Over Memorial Day we ventured from home to meet our Elko kids and grandkids for camping.
With perfect weather for virtually everything out-of-doors and having our own sleeping space, I felt that we maintained our social distance and still connected for a wonderful time. Harrison Pass, south of Elko, is ideal for a gathering with hiking, fishing, and exploring close at hand and outdoor pits ready for roasting hotdogs and s’mores.
There are several pull-outs for trailers and tents along the passage and while the sites are just off the road that has frequent traffic, it is still primarily peaceful and quiet away from cell service and internet interruptions.
Due to the heavy rain here, we missed the family’s Saturday wake-up to snow, but other than those flurries, sunshine and warmth were ours.
With a creek nearby our grandkids sought out snakes — yikes! – and other wonders — and just down the road the Ruby Marshes offer excellent fishing.
With barbless hooks and fake bait, fish are reeled in and then quickly released. On other trips we have driven the length of Ruby Valley investigating old cabins and landmarks like the Pony Express Station and the fateful trail of the Donner Party.
This valley is also rich with rattlesnakes – a favorite of my husband, but a fearsome foe for me. Fortunately, the cool nights held them away during these travels. There is also a fish hatchery to visit, another good educational adventure especially for kids. To the north of Harrison Pass Summit is the winding road that leads to the Ruby Crest Trail.
If you are interested in a marvelous multi-day journey and you are in shape and have good equipment, this trail is for you. The scenery is superb and the isolation is inspiring.
As you can well imagine, after a good snooze, when the sun crept over the mountains to warm the earth and chase away my pre-dawn shivers Sunday morning, I grabbed running gear and set out on a jog. Heading west upward to Harrison Pass Summit (7,241’) I felt energized and fit.
Even though on a couple of steep inclines I allowed myself to walk (a complete no-no in my mind) after 1.84 miles a reached the cattle guard, heaved a sigh of relief, pivoted and headed down the mountain. Downhill transformed me into Super Woman, or almost, as I pedaled my legs in the direction of camp adding a little extra to achieve my 4-mile goal. With hot coffee in hand and a magnificent breakfast cooked and served by my son, I felt revitalized and set for the day.
Later in the afternoon, after too much inaction, the truth of my jog came to life. My glutes tender and my quads aching, I learned to ease my stiffness into a walk as I fully appreciated the gradient and its terror on my legs. While lungs and brain radiated strength, my lower extremities seemed to wonder what I had been up to and why?
By evening muscles had relaxed and I headed to bed dreaming of another beautiful run.
Dawn arrived, warmth seeped in, muscles ached but begged exercise, and so I repeated my jog. After a short distance I shifted into stride and all went well – and I did not have to walk a step this go-round. Returning to camp, TW prepared another super breakfast. Having run out of potatoes for hash browns he instead seasoned some crinkle-cut fries and grilled them along with eggs and tortillas – instant burritos! Delicious.
The drive home did not assist in muscle-ache recovery, but maybe leaving me with those painful memories served as a reminder of the beauty of Nevada nearby. Making the best of our current distancing situation, Nevada outdoors beckons. I’m looking forward to our next exploration quest.
