Pictures from "StratoFox 2" trip to Black Rock

Saturday, August 23, 2003 - East Arm of the Black Rock Desert

We reserved Saturday afternoon in the trip plan for exploration. Each vehicle could take off to explore different areas, but we had a designated radio check-in time after which a search would begin if anyone didn't check in. At least that was the plan - but we never lost radio contact with each other so we ended up describing what we were exploring to each other. Justin and Rafael climbed Black Rock Point. Bryan and I decided to go take a look at the east arm of the Black Rock playa. Dave and Sean decided to follow us.

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During our planned exploration time on Saturday afternoon, Dave and Sean have followed Bryan and me to look at the east arm of the Black Rock Playa. Justin and Rafael climbed Black Rock Point. We remained in radio contact the whole time.
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Sean and Dave take in the view of the east arm of the playa, which none of us have seen before, except by a more distant view that morning from the 4x4 trail.
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Looking northeast at the east arm of the Black Rock Desert. This appears to be the Jackson Range and King Lear Peak.
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Looking west across the Black Rock Range, a sliver of the west arm of the Black Rock playa is visible from this elevation.
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Sean talks with Justin and Rafael on the radio. Dave is looking at the view to the east.
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Bryan checks out the mountains across the playa with binoculars. One area has a large mine.
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Viewing to the south, the east arm of the Black Rock Desert playa and the southern portion of the Black Rock Range mountains.
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We walked up a small cinder cone volcano near the area where we parked the vehicles. This view to the west shows more of the lakebed within the Black Rock Range and the west arm of the playa behind it. Near this area I found two 1944 20mm M21A1 anti-aircraft shell casings. (That's the part that's left over after it's been fired.) After some discussion and follow-up research we think these may have fallen from either a P-38 or B-29 during flight testing or live-fire exercises in WWII.
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Our camp on the second lakebed is visible as a spec this side of the island.
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Looking southeast, this is the view of the east arm of the playa from on top of the cinder cone.
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Looking northeast, this is the view of the east arm of the playa from on top of the cinder cone.
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Bryan stands by some caves we found near the cinder cone.
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I'm standing by some caves that Bryan and I found near the cinder cone. (photo by Bryan Klofas KF6ZEO)
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Justin and Rafael come to meet us after climbing Black Rock Point.

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Copyright (c) 2003 Ian Kluft