2010-05-29 40 -112

It looks like I waited too long too upload my text and somebody else stole my thunder. I'll take this as a lesson and let Ajc13 do the talking. Read on, comments by me (Mabeuf) will be in bold italics.

Location

The target appeared to be off an unimproved or minor road South-Southwest of Eagle Mountain, Utah; due South from Tooele, Utah. Maps indicating an otherwise flat area.

Participants

ajc13 and his car.
Mabeuf made a later appearance.

Plans

I noted the location on my Droid via the sadly crash happy Geohash Droid (noted during the event). No specific plans or preparation were made other than packing my camera, GPS (with fresh batteries for the season) and a full bottle of water. I did note that the initial route per Google Maps had me on back roads the whole way (yes, back roads being a relative term).

Expedition

From Eagle Mountain I headed West on UT-73 past Cedar Fort & Fairfield. Just past the Tooele County line UT-73 strikes North and so did I, my first but not last missed turn. When UT-73 turned North-West I should have gotten on what I believe is Pony Express Road. After turning around and finding Pony Express Road I made my second wrong turn, onto the wrong (North) side of Pony Express Road. After braving this path and regaining the asphalt I found and followed my second (and correct) dirt road the only interruption being an open cattle gate. The dirt road brought me to within about 500 feet of the mark (now within 500 inches) and not a soul in sight.

After perhaps 20 minutes of not following the map on my Droid correctly (oh, north, up, check!), bypassing the small amount of scrub, the red ant mounds, the massive cow patties I got as close as it seems I was going to. My GPS reported N 40' 11.093 W 112" 16.188". Phone based GPS indicated I was within 3 feet or so. Google Earth Ruler suggests I was 7 feet off mark. Once at the spot I took a handful of pictures - to be posted later.

I saw no human foot prints other than my own. (This changed several hours later) On the walk out two OHV riders passed by on the dirt road. Other than scaring a lizard (I think...) the on foot portion of the trip was uneventful.

The drive out and return was equally uneventful.

I would like to add that this was the same route I took to get to the hash on May 27 two days earlier. The last mile across the desert was different, but every turn before that last was identical. This was a great trip, and I loved being out in the desert. It was so quiet. I stayed for a few hours until the sun went down.