Video TR: Utah's West Desert - wild horses & Pony Express

[FirstTracks]

I headed out to explore Utah's West Desert this past weekend with my buddy Bob, and aside from a flat tire (!) we couldn't have been more pleased with the weekend.

The West Desert comprises a lonely series of mountain ranges and extraordinarily flat valleys, stretching from the Wasatch Front to the Nevada border. It's home to such curiosities as the original Pony Express route, a herd of wild horses, and the military's Utah Test & Training Range. We found and filmed the herd, explored a preserved Pony Express station at Simpson Springs, and checked out the Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge.

There's no shortage of camping opportunities out there on BLM land. We found a cozy spot nestled among the junipers at the foot of the Sheeprock Mountains. For those insisting upon a marked site, there's a small primitive BLM campground at Simpson Springs that offers pit toilets, water, fire rings and picnic tables.

Here's our video from the weekend:
https://youtu.be/4esScZWu6Ck

[FirstTracks]

Thank you c.traveler2 & BizmarksMom!!

[BizmarksMom]

Nicely done!

[c_traveler2]

Excellent video, I do follow you on You Tube and have found a lot of places to go from your videos

[FirstTracks]

4runnerguy wrote:
Brings back old memories from our explorations out there. One time we were heading toward Fish Springs NWR and ran across a woman who had to be close to retirement age who had a flat tire. Turned out she worked at the NWR and was in this '60s vintage Chevy with four bald tires. We helped her change the flat and sent her on her way. The others were nearly down to the cord. We just shook our heads that anyone would head out there alone with such old, worn out equipment. IIRC, the trunk was tied shut with a rope. This was over 30 years ago so I imagine there are more people out there now.

Great story! Now I don't feel so bad for being out there on my tires. 😉

[4runnerguy]

Brings back old memories from our explorations out there. One time we were heading toward Fish Springs NWR and ran across a woman who had to be close to retirement age who had a flat tire. Turned out she worked at the NWR and was in this '60s vintage Chevy with four bald tires. We helped her change the flat and sent her on her way. The others were nearly down to the cord. We just shook our heads that anyone would head out there alone with such old, worn out equipment. IIRC, the trunk was tied shut with a rope. This was over 30 years ago so I imagine there are more people out there now.

[pnichols]

FirstTracks wrote:
That must've been a lonely existence out there, even with other base personnel.

Not too lonely out there with all the personnel around for the testing we were doing.

For RV'ing we like a temporary lonely existence ... and out in the middle of nowhere rockhounding ... that's pretty much what you wind up with. Your video appeared to be an outstanding example of "lonely camping"!

In Oregon, we were about 25 miles north of Plush.

[FirstTracks]

pnichols wrote:
Mark ... great video!!

I served in the USAF way out in the Western Utah Dugway area way back when and your video sure brought back memories of that.

Thank you! That must've been a lonely existence out there, even with other base personnel. We didn't film it, but while at Simpson Springs on Saturday they were performing maneuvers out across the Dugway Valley, east of Dugway Buttes. Lots and lots of large vehicles out there with large explosions going off. It was too far away to see what those vehicles were, but they had to be tanks or some other sort of armored vehicles. From camp about 5 miles away it sounded like the occasional rumble of thunder in the distance.

pnichols wrote:
Some of the scenery in your video also resembles that of the Oregon Outback high desert area. Have you ever roamed around out there?

Only through the badlands from Ontario through Banks to Bend. I found the West Desert to be a bit more desolate than that Oregon stretch felt to me, but I can certainly see your point.

[FirstTracks]

bucky wrote:
That is an awesome presentation. I subscribed.

Thank you Bucky! Thrilled to have you aboard.

[bucky]

That is an awesome presentation. I subscribed.

[pnichols]

Mark ... great video!!

I served in the USAF way out in the Western Utah Dugway area way back when and your video sure brought back memories of that. Also, the area of your video reminds me of the remote Dubinky Well area of Utah where we've explored some in our small Class C RV.

Some of the scenery in your video also resembles that of the Oregon Outback high desert area. Have you ever roamed around out there?

Keep up the great trip reports. 🙂

[FirstTracks]

garyhaupt wrote:
Oh yeah baby!!....Been into Utah many times but not out in the weeds like this. Very cool.

Gary Haupt

questions sent in pm.

Thanks Gary! I'll go retrieve your pm now.

[garyhaupt]

Oh yeah baby!!....Been into Utah many times but not out in the weeds like this. Very cool.

Gary Haupt

questions sent in pm.