Mini reports

[Brice]

A nice thing about having summitted Sphinx is that you see that mountain from all sorts of other ranges, miles away.

Anyway, I'm glad you got to spend time in some country I really love.  Did you go anywhere in the Tobacco Roots?  I was up Hollowtop once but many of the peaks I'd like to visit are a bit hard to access without pretty good clearance.

Being able to identify mountains I've climbed from other mountain summits is one thing I really enjoy.  When I see a fantastic place my curiosity is piqued and I want to explore it. Then after I've been there and see it again from a distance, that curiosity itch is satisfied.

I didn't get to Hollowtop this time around though it was on my plan.  The cold weather and rain/snow has chased me away for the season.

[Brice]

Been a little quiet here lately, so I'll post even though the photo is only mildly interesting.

This photo is taken from the summit of Pearl Peak on the southern end of the Ruby Mountains in Nevada, looking towards the distant northern half of the range.  The Ruby mountains are generally considered to be the most beautiful of the 300+ mountain ranges in Nevada.  Having climbed at least one mountain in all of the high elevation ranges in Nevada, I have to agree.  The photo is from too far away to appreciate it though.  If you ever find yourself passing through Elko Nevada, I recommend taking a drive to see them up close.  They're especially pretty right now, with the golden leaves in full display.

[Kauri]

I've heard of the Ruby Mountains in NV but so far haven't gotten to visit there yet. Glad to hear you highly recommend them. Hopefully I can get there in the somewhat near future.

Thanks for sharing photos from your recent adventures!

[DAW89446]

The Ruby Marshes, seen at the right, are also a treat to visit and explore. Levies are topped by roads, with interpretive displays outlining the local and migrating wildlife.

[MojaveGeek]

Ah, the Rubies have been on my list for years. NE Nevada ranges are wonderful - Schell Creek, Snake, Grant, Quinn Canyon. And almost nobody there! Those were the first areas I explored in NV, and my reaction was "Like Colorado minus the people!"

[TacoLand]

Yeah, will chime in here as well and say hiking & backpacking in the Rubies is a phenomenal experience. One of the most beautiful spots in the entire state and the fact that it's in close proximity to Elko, not California, means wayyyyy less people on the trails.

[Brice]

The Ruby Marshes, seen at the right, are also a treat to visit and explore. Levies are topped by roads, with interpretive displays outlining the local and migrating wildlife.

I haven't visited the wildlife refuge properly, but I plan to someday.  Here's a photo I took of them the same day I was on Pearl peak.  It looks like a neat place.

[DAW89446]

This isn't a trip report, per se. I did this from my own back yard here in north-central Nevada.

Well, though cloudy, the "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse did not disappoint here in north-central Nevada. When the eclipse first started, conditions were light sprinkles and gloomy. But as peak eclipse approached, enough gaps formed in the clouds to allow for great views.

All images taken with a Kodak PixPro FZ152 digital camera w/15x optical zoom. One image was taken using a shade 12 grade welding hood replacement lens (the one that looks yellow), the rest without.

[Kauri]

Wow! Those are great eclipse photos!! It was completely cloudy this morning here in Northern California where I'm at. I'm really disappointed to have missed it, so am especially grateful to see your photos. Thanks for sharing.

[DAW89446]

Thank you. Actually, I think the clouds actually enhanced the event.

Winnemucca and Battle Mountain were booked solid with eclipse peepers, but with forecasted clouds, I heard that many bailed for places farther along the path, such as Ely, Baker and Utah. Yesterday's forecasts pulled the clouds out of the forecast, but they did remain, but did not completely wash the eclipse out.