Trip Report Socially Distancing along the Pony Express Trail

Stephen

Who Dares Wins
Moderator
In a world dominated by coronavirus news, self-quarantining, social distancing, and public health orders, I needed a sense of normalcy; which meant getting away from the house and into the desert. Saturday morning, myself, Heather, Scott and his family headed out on the Pony Express Trail just to leave the zip code for a day.

After navigating the ugly urban sprawl that is pushing further and further west towards Cedar Fort we connected with the PET right outside of Five Mile Pass. It was cloudy and brisk, but that makes for some of the most beautiful vista’s out in the west desert!

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I’ve driven the PET from 5MP to the Nevada line at least a dozen times, and when we came to our first stop at Simpson Springs I was surprised at how many people were there. In all the times I’ve been out there, I’ve never seen more than a couple cars (unless they were part of our group). Saturday when we pulled in there were seven cars and another four and two motorcycles rolled in while we were there! I guess that we weren’t the only ones with the idea of putting a little gravel under our tires.

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We poked around Simpson springs for a minute, read the plaques and interpretive signs. But with people slowly trickling out of the parking area, I didn’t want to get stuck behind a bunch of slow minivans.

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We loaded up and headed on west only to find ourselves stuck behind a rental “adventure” van doing about 10 mph on the washboard road. After several miles of trying to get their attention by flashing my lights at them to pull over and let faster vehicles pass them; I finally pulled around them at speed, which is never ideal. The driver looked terrified as I went by!

We cruised along for a while just enjoying the road and scenery.

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We came across two minivans full of people stopped on the side of the road about ten miles to Fish Springs. They flagged us down and asked how to get to the Dugway Geode Beds. I gave them directions to head back the way they came about ten miles and as they turned around with their fully loaded vehicles, I couldn’t help but wonder if their tires were up to the task.

Our next stop was lunch at Fish Springs. I’ve always thought that Fish Springs was an odd oasis out in the desert with its clear blue ponds and green vegetation. But here in early spring, it was pretty brown and dull. And with the wind blowing, rather cold. But it was nice to get out of the cars and stretch our legs for a bit and let Scott’s kids run around.

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After lunch we continued west through the town of Callao, which has sadly painted over the hump portion of the “Do Not Hump” signs of the old Shuttle Booster train cars that are out there. Probably because whoever owns them got tired of people climbing his fences for selfies.

After going through town we stopped again at the Callao CCC camp. Stopping here always makes me think about what it must have been like during the Depression to be out there working in the Deep Creeks on irrigation projects. Heather and I wandered around the camp and found the remains of old bottles and plates, checked out the foundations, and couldn’t help but postulate if because of the world’s current situation could there be another CCC or WPA like situation on the horizon? I hope not, but maybe we’ll see camps like this again at infrastructure projects across the country in the coming years.

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From the CCC Camp we made our way to Overland Canyon and the Canyon Station. This is one of my favorite stops on the PET, partially because of the story of how the original station was attacked and burned by Indians and then rebuild as a fortified round building with gun slots. But mainly it’s for the views. A beautiful winding road up into the canyon, breathtaking wide open expanses, and the imposing snowcapped Deep Creeks.

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We wound our way up through Overland Canyon and then down the other side before connecting with BIA 1 where we aired up our tires and then turned north to Wendover. Driving through Wendover with all the casino’s closed was a bit eerie. Or as Scott observed, “Makes it look even shittier than usual.”

On the way home along I-80 we passed the Salt Flats rest area and it was PACKED! I’ve never seen so many people there! And there were five cars that had driven out onto the flats from the rest area. For their sake I hope they didn’t get stuck in the salt, that’s a hefty tow bill! But if they did, serves ‘em right.

It was great to just leave the zip code for a day, even if it was just a quick trip. Hopefully in another weekend or so well take another “pleasure drive” (as is allowed by the various health orders). But until then, we’ve resumed our now normal lives of hiding in our house.
 

TurboMinivan

Still plays with cars
Location
Lehi, UT
I’ve driven the PET from 5MP to the Nevada line at least a dozen times

Your post could not have been more timely. I have never driven this section (or any other) of the PET, though I've wanted to do so for quite some time. And now it looks like next week I will have a golden opportunity. Using this thread plus a googled map of the trail, my friend Mike and I have decided to give it a go. However, your post confuses me.

After going through [Callao] we stopped again at the Callao CCC camp.

