Black Rock trip - just returned

[codynt]

A few friends and I were at the Black Rock Desert for the past few days, and had some good fun on the playa as well as the other trails (camping, mtn biking, etc). More photos to come - just got back tonight, but liked this one and wanted to share!

[RON CT110]

Can't wait to read your trip report. Which vehicle did you take - RR SC or RRC? And what was the weather like up on the Playa this time around?

[codynt]

Took the RR SC this time... still some work to do on the RRC. Weather was great overall - cool breeze at points made it more bearable (esp. the biking / outdoor stuff). This was a great trip, and everyone had a great time. The lake was largely dry, but the Quinn River seems to be flowing quite strongly and there's still a large stretch of impassable lake up and to the right.

Entering the playa on day (evening) 1:


Our own dust cloud:


Gratuitous dirt short, still day 1:


Another gratuitous shot:


The playa:


The first morning - wreckage on the playa:


Bikes for a ride on the playa:


Playa is big:


Bruno's:


Stuck pick-up. Someone mentioned it had been there for 2 weeks...:


On the Applegate-Lassen trail heading towards Soldier Meadows:


Soldier Meadows Hot Springs (our campsite for the second night):


No camping meal would be complete without this:


Awesome buggy based on a VW:


Abrams tanks on a train?


Small fire, 3rd night:


Some of the other pictures I got...
Black Rock Desert, July 2011 (https://picasaweb.google.com/107201880466179553465/BlackRockDesert2011)

[Teds]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

[KSuttle]

Awesome photos!

You said the Quinn was flowing strongly. Quinn is the river on the Playa between Sulphur and Black Rock right? How/Where did you cross? As the pickup truck picture shows...water and the playa don't make a good recipe for driving.

Since some more of us are going in early August, where else did you go? Did you end up using part of the route I sent you?

[codynt]

Awesome photos!

You said the Quinn was flowing strongly. Quinn is the river on the Playa between Sulphur and Black Rock right? How/Where did you cross? As the pickup truck picture shows...water and the playa don't make a good recipe for driving.

Since some more of us are going in early August, where else did you go? Did you end up using part of the route I sent you?

There was an ~1-2" deep layer of water on the northeastern part of the playa coming from the underwater lake that the Quinn flows into, thus that part of the playa is still muddy/damp.

Also stopped by Soldier Meadows Ranch, camped at Soldier Meadows Hot Springs on the 2nd night, and went through High Rock Canyon. The route you sent was very helpful. We decided to start from Gerlach rather than Imlay, as it made camping on the playa easier / more convenient on the first night.

I highly recommend camping at Soldier Meadows Hot Springs - it's absolutely beautiful and the water temperature in the (flowing) spring was perfect.

[KSuttle]

Is Soldier Meadow Hot Springs part of Soldier Meadow's Ranch or can you just pull up an camp? Is there space for 5-6 rigs?

[codynt]

Is Soldier Meadow Hot Springs part of Soldier Meadow's Ranch or can you just pull up an camp? Is there space for 5-6 rigs?

You can just pull up and camp - there are 4 or 5 campsites, and a couple of them can fit 2-4 rigs. I seem to recall an overflow parking area as well.