Here's a detail map of the Hart Mt and Warner Lakes Valley area, showing some highlights:
After dropping down to the Valley floor I took a road that I'd never been on before, which (mostly) crawls along in a narrow zone between the shallow lakes (or lake beds, depending on the water that year) and the base of the scarp.
I passed one other rig, parked off to the side, and had to skirt or storm through a few mud-holes...though nothing too scary -- as we know, I don't like to get stuck! And I reached the Stone Corral. I'd never heard of it before, and I know nothing about it...but it looks quite old, and has been there long enough that they named the nearby lake for it:
This corral is circular...and so, I felt it would be interesting to shoot a 360° panorama from its center -- so I did (only more-or-less centered, however). Thumbnail of one view:
Link to full 360° panorama:
Pano 21
There was a herd of feral horses in the area...maybe instinctively and perversely drawn to the corral
. The stallion checked me out for a while, trying to figure out if I was a threat.
After 6 miles (from the main Warner Valley Rd) of slow travel I reached my destination at the foot of Poker Jim Ridge. The road splits, and the main "through" road continues on along the base of the scarp. I know where it re-joins the pavement, between Burns and Frenchglen...to be explored another time.
I followed a spur of the road that lead out to and into Bluejoint Lake...though it looks like it's been a long time since it was a wet lake.
I stopped and camped at the edge of the "lake", which I referred in a Facebook posting as "the yellow sea".
Of course, I shot a panorama at this cool spot.
Thumbnail:
Link to full 360 pano:
Pano 22
The cliff is 2000 feet high!
I spotted this broken point lying in the road:
After it was too dark to even try to shoot pics I went inside the camper to eat, etc.
Before dark I'd noticed some horses grazing out in "the yellow sea" (yes -- sea horses), and when their day was done they attempted to leave that area...only to find me -- an intruder even less native than they are -- blocking their standard path. (even though they could have easily walked around me and not come within 200 yards.
) Oh, the stamping and whinnying and galloping back and forth that ensued! They seemed quite upset...but eventually "found" a way around my camper.