June 18, 2025 Colin Robertson of the Nevada Museum of Art told me about an art exhibit they had coming up and how a portion of it was featuring a paleontological dig in the Augusta Mountains. He suggested I do a ride out there. The Augusta Mtns weren’t even on my radar. Nevada has 300+ mountain ranges and then multiply those by highpoints , named peaks, canyons and other features – it’s no wonder Nevada is considered the most mountainous state. I haven’t taken the time to list the ones I am intimately familiar with, but the Augustas were not on the list. So I looked on a map. It is really in the middle of “the middle of nowhere,” about ½ way between 80 and 50 and ½ way across the State. Ok, it’s on my list, just not very high (that’s a bad attitude).
Once the exhibit was open, wow, now I was compelled to visit the Augustas. The exhibit focused on how the pursuit of these giant fish-lizards, Ichthyosaurs, captured the imagination of scientists and artists alike, shaping a generation of dinosaur hunters. The exhibit is titled, “Deep Time : Sea Dragons of Nevada”, so inspired my ride, Riding to Deep Time and my newsletter essay, Seeking Deep Time : Time travel through reading the mountains. For those not familiar with Nevada State facts, the Icthyosaur, Shonisaurus popularis, is our State fossil so established in 1977. The 50′ fossil came from the Shoshone Mountains, not far from Mt Augusta. Checkout Travel Nevada’s Discovering the Ichthyosaur.
Looking at the map I picked a starting point off US 50 on the eastern edge of the Clan Alpine Mountains, Alpine E Rd (catchy). To make a loop of the mountain, the lariat or lollypop shaped route was estimated to be over 100 miles with about 5000’ of climbing. It was going to be a long hot day for sure. I chose my Manzanita gravel bike because it was purpose built with trips like this in mind. It has cages for 6 water bottles and bags by Nuke Sunrise Bike Bags to carry everything I needed. Because it was summer, high temperatures, solar UV index off the charts, and complete exposure I carried another 2L of water in a USWE hydration pack (about 6.5L of water in total). I didn’t know what water resources would be available so I planned as if there were none.
There is always this moment of pedalling away from the car. I could turn back, maybe go see a movie, but then I tell myself, “You got this.” And quickly looking around at all the wonder gets the mind spinning. On my left are the Clan Alpines, I’ve ridden there. On my right is the New Pass Range, I haven’t ridden there. But there is a road off the US 50 summit that reminds me I need to stop some day.
The saddle between the Clan Alpines and the New Pass Range was a magnet for wildlife. Deer, antelope, and a diversity of birds really caught my eye and ear. The Merlin App identified the Long-billed Curlew, it was so dynamic on the wing! From the saddle I descended to the north west, down the apron of the Clan Alpines and started a clock wise loop of the Augusta Mountains at the 6 o’clock position. I entered Dixie Valley through “Hole in the Wall” a v-notch that divides the Clan Alpines from the Augustas. I picked up some curious pearly white rocks. I showed them to a geologist and he thought they might be opaline. It would be great to rockhounding there and see if I could find fire opal. Dixie Valley is known for its hot springs and my route had me pass Hyder Hot Springs. The spring creates a wetland oasis for wildlife in the basin.
Looking up at the Augustas I could see the exposed rock bands that represented Deep Time, 120 million years ago. This area would have been a shallow continental sea shelf, a nursery for the largest of creatures, Ichthyosaurs. Without the help of artists and scientists this defies imagination.
Ranching is life on the edge of Dixie Valley. Where there are cows there must be water. At the north end of the route, Home Station Wash and Cedar Canyon had water flowing which is good news if this route is to be repeated as an overnight.
If I were to repeat this route I would include more of the next range to the north, Fish Creek. And of course I need to incorporate the New Pass Range. Looking at this area in overview, the Desatoyas, Clan Alpines, New Pass, Augusta, and Fish Creek ranges and basins in between represent an incredible web of bikepacking opportunities but not without route building challenges. There are 4 wilderness areas, private ranches, and active mines to navigate. But the mind expanding viewscapes and solitude are worth it!
