Subject: Our Winnemucca Nevada Ghost Town Expeditions - March 11 -13th 2016
Date: 4/8/2016 3:38:28 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: LordOfThyNight@aol.com
To: ParanormalBuffalo@yahoogroups.com, ParanormalGhostSociety@googlegroups.com, paranormalghostsociety@yahoogroups.com, ParanormalGhostSocietyConnections@yahoogroups.com, TheParanormalGhostSociety@yahoogroups.com, SupernaturalFlorida@yahoogroups.com, ParanormalCalifornia@yahoogroups.com, ParanormalNevada@yahoogroups.com, Paranormalflorida@yahoogroups.com, sierraparanormal@yahoogroups.com, PGSPhantoms@yahoogroups.com
 
National Nevada
 
I was not to hopeful of climbing up into the Santa Rosa Mountains to Buckskin as the white stuff was so thick about half way up this range I knew we would not get there. However I knew I could at least get us to National which resides a few miles below Buckskin and was its sister town. Actually National was the main mining town in the area and was along with Buckskin the region of one of Nevada's largest gold strikes. There for National had various mining districts in the range including the Buckskin area which sat above it.
 
Just to get to the mountains alone is quite a track as you ascend higher into the valley till you reach National Canyon which again can take you to Buckskin for those who want to brave it. Just know whenever you drive in this range during the winter most of the time roads are in accessible such as flash floods or high snow.
 
Before I turned off I found a firefighters monument sadly not to far from National multiple firefighters died trying to contain a forest fire. The Humboldt National Forest is found in this range as trees fill the canyons and peaks higher in the range. While the lower part of the range is more so a high desert type of wilderness. Its very scenic here in the region are also two antelope preserves or refuge areas so allot of vast wilderness.
 
There are many dirt roads that traverse this valley as we were heading east towards National Canyon. What really bit about this road is that there were areas that were so rugged. I drove through allot of areas that were flooded or where water crossed the road. As a matter in fact my drive was slow because there are allot of cattle that road the open expanse below National. A few times I drove with herds of cattle in front of the jeep just trotting along as I followed them for a couple miles. I had gotten some cute photos of some of the calves myswell utilize my time. It was dreary out so all we seen were cattle.
 
After taking this one treacherous road for many miles the road was washed out. There is a creek near National but this time of year its more like a river therefore it branches off into different parts of the valley rushing over dirt roads. I was thinking about going through it but with big rocks, rushing water and seeing how deep it was I decided it was not necessary to take this route since I had other dirt roads we could try. You do not want to get stuck 15 miles from the highway in the middle of the desert with a snowstorm barreling down towards you hitting the mountains in front of you.
 
I eventually found another road after I backtracked for many miles but this one was worst then the last. The road was called National I believe and it was so hilly. The problem was not the hills it was low laying water at the bottom of them. I had to drive through high water every hill I went down at times the road had so much water I had to physically leave the dirt road drive through the desert over plants and shit. Lucky there was not allow of plant life so I could kind of drive around the brush here and there. But a few times I almost had gotten stuck as the tires were slinging mud, spinning and the jeep was sinking. I had to barrel through over 50 areas with low laying water or muddy washed out parts of the road was NOT easy!
 
But I wanted to get back to National my thought would have been a cool way to finish our weekend up in Winnemucca and the Holdboldt National Forest. I mean this would be our fourth ghost town we did Davey's Town, Jumbo, Paradise Valley and now we were ready to see one of northern Nevada's most relevant gold rush towns. How could I not be excited? The ride ascending all the way to the base of the Santa Rosa's all covered in snow as these giant cliffs had gotten closer? Simply breathtaking! Just a very muddy intense adventure in the jeep you had to hold on because we were journeying hardcore to get here.
 
Eventually you ascend in National Canyon where these massive peaks are right there in front of you as you peer down into it. Before you enter into the canyon at the mouth is this big stone building its falling apart but its original to the town. Some people have said its a saloon others said a homestead to a historic ranch that may have existed here at one time. The stone is a light brown it stands out like a sore thumb so you cant miss it prior to entering the cabin. Unfortunately I could not get to the stone structure because a river flowed in front of it as the creek was explosive from recent snow melt. The water was deep and moving fast all rushing downhill into the valley below.
 
I would decide to come back later and just photograph it all from afar because the heart of the town or at least more remnants reside deeper up into the canyon. I did try to get deeper into the canyon it was not to rugged some rocks etc but then we came across rapids the road was washed out. I was so upset because further up the canyon are miner cabins, mill site and The Birthday Mine. The mine is the greatest place to explore in the town because its not only large but it was the site of some major gold. Some of the richest gold in the world was pulled out of that mine so investigating it would have been awesome. Men died in these mines its to bad I could not see more of the town!
 