This obviously means you turned south from Callao. However, Google says the PET goes north from town. Later, you said:

From the CCC Camp we made our way to Overland Canyon and the Canyon Station.

I can't even find either of those locations on the map. Are they further south from the CCC Camp? Or did you turn around and head back north?

We wound our way up through Overland Canyon and then down the other side before connecting with BIA 1

I have no idea what that is, either. Can you clarify?


BTW: my original plan was to make this run in my gas-guzzling Suburban. However, Mike then suggested we take his '99 Outback instead for fuel economy reasons. It sounds like this entire trail is simple, graded gravel roads. Should we expect his vehicle to handle it?
 

Stephen

Who Dares Wins
Moderator
This obviously means you turned south from Callao. However, Google says the PET goes north from town.

Yes, we went south to the CCC camp and then backtracked north to get on the PET again.

I can't even find either of those locations on the map. Are they further south from the CCC Camp? Or did you turn around and head back north?
Canyon Station

I have no idea what that is, either. Can you clarify?

BIA 1 = Bureau of Indian Affairs Highway 1.

BTW: my original plan was to make this run in my gas-guzzling Suburban. However, Mike then suggested we take his '99 Outback instead for fuel economy reasons. It sounds like this entire trail is simple, graded gravel roads. Should we expect his vehicle to handle it?

You're looking at about 200 miles between gas stations, so if either car has that range or you can carry enough additional fuel then you can make it. If the Subaru has decent tires and a spare, then you should be fine. Like I said, minivans were tooling around out there.
 

nnnnnate

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
WVC, UT
Was the adventure can one of those purple and green ones with the pop top? I bet they were having a blast getting their teeth rattled out.

Good post Stephen. Ive never gone up overland canyon.

I've only ever told my wife this but I was camping up one of those canyons just me and my dog and got spooked. I ended up packing up and heading home in the dark. I bombed those roads but it still took me forever to get out of there. It was that canyon that had the summer camp up at the top.
 
BTW: my original plan was to make this run in my gas-guzzling Suburban. However, Mike then suggested we take his '99 Outback instead for fuel economy reasons. It sounds like this entire trail is simple, graded gravel roads. Should we expect his vehicle to handle it?
Dempsey, If you didn't know, the big limiter out there is tires. If you are in a vehicle with passenger tires, be sure to have a good spare and take it much slower than needed, like less than 50mph. If you have good truck tires, then go for it. I don't know what type of rock it is, but those roads in the west desert can eat tires! I've had 3 flats in one trip in a suburban with passenger-rated rubber. How I got out is a great campfire story involving cinnamon bears, string, and help from other campers! Be safe out there and enjoy!
 

Stephen

Who Dares Wins
Moderator
Was the adventure can one of those purple and green ones with the pop top? I bet they were having a blast getting their teeth rattled out.

It was a white Sprinter that said “RV Adventures” or something like that on it. But yeah, at the speed that he was going, it’d take them three days to make the journey!


I've only ever told my wife this but I was camping up one of those canyons just me and my dog and got spooked. I ended up packing up and heading home in the dark. I bombed those roads but it still took me forever to get out of there. It was that canyon that had the summer camp up at the top.

Well now you have to tell the class the story!
 

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
Dempsey, If you didn't know, the big limiter out there is tires. If you are in a vehicle with passenger tires, be sure to have a good spare and take it much slower than needed, like less than 50mph. If you have good truck tires, then go for it. I don't know what type of rock it is, but those roads in the west desert can eat tires! I've had 3 flats in one trip in a suburban with passenger-rated rubber. How I got out is a great campfire story involving cinnamon bears, string, and help from other campers! Be safe out there and enjoy!

I can't imagine the sacrifice of cinnamon bears!

It was a white Sprinter that said “RV Adventures” or something like that on it. But yeah, at the speed that he was going, it’d take them three days to make the journey!




Well now you have to tell the class the story!
Thats a campfire story I think. :ugh:



I think we just created a social distancing campfire. I just unfolded my camp chair and put a big chunk of quakie on
 

nnnnnate

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Location
WVC, UT
If my wife doesn't give me the look when I walk in the door and tell me to go shower then it doesn't count as a campfire. Sorry.
 

mbryson

.......a few dollars more
Supporting Member
If my wife gives me the look when I walk in the front door, I jump in the shower and get cleaned up also


(I just threw some ash on the fire.... that might last a while? )
 
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