May 13-18, 2025 Wildwood Open Lands Foundation wanted to have its annual “members only” trip have something more than “on the fly” stewardship. In situ stewardship is a great opportunity to put best principles of Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly into practice. The teaching moments are priceless. So this year we implemented citizen science and elevated the trip to an Expedition. It was a year in planning the route, securing the citizen science project partners and marketing the trip to the members.

Jeff Rosenfeld, founder and chair of WOLF, and I put together a rough route, from the Black Rock Desert, to High Rock Canyon, then north across the Sheldon NWR, then south to close the loop through Soldier Meadows, Black Rock Point and arriving back at Cassidy Mine. Looking at my earliest iterations of this route Jeff put together a route that flowed from beginning to end. It was uncertain how bikes and trucks were going to work together on this trip, but in the end my bike, gear, and I rode in KP Pawley’s (Zero Declination) truck. We stayed together until I had to leave the group after Big Spring’s snow storm.

We camped at Mahogany Canyon off High Rock Canyon. We camped among the boulders between Vya and Cedarville. We camped two nights at Big Springs campground to wait out a storm. Then I made a long day’s push back to the beginning of Soldier Meadows Road. I considered finding a spot to camp, but I was also curious if I could make an effort, 105 miles with 4,500’ of climbing, loaded and the day after snow and rain.

I participated in the Pika Survey citizen science project. I wasn’t sure how it would go. We weren’t mammologists. I have extensive experience trapping small mammals for Lyme Disease research and it is not a given you will be successful. But sure enough, the first rock bands we inspected showed signs of pika. Urine, pellets, and “haystack” collected nesting materials. We photographed and documented everything. We didn’t see the critters themselves but we weren’t prepared with such patience. There is a photographer I follow, Deirdre D Rosenberg, who is a pika specialist. Check out her work!

This was my first “ride in the truck” trip. It sure makes the climbs easier. It was nice to escape to a camper in the snow storm. Otherwise I would have been holed up in my bivy sack. It was great to travel with the crew and not just see them at the beginning and end of my days. But I was instantly aware of my surroundings as I pedaled away from the group. The connection made at the speed of the bike is so much greater than that from inside the truck cab. I could smell the sagebrush, and hopefully you have experienced sagebrush after a storm. It looked more vibrant and I could ride close and touch it. I could feel how my tires responded to the wet roads. Luckily they were gravel and sand, therefore durable, until they weren’t. There was a bit of mud. I started to recognize the topography that deposits silt on the road bed creating the mud. Luckily it was only a few hundred yards of carrying my bike and scraping away peanut butter mud.

The ride back to my truck is here. It was a full day and I just remember feeling at home with the solitude and sagebrush. About 1/2 the miles were new to me and 1/2 I had ridden on a lap of the western half of the National Conservation Area.

I missed an amazing section of trail by leaving when I did (Check out the YouTube video portion 26:10-28:15) . The route between Virgin Valley and Black Rock Point is here. This is something I would love to share with others.

The trip has had a secondary life in the form of a short film featured on YouTube. Jeff and KP compiled video and stills, we shot interviews and voiceovers and then Jeff pulled some herculean efforts to edit the film into a story of our trip. Check out the film and what Wildwood is up to. Become a member, work with us on conservation for recreation projects, and help support our mission.

The movie was premiered at the Nevada Offroad Association‘s annual summit in Elko. It was a great opportunity to present an overland expedition highlighting conservation for recreation and citizen science. I took advantage of passing by Rye Patch Reservoir and South Fork State Parks to get out for a paddle.

The Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Refuge is designed for the protection of wildlife and habitat but it inspired me to think about conservation for recreation. The USFWS highlights wildlife viewing, cultural history, camping, fishing & hunting, rock hounding, hiking, horseback riding, and I would like to add bikepacking. This trip inspired my October trip through the Sheldon and future trips. Please reach out if there is anything I can do to help you get out there.