I have a couple books on the town with old pictures and I have to say the hotel here was amazing. They also had some other nice structures this was a pretty little town nestled within this canyon. But all the snow from Buckskin peak melts down into this canyon making it difficult to get through. I figured that id just hike around enjoy the views and explore the mouth of the canyon since the road ahead was a river.
 
You could see where some of the town exist because at the mouth of the canyon were patches of cottonwood trees along the creek. Apparently most of the town was built around this creek of course very little remains today. When you enter the canyon there is this reddish brown rocky outcrop with this hole it might be a cave. Its only a few feet in height and width maybe its natural or was mined. I did not peer my head inside the mountain lions here are fierce. I had however my knew knife from the gun show its in total length with the handle 26" which was sold to me at the Winnemucca Gun Show. It is serrated on both sides to maximize the wound in an event I was ever attacked and had to defend myself.
 
You could see where homes or structures may have stood between the trees the land here kind of looks plotted but nature is kind of taking over once again. It appears the reddish brown rock was used in the construction of this stone structure found at the mouth of the canyon. Maybe that explains the hole in the cliff perhaps the pioneers chipped away the rock which would be used to build saloons and other structures in town.
 
No matter what you may think National is in a world of its own perhaps even a home away from a home. People who lived in this canyon were recluses although you had other towns nearby like the ghost towns talked about in our reports for the most part isolation was a daily part of life. Whether you entered the canyon or you stayed at the hotel below it there is nothing but mountains for a hundred miles so you had to be self sufficient to live here no doubt.
 
I was a bit surprised to be honest with you that how very little remains despite how large this town was. Their was no rusty metal, piles of wood, broken glass or any debris which is very uncommon at a town site. I actually did hike some ways up the canyon but could not get over the water to an area I found some falls and these cliffs. No less I had gotten to experience the towns beauty I mean sure its great to see the sites but to get out breath the air hike around is the true treasure here.
 
I had to turn around the jeep parking near an old corral then I was going to make the attempt to cross the river or at least get a closer look. I hiked down this dirt road the old stone build was just across from me but the creek was deep water was cold and I did not want to get my recorder wet. Although now I do not mind so much since I have a backup. But falling in and losing all my gear kind of was on my mind. Quite a few times I have gone down rivers that I crossed up to my waste if not higher. One of them is Akron Creek another is the Carson River. Lets not forget I was swept away in Yosemite to ended up 12' downstream because a log stopped me lol.
 
This is a nice area before you entered town most settlers coming on in would have seen this grassy knoll along the creek. The stone cabin was not that big of a deal but I would have loved to get some close ups. There was allot of fresh cattle tracks and wild mustangs here perhaps even some antelope. Living here at one time must had been really wholesome imagine coming out your front door to see some antelope one morning?
 
The skies were dismal it looked almost as if it was night all day really but the canyon of course is much darker. I found an abandoned trailer not to far from the stone building across the raging waters. I did not go inside when I opened the door it was apparent the rats had taken over. I found rat droppings that were covering the tables and beds inside. More so some of those droppings were huge and I was not going to breath in that air talk about a death trap.
 
Its obvious hippies camped here there was a fire pit everything in the trailer was bright colored. I suppose this would be an ideal camping spot to view the stars and enjoy the scenery. Given that the creek ran along the trailer I am sure whoever stayed here enjoyed their time exploring the canyon no doubt. But this time of year almost Spring and all your still dealing with old man Winter.
 
This is the wilderness these mountains are high they collect snow then it melts only to transition back to winter again. Its an endless cycle but the brothers who found this place did it to promote the National Motor Company. While promoting the Automobile to show others what it could do such as traversing the Nevadan terrain they discovered gold here and the rest is history. It was an early 1900's boom town not to say that miners did not try a hand in this range in the mid 1800's however it did not last due to Indian raids and the harsh elements.
 
I made a decision to take another road out of here at the mouth of the canyon is a road that goes SW while the other road I was on went from East to West vice versa that I was just on. If I took this other road I would shave 45 minutes off my time plus it was only half of the mileage to get to the highway. Boy what a road this turned out to be but it still was not as bad as National Road and other rural routes I took through countless low laying muddy water bowls.
 
This road gradually descended back off the Santa Rosa Range to the bottom of the expanse. Problem was that a portion of it has not been used in years and guess which portion I took? I really did not have a choice its either take another harsh rugged road driving in circles or turn back getting back on the other road I originally took in which had mini ponds so I had to make some choices.
 
Not only did I have to make some choices but I came across a portion of the road that was underwater. It was so intense that white water rapids were rushing over the road where the road dipped down. So I had to get out of the jeep study the depth, rocks under the water and how fast the water was moving. I made a calculated choice and I went through it pushing my V8 Jeep to its limits as not only did I go through it but pushed up on a muddy bank. Its still was not as bad when I first entered the rural wagon route through three hundred feet of deep mud and was fishtailing but still there was a 40 percent chance I may have not gotten through it.
 
