AFT 2013....dirt road to wherever.
Every year a diehard group of blowhards plan a trip that is usually centered around exploring, driving fast, and jokes that just wouldn't be appropriate around most people. This year we decided at the last minute to head west to explore either ghost towns, or hot springs, or both, or neither, in Utah, or Nevada, or both... or you get the picture. On some trips it's not so much about the destination, but the people that are there, that make the journey memorable. This group could probably take five days at a KOA campground and make them memorable, and make a sailor blush in the process. The details always tend to flesh themselves out along the way....
So the plan was to meet at the four corners crossing in Lehi at noon. Naturally, after a collection of expected holdups including but not limited to pleading to a Judge in Idaho for an extension (via fax...who the hell has a fax anyway?), getting off work late, emergency pooping at a gas station, and forgetting what time we were supposed to meet, all five vehicles rolled out of the gas station right on time at 1:30.
The first stop...somewhere west of here.
After heading out west we decided to stop at Vernon for a top up of fuel and stuff. The little eclectic market there carries everything from snacks and drinks to a single propane bottle to expired energy drinks to birthday party favors and artisan candles. We purchased all of those things and a little more, then headed west on the Pony Express leaving the proprietor of the market almost certainly wondering what had just happened. Next stop, wherever.
On the way to wherever, we stopped and checked out these small cabins just north of the road at Simpson springs
Kind of like a Japanese Abbey Road moment only his wife makes him cut his hair.
Kurt demonstrating his youth-like agility.
After a little leg stretching we got back on the road and headed towards Callao. Stopped and checked out some hot springs on the way...
Rubb a dub dub
looking back south towards our cars
old abandoned bus. The bottom half is near the main road.
Continuing on, we stopped to take a picture of the cows grazing at the school in Callao. Rumor has it that this was the last school in the US that offered K-12 all in the same building.
After some brief map consultations, we opted to take a left and head south out of Callao and see if we could find some good camping around the warm springs in Gandy. Some high speed driving got us there just before dusk and we found a good spot to set up camp for the night.
Camp Manderville near Gandy
It was a beautiful and brisk night, with just enough fire and beer to keep the chill away. The next morning we awoke, picked up camp, and took a quick dip in the warm springs.
I'd hesitate to call these hot springs, as they are probably only 80* or so by the time they make it to the pool, but even with the morning temperature being in the mid 40's to low 50's, they were warm enough to feel nice. The bats even like to fly low to the water, which can be a little awkward for those of us who prefer not to have bats on our face.
The back wall of the hot spring is a weeping wall with a low hanging entrance to a little cave that goes back about 15 feet or so. With the angle of the early morning sun, the entire cavern was lit up like an aquarium...it was awesome.
After drying off and huddling around a map, we decided to continue to head south towards Great Basin NP, and wherever.
Day 1 mappy map
Every year a diehard group of blowhards plan a trip that is usually centered around exploring, driving fast, and jokes that just wouldn't be appropriate around most people. This year we decided at the last minute to head west to explore either ghost towns, or hot springs, or both, or neither, in Utah, or Nevada, or both... or you get the picture. On some trips it's not so much about the destination, but the people that are there, that make the journey memorable. This group could probably take five days at a KOA campground and make them memorable, and make a sailor blush in the process. The details always tend to flesh themselves out along the way....
So the plan was to meet at the four corners crossing in Lehi at noon. Naturally, after a collection of expected holdups including but not limited to pleading to a Judge in Idaho for an extension (via fax...who the hell has a fax anyway?), getting off work late, emergency pooping at a gas station, and forgetting what time we were supposed to meet, all five vehicles rolled out of the gas station right on time at 1:30.
The first stop...somewhere west of here.
After heading out west we decided to stop at Vernon for a top up of fuel and stuff. The little eclectic market there carries everything from snacks and drinks to a single propane bottle to expired energy drinks to birthday party favors and artisan candles. We purchased all of those things and a little more, then headed west on the Pony Express leaving the proprietor of the market almost certainly wondering what had just happened. Next stop, wherever.
On the way to wherever, we stopped and checked out these small cabins just north of the road at Simpson springs
Kind of like a Japanese Abbey Road moment only his wife makes him cut his hair.
Kurt demonstrating his youth-like agility.
After a little leg stretching we got back on the road and headed towards Callao. Stopped and checked out some hot springs on the way...
Rubb a dub dub
looking back south towards our cars
old abandoned bus. The bottom half is near the main road.
Continuing on, we stopped to take a picture of the cows grazing at the school in Callao. Rumor has it that this was the last school in the US that offered K-12 all in the same building.
After some brief map consultations, we opted to take a left and head south out of Callao and see if we could find some good camping around the warm springs in Gandy. Some high speed driving got us there just before dusk and we found a good spot to set up camp for the night.
Camp Manderville near Gandy
It was a beautiful and brisk night, with just enough fire and beer to keep the chill away. The next morning we awoke, picked up camp, and took a quick dip in the warm springs.
I'd hesitate to call these hot springs, as they are probably only 80* or so by the time they make it to the pool, but even with the morning temperature being in the mid 40's to low 50's, they were warm enough to feel nice. The bats even like to fly low to the water, which can be a little awkward for those of us who prefer not to have bats on our face.
The back wall of the hot spring is a weeping wall with a low hanging entrance to a little cave that goes back about 15 feet or so. With the angle of the early morning sun, the entire cavern was lit up like an aquarium...it was awesome.
After drying off and huddling around a map, we decided to continue to head south towards Great Basin NP, and wherever.
Day 1 mappy map
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