Outdoor Adventure USA

This week we are going to discuss the Marietta Wild Burro Range and Teels Marsh. If we have time we will discuss the “other” White Mountain Traverse and The Sump.

All 3 trails are documented in Roger & Loris Mitchell’s book Great Basin SUV Trails – Volume II Southwestern Nevada.

Most of the time, you are not far from a major highway, where you can bail out. Even then, the county is quite empty and it can feel very remote on these trails and the highways.

Roger & Loris Mitchell’s book Great Basin SUV Trails – Volume II Southwestern Nevada
Two source to purchase this book and other by Roger Mitchell:
• http://www.trackandtrailpublications.com
• http://www.dirtyparts.com/store/?keywor ... ion=search
The trails are documented at:
White Mountain Traverse Trail 18 page 153
The Sump Trail 23 page 182
Teels Marsh & Huntoon Valley (aka Wild Burro Reserve) Trail 24 page 189

The map the in the background of the picture part of the California Trail Users Coalition Series. This is the Inyo National Forest (North) and Bishop Area BLM.
This covers the White Mountain Traverse but does not quite cover Teels Marsh.

While on the subject of maps here are some others that cover the area:
o AAA Nevada for an overview & connecting highways;
o Surface Management Status Maps from the BLM: $4.00 each. These maps cover a big part of the area.
o California: Benton Range (order online at
 http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/iac/maps_pubroom.html )
o Nevada: Excelsior Mountains (Order by phone 775-861-6500)
o Inyo National Forest Map
o Motor Vehicle Use Maps
 Bishop & White Mountains
 Big Pine & Inyo Mountains

Overview map of the location. These trails are in Mineral and Esmeralda Counties Nevada
Green = Marietta Wild Burro Range & Teels Marsh
Blue = White Mountain Traverse
Red = The Sump

Getting There – to trail head
a. US395 to Bishop CA – about 265 from LA area. Then take US 6 out of the north end of Bishop towards NV
b. US95 to Tonopah. Then west on US6
c. US95 (or US95Alt to US95) south to Hawthorne. Then stay on south US95 to State 360

Trail Difficulty
Mostly class I , II and III - possibility of a bit of class IV. See Mitchel book for his definition.
Dirt roads, dusty, wash board, desert, mountains, steep grades, canyons, areas of soft sand, shelve roads, dry lake beds

How long is it, how much time?
This can be done in 2 or 3 days on a long weekend. If you have more time there are several other trails worth exploring that are nearby. – eg Bodie , Arora and Masonic.
I recommend you plan on camping most nights in order to reduce the travel time. If you plan to go back to Bishop, Tonopah, or Hawthorne each night you will spend an hour or more each way.

Seasons
Spring, and fall. This is desert: at the lower elevations (3500 -4500) so it can be hot in the summer. In the winter, the higher elevations (7000+) may be snowed in.

Elevation
4500 to 9700 feet

Cell phone signal
Intermittent – but always places where it is available.

Ham radio repeaters
The Bishop Repeater club operates a repeater on Mazourka peak [146.760 (-) 100 ] that is linked to the Bishop repeater [ 146.940 (-) 103.5 ] on Silver peak to the north.
They hold a nightly net at 8:00pm. They really like guests.

Tonopah repeater on Mt. Oddie is 146.460 (-) Pl 123. It has an IRLP node.

In the Hawthorne area try Corey Peak 146.790 (-) open

Access to Stores, Gas Stations, Medical facilities (distance)
Gas and supplies are available Bishop, Benton, Dyer, Hawthorne, & Tonopah
Dyer will have only one grade of gasoline. Mina no longer has gas.
The closest medical facilities are
Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop 760-873-5811 150 Pioneer Lane Bishop
Nye Regional Medical Center 775-482-6233 825 Main St. Tonopah

Trail travel density
Very low.

Any special precautions, extra gas
Normal for remote travel in mountains and deserts
2 or more vehicles
Extra supplies, water, and gas

Camping options
Disbursed camping is allow
No formal camp grounds
It is possible to stay in a motel 7 do day runs from Tonopah, NV, Bishop, CA and Hawthorne, NV (plan to spend an extra hour & a half each way).

Terrain
Very remote
High view

What kind of vehicle do you need?
Recommend 4WD with low range. SUV ok
Driving Skills required
Normal

Emergency Numbers
• Inyo County Sheriff 760-878-0323 Central dispatch
• Mono County CA Sheriff 760-932-7549 (Dispatch)
• Nye County Sheriff 775-771-7000 (non-emergency south area)
• Esmeralda County Sheriff 775-485-6373 Goldfield, NV
• Inyo National Forest HQ - Bishop 760-873-24000

Weather
Some spot forecasts in areas you might be near. They are only good for 7 day into the future, so check them just before you depart.

Teel’s Marsh
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... zi4zJ_n_mQ

Excelsior Mountains
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... zi5C5_n_mQ

White Mountain Transverse
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... 18DxT9OXIX

Fish Valley
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.ph ... zi5eZ_n_mQ

Wild Burro Reserve - Teels Marsh

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

White Mountain Traverse

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Boundary Peak, NV
Highest Peak in Nevada.

In these pictures Nevada and Boundary Peak are on the left. California and Montgomery Peak are on the right.
The NV/CA state line goes between the 2 peaks.

At 13,147 feet the peak is within the state of Nevada, although it is only about half a mile from the California state line.
Montgomery Peak at 13,441 feet is located just across the state line in California
Boundary Peak is less than 1 mile away from Montgomery Peak
Montgomery Peak is only 294 feet higher than Boundary Peak.

1. 2.

The Sump

From the junction of NV264 and NV773 as well as driving along NV773 you will have a difficult time spotting the Sump and would likely drive on by.
1. 2. 3. 4.

Looks like a wonderful place/area. Would like an internet check-in for KK6CTT.

I spent 36 months at FT Irwin, known for their burros (at one time) and I spent 21 rotations (14 days/rotation in the desert) training others in that desert as a Scout Observer and never saw one burro. Sure, I walked away for a few minutes and guys who had been there only a few days would ask, "Say SGT did you see those burros?" And I would seethe with disappointment that these greenhorns saw what I was actually looking for each and every time I went to the desert. I've walked a trail at night searching for tracks under night vision goggles and returned 10-15 minutes later and found our tracks had been walked over by several burros. They are like unicorns, they only let you view them when they want you too!

Thanks,

Online check-in pls.

Roger