#3: [28-May-05]

#2: [23-Nov-02]

#4: [05-Oct-13] (incomplete)

05-Aug-2001 -- The confluence point at 40n and 118w is quite possibly the most remote and difficult to reach in the state of Nevada. It is located southeast of the mining and farming town of Lovelock off Interstate 80.

Leaving Zephyr Cove, Nevada (Lake Tahoe) at 6:15 am Russ and I drove for about two hours until we reached Lovelock. A few miles beyond Lovelock on 80 we turned off the highway in a southeasterly direction. After travelling through Coal Canyon the road became dirt and we soon made our way to Antelope Valley, a very expansive sage brush and grass plain that is bordered by several mountain ranges. The only signs of civilization along the way were the working and abandoned open pit mines, yet we didn't see another living soul or vehicle for that matter for the entire time. Further along on the drive we were treated to a large herd of wild horses that obviously flourish in the backcountry. The group we came across consisted of at least three hundred beautiful animals.

After some difficult and often confusing navigation we located an obscure four wheel drive path that carved its way from the valley floor at 4,600 ft to a point we could no longer drive at 6,080 ft. When we parked the truck at 12:00 noon we were excited that the GPS read we were only 1.1 miles from our destination but the enthusiasm was quickly dashed by the propect of climbing nearly 1,500 vertical feet in 90 degree plus temperatures in just over a mile.

A strenuous bushwack ensued and after climbing up a Pinion Pine covered mountain side for over two hours we finally reached our destination. The confluence point lies directly atop the Stillwater Range. The views of Antelope Valley, Cornish Peak, the Buena Vista Valley alkali flats and the surrounding mountain ranges were simply spectacular. The intense effort required in reaching the crest of this magnificent range made us feel as though we were the first people to set foot upon it in many years. Needless to say we found the outing to be a very fulfilling and rewarding experience.