2021! what are your plans for this year?

[netllama]

Happy new year!  A new year, and hopefully a much better year ahead for everyone.

What are your travel plans for 2021?

[TacoLand]

Looking forward to (hopefully) a week-long trip to Death Valley in March for my birthday. Even if 2021 is better than 2020, my trips to Europe, Japan, and the East Coast, have all been shelved indefinitely. Other than that, probably just bum around the Western backcountry and do my best to keep out of trouble.

Do you have any travel plans for 2021 dialed in yet?

[netllama]

Looking forward to (hopefully) a week-long trip to Death Valley in March for my birthday. Even if 2021 is better than 2020, my trips to Europe, Japan, and the East Coast, have all been shelved indefinitely. Other than that, probably just bum around the Western backcountry and do my best to keep out of trouble.

Do you have any travel plans for 2021 dialed in yet?

Yes, I've got a full slate planned for 2021 (although nothing concrete to Death Valley yet). Assuming current borders remain open, I will be spending time in Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, Togo, Ghana, Benin, Ivory Coast, Liberia & Chad this year. Hoping for some spectacular Sahara scenery in some of those countries.

[GowerGulch42]

Wow, that's a bold list! I'm really curious to hear about Afghanistan, a country with perhaps the most spectacular desert -> mountain transition in the world!

Personally, I'm hoping to make Beveridge work in June or September. I have a separate Sierra trip planned for September as well (postponed from last year's smoke). I have lots of field time planned for my research in Eastern Oregon (the Strawberry Mountains), and hopefully a fun trip through Nevada as well. I'm thinking of doing something in March, maybe Steens Mountain again. I should share some of my pictures from that trip here. I went with my geology class so I wasn't able to do as much exploring as I would have wished.

[TacoLand]

netllama: Turkey, Egypt, Afghaaaa .... if I didn't know better, I'd think you were a CIA agent! Incredibly impressive and I hope it all pans out for yah.

Gower: I still think that Lonesome Miner Trail you're considering would be a fantastic experience and hope to piggyback on it someday soon. The Steens are fantastic but were pretty damp when I was there in late May a few years back. I included the Owyhee Canyonlands in that trip and it was something really special. Also visited Alvord, which as you noted on the PV site, is a pretty spectacular area. I'm always a fan of breakfast / lunch at the Fields Station.

You also asked about Northern Nevada in the spring and I'd advise closures are more about big storms that just hit, as so far it looks like another dry year for us. Unfortunately High Rock Canyon is closed February - May, but Sheldon Refuge, Soldier Meadows, and Pyramid Lake, are all spots of some interest. The Black Rock Desert playa will definitely be a no-go in the winter as it's a great way to get your truck buried to the axles. Feel free to shoot me a message as your trip gets closer if you have any specific questions you want to bounce off of someone.

[netllama]

Wow, that's a bold list! I'm really curious to hear about Afghanistan, a country with perhaps the most spectacular desert -> mountain transition in the world!

Personally, I'm hoping to make Beveridge work in June or September. I have a separate Sierra trip planned for September as well (postponed from last year's smoke). I have lots of field time planned for my research in Eastern Oregon (the Strawberry Mountains), and hopefully a fun trip through Nevada as well. I'm thinking of doing something in March, maybe Steens Mountain again. I should share some of my pictures from that trip here. I went with my geology class so I wasn't able to do as much exploring as I would have wished.

I was out in the Alvord Desert near Steens Mountain last July. Some truly incredibly scenery out that way. I'd love to see your photos.

[Kauri]

Not sure yet, since it'll depend on how safe it is to travel, and also on my work schedule. Under consideration are the Colorado Rockies, Crowsnest Highway in British Columbia, Great Basin NP, the eastern Sierras, and DV.

[netllama]

netllama: Turkey, Egypt, Afghaaaa .... if I didn't know better, I'd think you were a CIA agent! Incredibly impressive and I hope it all pans out for yah.

You're not the first person to suggest that I'm a govt agent. Those three are actually going to be next month, if all goes as planned.

[MojaveGeek]

What part of Turkey? I've been all over. Good luck learning Turkish I did... but the words don't sound like anything you know. Afghanistan. I have no idea what it is like these days. I spent about 2 1/2 months there in the 70s. Went across the north from Herat to Mazar via public transport on a very back roads route. I wonder what is safe to do there there days?

For me, I have some reservations for SPW in March but since I have to fly out, I am pretty dubious. I have enough risk factors, and covid is so out of control again, I will be surprised if I get anywhere before summer. Thinking Montana, maybe the Sierra (depends on snow pack), Washington state.

[trailhound]

Unfortunately, I live out of state (Florida). It's a long flight to the DV area with a change of planes in either Atlanta or Dallas. Yesterday, 14 passengers were banned from Alaska Airlines after they rioted over having to wear a mask. No way I am flying anywhere until the end of this year or maybe even 2022. It depends on when I can get vaccinated and how long it takes for the virus to die down.