#4: [20-Nov-06]

#3: [31-Aug-03]

#2: [20-Apr-02]

20-Apr-2001 -- Heading east from Tonapah, I turned right at the airport road and followed it about a mile when I was stopped by a fence. After a little more map reading and a little recon, I found a road into a gravel company and stopped to ask permission to cross their land. The gentleman I spoke to told me it wasn't private land, and gave me directions to the road I was looking for. From there I rode 5.5 miles down a straight dirt road to 117W. The area was pretty sparsely vegetated and there were many dry washes, so I decided I could ride overland the last 1.6mi to the confluence without causing any undue damage so I did. I have always wanted to get a pic of the bike on a confluence, but so far I haven't been able to do this and "tread lightly".

The confluence sits in a beautiful open valley just over the hill from Tonapah. Small sage is practically the only vegetation and yesterday it had rained just prior to my arrival and the smell was wonderful. Due south is a dry lake, "Mud Lake," but time constraints and the weather precluded me from visiting it. The remnants of the storm can be seen in the photo of Cactus Mtn. The airport I passed was a base during World War II but, on my return trip, I couldn't find anyone there to get some history from. There are three large hangers remaining of the original buildings, one of which I photographed.