Black Rock Desert June 2009

Mine at Leadville:
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Aspen grove hidden in the canyon at Leadville (I would have stayed here if I had a chainsaw):
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Craig's next adventure:
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Heading home - approaching Cedarville I hit a cattle guard and instantly my tire pressure warning light goes on. I stopped and checked the pressure in the tire and find that one had lost about 15 pounds. I check again 10 min later and found I had lost another 3 pounds. OK, great I clearly and going flat so what to do? It was late in the day so I would prefer to be camped before changing the tire. I was just about 15 miles from the campground (West of Cedarville) that I had planned to stay in and I figured I could make it there, and deal with the problem at the end of the days driving. I made it to the campground but then another problem soon became evident.

However, before I finish that story, here is a photo I took while checking on the tire - approaching the Warner Mountains.

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These mountains are bigger than I thought and I would like to explore them more in the future.

So back to the other thing. I had hastily made the decision to get wheels and tires before the trip and probably didn't do all the research I should have. Ultimately though I believe the problem I had was the fault of Americas Tire, which did not do it's job in providing with some basic information related to the wheels I bought. Ultimately however I also have to take 50% of the blame, because being prepared is the responsibility of the individual.

So - heres the deal. They put new nuts on my new wheels and my stock lug wrench didn't fit them. Can you imagine my level of absolute pissed-offness when I made this discovery? Do you think those butt weasels at Americas tire could have made the mental leap to realize if you change the type of nuts used, it might be beneficial to ask the customer if he has a wrench that fits them? ARRGGHHH!!!!

So here I am in the woods with no cell phone coverage and a flat tire. Diego was with me and it makes me nervous to leave him while I go look for a solution - who knows how long I'll be gone? Ultimately I decide that the next morning I will get on my running shoes and run six miles to Cedarville to make a phone call to Les Schwab in Alturas, hoping they can send someone out to help me. So did that, worked out fine. Ran two miles back up the hill to meet Les Schwab truck. Still sore.

Les Schwab dudes plan is to put the spare on the truck, then we drive down to the store for the flat fix. But surprise surprise we have another snafu. Seems that these satan nuts from hell are also not compatible with the Ford spare rim. OK Americas Tire, now you guys are selling tires, not fixing the Hubble Telescope. Is it such a mental leap to ascertain that if you change the wheels on a truck, use nuts not compatible with either wrench or spare, that you should TELL THE FRIGGEN CUSTOMER THAT THERES A COUPLE THINGS HE SHOULD KNOW!?!!?

Solution to this round of problems - use the wrong nuts, drive slow, and have the Les Schwab truck follow me incase the wheel falls off and I fly off the mountain and die a fiery death. Ultimately I made it and the problem was fixed. Les Schwab boys said that the wheels should have come with the adapter for the nuts and they gave me one free of charge.

So lesson learned. I usually buy my tires at Les Schwab, I strayed, and I paid the consequences.

But ultimately this is about learning and adapting and overcoming, and next time I will be very much more prepared for a tire problem.

Overall, great trip again, adventure always, and a pleasure to share it with my WTW friends. Until next time:
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Had me rolling with laughter. Great report! Return trip prior to Colorado?


Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip...
 
Thanks for the report on the Black Rock and the lead on the book.

You did not say what the cause of the leaky tire was?
 
You did not say what the cause of the leaky tire was?

Inconclusive. I had thought I picked up a nail at Trego but there was nothing in there. Seems unlikely a cattle guard could do it but the air pressure sensor went off right when I hit it. Guys at Les Schwab said a sharp rock was likely.
 
Capt. Leisure? Baloney... Sounds like the Running Man to me. :D


You're putting some serious miles on that new outfit of yours. Another great adventure detailed with some choice photos. Takes a big man to accept publicly, the responsibility of the tire fiasco. Stuff happens, don't sweat it.

Nice camera work and great choice for a getaway. I appreciate the inside look at the Black Rock Desert. Love that shot of the campers together.


:thumb:

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Next up was Sulphur - which was shown as a point of interest on the BLM map that I had. I didn't know what was there but I soon discovered that it is a ghost town where they used to mine sulphur from the springs and currently there is an open pit gold mine adjacent to the site.

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DD - Looks like we saw many of the same places at almost the same time - my timeframe being June 2nd thru June 8th. I entered from Idaho via Owyhee and routed thru Midas, Sulphur, Barrel Springs, Gerlach and up 34, then meandering westward on 299 until I saw the Pacific and once again found home.

The pile of rubble pictured in Sulphur was not the last standing building. Just north of the rubble stood a single room building that was still sound last I saw of it, maybe 10 years ago. I guessing here, but the burnt scrap pile sitting across and slightly down the road is the burnt remnants of that last stand of downtown Sulphur.

We seem to be loosing too many old buildings in the Black Rock general area. There was a large farmhouse / miners quarters in Scossa that's gone. There was the small cabin at Rabbithole Springs that was destroyed - probably for firewood. And as you see, Sulphur is now no more as well. I'll have to dig out and scan my old pictures of those and other buildings when still erect and relatively whole.

Still standing, there is Barrel Springs cabin and others I am forgetting or could not visit due to mud and high elevation snow.

As usual DD, great trip report and pictures!
 
They put new nuts on my new wheels and my stock lug wrench didn't fit them. Can you imagine my level of absolute pissed-offness when I made this discovery?



Good warning, I had a custom carrier put on my utility trailer to carry a second spare and I found out it was bigger than all the rest. I was still in civilization and also had a mega crescent wrench that I could get on it (nice tool to have:thumb:).
 
Tire Hell

Holy S**t DD, first it was propane hell and then tire hell, doesn't quite seem fair. Great pics and report, thanks and better luck has to be coming.
 
Holy S**t DD, first it was propane hell and then tire hell, doesn't quite seem fair. Great pics and report, thanks and better luck has to be coming.

Well it's no biggie really. You have to expect these things now and then when you are on the road a lot. Thanks for the well wishes though :)
 
Flat tires, broken running boards, leaving Diego while you run to town to get help! Geez, all I got was muddy, and you say "Don't pull a Ted".:rolleyes: At least I knew not to drive out onto the Playa!
 
Flat tires, broken running boards, leaving Diego while you run to town to get help! Geez, all I got was muddy, and you say "Don't pull a Ted".:rolleyes: At least I knew not to drive out onto the Playa!

Being top dog has it's perks sometimes Ferdinand :D
 
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