Jumbo Toll Road
My weekend started early, and Friday, I headed out with friends Mary and Justin and new friends Tom and his family. Parts of the old Jumbo Toll Road were outstanding. Other sections, not so much. Probably not surprising after one hundred and sixty years of use.
Water has washed out the grade, and we had lots of off-camber, or tilting, also known as scaring Tami. Justin led the trip and is a great driver, and I love following him. I know he wouldn’t take me beyond what Honey Badger and I can handle. I won’t say it was fun, but I pushed beyond what I had done before, and I improved my skills.
I wish I could have gotten some pictures showing the obstacles, especially the off-camber, but it was hair-raising.
Jumbo
Jumbo was a small mining camp established in 1907. The town had a hotel, assay office, grocery store, and a saloon, likely more than one. Several mills dotted the hillside, including a 10-stamp mill. Jumbo received a post office in 1908, which was discontinued in 1910 with service transferred to Virginia City. Mill production ceased in 1912.
Wildflowers are in bloom. A snake startled me, fortunately only a bull snake. However, this means rattlers are also out, so be careful.
Half-Way House
I haven’t researched yet, but Half-Way House is at the peak overlooking Gold Hill and Washoe Valley. I think this was a station stop on the Jumbo and Ophir toll roads.
Ophir Grade was built in the 1860s to connect Virginia City and the mills in Washoe Valley, including Ophir Mill. No structures remain, but square head nails and broken pottery litter the site, dating to the late 1800s.
Sadly, Half-Way house is the location where the Jones brothers lost their lives one hundred and fifty years ago. Searchers found the frozen bodies of the boys under the snowbank; the storm had claimed their lives. Their trusted horse had stood watch over their snowy grave for three days and nights. Their heartbroken family interred the brothers in the Masonic section of the Gold Hill Cemetery.
5-Mile Reservoir
Sometimes things work out perfectly. I have been writing about Lakeview and the Virginia City water system and learned of the reservoir built in 1886. When Mary mentioned a reservoir was over the hill from Half-Way House, I knew it was 5-Mile. Mary is a history lover like me, so we made a short detour to photograph the reservoir.
(Photo credit: HMDB)
Lagomarsino Petroglyphs
Our destination goal for the day was the Lagomarisono Petroglyphs. Over 2,200 petroglyphs cover the rocky hill, dating over a 10,000-year span. I didn’t walk too far out as it looked like a prime rattlesnake real estate.
For once, I am speechless about what to say about a site. The petroglyphs are amazing and overwhelming. You could spend a week exploring and never see them all, they cover the talus and cliff face. The site was documented in 2003, it took over 10,000 hours of labor!
Tie one on
Remember a few weeks ago when I said I wasn’t motivated to drive the Washington Toll Road again anytime soon? Guess what I did this weekend? We dove in on Long Valley Road and out on Lousetown Road/Washington Toll Road. I would be hard-pressed to say which is worse. The drive wasn’t steep and didn’t have big drop-offs but it was narrow, rocky, with Jeep eating boulders.
I was on the way out when the message came across the radio; my license plate was hanging off. I pictured a corner partially hanging off the bracket, so we continued—no such luck. A large sharp boulder knocked the entire mount off and the housing and plate were hanging by the wires swinging back and forth.
We stopped at the top of the hill, and Justin made emergency repairs. I carry zip ties, but my “easy to access” spot was not so easy to remember. Justin came up with an emergency of-road repair. He secured the plate housing and had a great plan to secure the plate, so I didn’t get pulled on the way home. Who knew shoelaces could be so handy?
I received a few messages from friends about the damage.
What the hell did you do?
Steve, (who reparied my front bumper this week)
If you don’t have damage your not doing it right 😜
Mojito Adventures
Where is my Cruise Director jacket?
Saturday, I hosted a ghost town tour to Pine Grove, which I donated for charity. I had a great time with a fantastic couple. We visited Pine Grove and Cambridge. The day was cool and breezy, but we had the ghost town to ourselves since we were out early. I got this message as I was preparing to head out for the day.
Have fun and be safe. Don’t forget to double knot your license plate.😄
Great Basin Exploring
If you are headed to Pine Grove, someone took the sign. Again. I just propped it back up last month. I looked around, but it was gone.
My mom packed us a lunch that was nicer than my usual salami and cheese served in a ziplock—the fixings for turkey and gouda sandwiches, broccoli salad, Sheaphearder bread, and cookies from Schats. But, in my mom’s usual fashion, she made everything fancy, even the silverware.
We found a Trails West marker on the way home. I have driven past it many times and never noticed.
I remember in grade school when it felt like a life-ending insult to hear, “Are your wearing your mom’s combat boots?” This weekend after seeing someone come across a rattlesnake den in the Pine Grove area, I was very happy to have my boots. I am still waiting for my Christmas present of custom-made boots to arrive. We didn’t see any rattlers, but I was happy to have the extra protection.
Happy Momma
I hoped to make a short trip for Mother’s Day with the family. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, much to the relief of my family. So I grocery shopped and cooked special meals. Tami’s eggs Benedict: avocado, oven-baked bacon, farm-fresh fried eggs, and homemade hollandaise sauce. Dinner was Prime Rib, chilled asparagus, and twice-baked cauliflower for dinner.
My little one is creative and made me a tree with leaves since I love the outdoors. And post-it note origami flowers.
I spent the afternoon playing with my new camera bag. Usually, my equipment is spread around the Jeep and takes up a ton of space. Drone in a hard case, my 150-600mm backup camera thrown behind the driver seat, camera bag with supplies, and my main camera floating around somewhere I can never seem to find. Now everything is in one place and secured. The backpack is hard-sided and has tons of ways to organize it. It has several easy-to-access sections so I can get to my main camera without opening the bag. I would not hike with this, it is crazy heavy when packed.
Spring in Nevada
A friend asked why it was snowing in May. Because it is spring in the Sierras. It May be sunny, or May be snowing. But guaranteed, it will be windy! Sunday, it was snowing horizontally.
Carson Valley Historical Society
The Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce contacted me last week asking if I would present at the monthly heritage lecture series. I don’t have their flyer, but it will be Thursday at 6:30 at the Carson Valley Museum, in front of Carson Valley Middle School.
5-9-2022
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