But once I made it across the raging water I came across a make shift barbed wire and old wooden fence. You physically have to take down a portion of the fence to continue down this road which btw is narrow and goes through some national forest and high desert. You are allowed to do this as long as you fix it so that the cattle on the range cant go up into that portion of the Santa Rosa Range. So you unravel the wiring etc etc and you can pull a section away from the road then put it back. Its a pain real easy to get cut up especially since not once but twice I tied it with rope and barbed wire forgetting I was on the wrong side. Yeah twice I hopped barbed wire fencing and twice I almost had gotten stuck on it. But I found that despite I climbed the fence I was able to secure better from the side I originally took it apart at.
 
The first area you enter that is fenced off the road gets very primitive so primitive that it tends to disappear and basically it feels like your riding through bare desert. Its also very overgrown for at least a few miles I drove over brush some of it a couple feet high. No tracks on this road it may have been years since any person has been on it. Eventually as you descend off the range and head down hill you can see tractor trailers on the highway in the distance. Of course this highway is an old wagon route which actually leads to another fort built by the US Army in the 1800's which today has been the focal point for a town.
 
National and Buckskin are interesting ghost towns they both were wealthy in gold and only a few miles apart. Difference is that I was able to access National to a certain degree but not the entire town site, mines, mill or assay office. If it was that hard to get to National imagine how hard it would have been for us to get to Buckskin which sits probably a thousand feet above National? I still felt like we had a win but riding over plants in the desert on some old wagon route was not as fun as us driving through ponds and mud for miles. You should have seen my jeep between our first day up in Davey's Town and Jumbo then Paradise Valley and National you could no longer see the red paint on it lol.
 
When we arrived at the intersection for the highway I once again had to remove a 12' cross section of fence by lifting the wood post up, undoing the barbed wire and pulled it across the road. Problem was it was a low laying area so it was very muddy and I had to drive the jeep through it park on solid ground then retighten the fence. This ranch land did not appear to be used by other roads had cattle on them roaming and I am sure that at times they are victims of predator attacks. But eventually I escaped this range and was on the highway free as a bird. I could now finally relaxing offroading back here had me sweating a few times if you get stuck back here their is nobody that is going to help you!
 
It was getting dark out a majority of my day was spent up at Paradise while I spent a few hours at National. I wish we did not have so many obstacles would have loved to see more of the town but all it did was delay us as we had to find other routes in then to see the road out was a bummer. I will come back I do a few second expeditions at various ghost towns time to time that way sometimes if we miss things we can find more on our second jaunt. If I can go back when it dries up back here I will be able to cover more terrain and see more.
 
When I reached the highway we came across a herd of antelope what a great way to finish the day. They were running parallel with the Santa Rosa range. The sun was kind of peering out but it was getting dark out so in the evenings in northern Nevada the critters come out. I could not stay very long but I tried to take some video and pictures of them off in the distance. So far my last few trips I have seen a ton of wildlife this year at various ghost towns while traveling the back country. My viewing of them was short lived but I told Tammy earlier that day that I wish I seen some and it did come true.
 
I only had less then an hour to get up to Winnemucca and go to Area 420 and yes on Sundays they stay open till 7pm. Guess what? I made it with minutes to spare and the kind lady worker there sold me a rainbow colored double chamber bong. It actually stores water and the medicinal vapor in two chambers. I love it so far and it helps me utilize my strains I smoke more often. The lady gave me free ceramic screens and sold me two marijuana lollipops also! Area 420 peeps you will fucking love that place! I was there buying a bong covered in mud from hiking around ghost towns and I loved it!
 
Before I was to head home we did stop for dinner at Long Johns Silver and KFC they were conjoined. Tammy had chicken while I ordered a seafood platter. It was a long day and I still had a few hours to drive home. Do you know how far I drove on this trip all together? Something like 700 miles! I cannot wait to revisit this area last time I was in Winnemucca I had two flat tires and one of them exploded in my face therefore I was stranded here. This time around we adventured and partied like rock stars it was a blast. Next time I am up here maybe ill take you guys up to Tuscarora which is a really awesome ghost town very similar to Paradise Valley country.
 
Believe or not this region has many great ghost towns its a part of the state so very few get to see where Idaho, Oregon and of course Nevada all meet. I would love to get up to Buckskin as a new mining operation supposedly is tearing it apart therefore not much may be remaining and the road back has gotten so bad that its hard to say if I can get up here at all. National Ill return to also we have this legend were going to chase its about this huge giant up in the Ruby Mountains who use to carry the natives off in this basket. I have not done adventuring in NE Nevada but beyond Winnemucca lays many ghost towns and then Utah border where those mountains reside. So I cant wait to return out to this area its something our viewers can really look forward to for years to come as we knock off these scenic areas that hold history as well as the strange!
Namaste,
Lord Rick

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