I ride and write frequently about Dog Valley, second only to the Black Rock Desert. Dog Valley/Henness Pass road turns to dirt on the edge of Verdi and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. This winter we did a snow camping overnight in the area, and it is a popular area for all outdoor activities in all seasons.

This trip was special in that the event was an overland micro-rally sponsored by Wildwood Open Lands Foundation (WOLF), a Nevada based non-profit committed to land acquisition for conservation and recreation. Founder Jeff Rosenfeld , inspired by Doug Tomkins (North Face, Esprit) wanted to create a legacy of land conservation, WOLF was formed.

The HOWLING: Micro-Rally was my first event of it’s kind I have attended. There was nothing micro about the experienced overlanders Jeff attracted. The collective experience of the attendees was world class. The event was slated for Friday June 2 through Sunday June 4. I gave the keynote address Friday night about the travel opportunities in Nevada and partnership opportunities through reaching out to a wide variety of groups.

Overlanders and bikepackers seem like a unlikely pairing at an event like this but in my mind I would like to see collaboration between all outdoor user groups. Jeff and I coordinated a trip last year from Middlegate to Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. As proof of concept we had a great time in camp and it was super cool to cross paths enroute. There are benefits to having a variety of modes of transportation on a trip, and we built comradery between user groups. Ultimately we can amplify our voices when conservation/recreation/access issues arise.

The Howling had an educational as well as a recreational/social components. The informal talks included; Stop the Bleed, intro to vehicle rescue, Tread Lightly, Solar power systems, intro to bikepacking, and a youth lead Leave No Trace hike. During the Tread Lightly discussion I was asked about my impression of Overland/OHV users when I am in the backcountry. My overwhelming opinion is there is a code of hospitality among backcountry travelers. I have gotten all kinds of offers, beer – cold and yellow, is my favorite! The keynote speaker for Saturday night was KP Pawley from Zero Declination, giving us an overview of traveling through Baja California.

I met up with Jeff on Thursday in Verdi to help set up and have a chance to hang out. We are both on the board of Friends of Black Rock High Rock in addition to our other interests. Seeing all that Jeff organized for the Howling inspired me to create a similar event for Bikepacking Northern Nevada. Or I could just plan on piggy backing on his event next year, ha!

Friday morning I made a loop to Second Summit and around the valley floor. I saw a few early morning runners before I realized I was seeing the Reno-Tahoe Odyssey come through. I said, “Good Morning,” to a mix of happy and unhappy runners. I was scouting a loop for a ride I would take Howling participants on. The Dog Valley floor is a great ride, the meadow was as green as I have ever seen it.

I offered to ride in with anyone Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. I didn’t get any takers but that was fine, this was a different kind of outing than we usually have. After the talks on Saturday I lead Stacey Wittek and Jonathan Hurt on a loop through Dog Valley. It was high traffic in comparison to most rides I do, but I am glad to see so many people out enjoying the resource.

Christine Anderson and Jason Williams came in Saturday on their own. Christine was on her Marin and Jason made his first bikepacking outing on his Trek. Christine’s and Jason’s bikes demonstrate how riders traveling together can share the load. Great setups!

Christine, Jason and I biked out on Sunday. Dog Valley is definitely getting used. It is fantastic to see everyone out there. I think there are enough side roads to find at least a low traffic spot to call your own. During these peak use times solitude is lost though you can find it in the shoulder and winter seasons.

What I carried: I rode my Falconer Custom B+. I carried a fairly standard kit in bags by Nuclear Sunrise.

• On fork
  • 2x1L Nalgene bottles – there was plenty of water near camp to filter
  • 2xSalsa Anything Bags; one with spare clothes and chair, one with my Kitchen
• On bars
  • Tarp Tent
  • Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar Panel
  • 2x Silo Feed Bags; one with snacks, one with electronics
• On top tube
  • Titan Tank- multi tool, sun screen, face cloth, candle, lighter
  • Gadget- Repair kit
• Seat pack
  • Sleeping bag liner
  • Down quilt 30^o
  • Light jacket
  • Wind breaker
  • on top, Rain Jacket
• Frame Bag
  • Pump
  • Spare Tube
  • 3.5 days of food
  • First Aid Kit
• Down Tube Everything Bag
  • Inflatable sleeping pad

I appreciate being included in Wildwood’s event. Congratulations to Jeff and the WOLF board for putting on such a great event. A big thanks to JP and Zero Declination for being title sponsors for the event. Now I know where I can get all the repairs and upgrades I need on my Four Wheel Camper, plus beta for any great overland routes. I hope to see you all at next year’s Howling.