Trip Overview - This is a report on our trip to the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in Central Nevada, 300 miles from Sacramento, June 6-9, 1997. Besides the fossil and mining camp exhibits in the Park, the area has interesting ghost towns and back road trips. We have been there a number of times, but people asked for another trip since it had been a while since the last one. This trip was not organized by the MVRC, but members were invited. Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park Ham Radio Trips 1964 - 1997 now has its own page.
Departure - Most of the group met for breakfast at 8 AM Friday at Brookfield's in Roseville. After breakfast, we caravaned on I-80, followed by late arrivals George and Sue, and Ed and Sunny. Caravan frequency during the trip was 147.555. John and Susan, taking a different route, were contacted on the Slide Mtn. 147.15 repeater. We stopped for lunch in Fallon. After lunch, Bill and Curly, on a route through Hawthorne, were contacted on the 146.79 repeater. Everyone arrived at camp about the same time.
Camping - Seven sites were already marked for us by the Park staff when we arrived. We picked sites and got settled in. Most of the tenters shared sites as shown above, as we had planned. All sites had covered tables, barbeques, and fire pits. Plumbing was the pit variety, but was the latest construction and quite acceptable. There was a $3 entrance fee plus $5 per campsite per night.
Saturday - The 2WD people got seats in the seven 4WD vehicles for a day trip led by Lew. We left the Park the back way through Union Canyon and over Union Pass to the Reese River Valley. We drove north to Reese River and turned east to the Ophir road over the next range. However, before we got far, we met some U of N people who told us that the pass was still blocked with snow. Since we had that on the 1985 Memorial Day trip, we didn't go on. Instead, Lew led us south down the Reese River Valley, then east to Manhattan and Belmont, a "ghost town". We stopped in the mountains east of Manhattan for lunch, and in Belmont to walk around and take pictures. The group split and returned via Tonapah or Ione for gas. The difference was that those that went to Tonapah were able to buy ice.
Sunday - Lew led a short day trip to the nearby Grantsville ghost town, then over Grantsville pass back to the Reese River Valley. After a photo stop for flowers, we turned north to pick up the road to Ione. It was too early for lunch in the park, so we drove out of town to the Nevada Cinnabar mine. Most of the group hurried back to camp to have lunch before the 2 PM fossil tour. Lew and Bill stayed to visit the Knickerbocker Mine. After the fossil tour at 3:30, a tour of Berlin was organized for our group. The afternoon rain, which hit us every day, made it interesting going between buildings on the tour. This is a desert?
Return - Chris returned midday Sunday. Mike and Doris left Sunday afternoon. Ed and Sunny left Sunday evening due to wet camping gear. The main group left Monday morning. George and Sue left later Monday due to more threatening rain instead of staying another day.
I don't know when we will be back, but nine years between visits (twice) seems to be the longest. We should note that Steve Weaver of the park staff (above photo) is studying for his ham license. - Les, W6TEE
Photos: 1. Ed and Sunny at "Ichthyosaur" - Matthew, KF6FIQ 2. Talking with Ranger at Berlin - Matthew, KF6FIQ 3. Courthouse steps, Belmont - Les, W6TEE 4. Steve Weaver showing fossils - Les, W6TEE http://home.pacbell.net/lcobb/nev97.htm Update: July 23, 1997 - CompuServe: June 18, 1997 - PacBell: July 23, 1997 See homepage for e-mail address.
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