Halfway Spring

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

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The road around to White River got rather rough in spots, but never too much for a little careful first gear work. The road along White River after a junction turning once more toward the highway was much better. I decided to hike to another spring that was on my map with a road toward it. Finding the road was not so simple. This one has no sign.. I eventually selected a track in roughly the right place and without any markers saying it was not a road. I even took a little time to search for a benchmark that should be nearby, but was unable to find it. There had also seemed to be a road a little west (should be very short and going to a prospect) and a maybe second near a campsite with a toilet to the east. A little more west was an obvious road to the south which runs to various mines and springs.

Across the White River to the south there are already a bunch of mountains to look at. Current and Red Mountains dominate their respective areas.

The road is initially a clear, sandy track between the trees. It looks like something far too long established to not have markers blocking it if it was not meant to exist. Along the way, most of the view is of pinon pines. I do have a landmark, a distinctly cone shaped nearby peak. It should stay about so far to my left while the specific direction to it slowly changes. This is my landmark to judge if I am going in roughly the right direction.

Following a smooth, sandy road with a cone shaped peak off to the left.

The road abruptly changes to two rough tracks although it is supposed to be much longer. An elk skin that looks distinctly like some hunter's lost trophy sits at the edge of the transformation. I can see where vehicle turned around here, but another continued. The fading tire tracks make it easier to follow the fading road.

Still rounding the little cone on my left while following a pair of shallow ruts.

The road, or at least the tracks, follows along the bottom of a very shallow wash for a while. Eventually, they start to take a turn and climb a slight hill. Some new mountains toward the north become visible as it climbs. Then it stops. The tire tracks made a few tries to get through the trees ahead, but could not find an opening and turned back.

Red Mountain to the south.

The cone landmark is still cone shaped as it hides Current Mountain. I suspect a volcano.

The somewhat northerly Bald Mountain has come into view.

Just the slightest peek of some rather snowy peaks.

The spring is nowhere to be seen. I suspect it should be further along, but cannot detect any place that looks the slightest bit more green or denser with vegetation in that direction. None of the detailed maps I printed cover this area and the 120 foot contours really do not have the detail needed. I will just climb the landmark instead and see if it really is a volcano.

Nothing out there looks particularly like it is hanging out with a spring to me, but these things can be very hard to notice, especially if they are sort of behind a hill like Halfway Spring likely is.

The going gets steeper for most of the climb. The footing is very soft resulting in some extra climbing. My instinct says the first peak is false, but go for it anyway. My instinct was spot on, there is another higher peak after a short drop.

And there are more and higher volcanoes to the west.

Current Mountain sure is looking big now.

The next peak really is the top. There are some class 2 options, but that is as hard as it gets. The view is superb from the top. It has really cleared up since midday. If predictions hold, the weather has turned and it should be nice for the rest of my time in Nevada.

Over the top to Red Mountain again.

Trying to take in the distant peaks to the east.

The direct way back looks find overall, but the immediate route looks a bit tough. Circling a bit south first works better. I pass by outcrops of basalt and walk through a large patch of ash. At some point there is just no mistaking this little peak for anything other than a volcano.

The way back. The road is in the upper right corner and the car is parked somewhat near, but on this side of, the hill just left of it. It is a little steep at first, but levels out quite a lot.

Paying attention to some interesting rocks while wandering down in the ash.

I meander downward, trying to keep my direction between Red Mountain and a little hill next to the road. It is a wide area to hit, so quite easy. There must be a seam of hard rocks along my chosen path because I keep getting into small, rocky canyons. They are just high enough to be hard to get out of when they choke down and have a short drop. I try to drift away from them as I go and am somewhat successful.

Some very interesting flowers along the way. These seemed relatively common along the way back, but are new to me.

Teeny, tiny canyons go into short canyons and try to limit movement a bit.

The cactus are starting to come into bloom.

My rough navigation pays off well. When I get to the main road, the car is just a few hundred feet off. It is about the same length as from my parking spot to the faint road I started on. With the changed weather (at least I hope) it seems time to go for some of the planned mountain climbing, especially since I saw a nice camp spot up in the approximate area I want to start.




©2017 Valerie Norton
Posted 6 Jun 2017