Most of the group was tired and ready to call it a day. After quickly airing up, we hit the freeway.