August 8-10, 2025 This is my 5th Perseids Meteor Shower Campout with Friends of Black Rock – High Rock. This was a special year celebrating 20 years of the Perseids Meteor Shower Campout with other like minded desert rats. Will Roger and Crimson Rose were honored at the event for all they have contributed to the stewardship of the Black Rock Desert.
The 2021 Perseids Campout marked the beginning of my board tenure with FBRHR and the beginning of Rides with Friends. I am pretty sure this was the event where Stacey Wittek, our former ED, announced my joining. As “the bike guy” I figured I should bike into the event. It is only 6-7 miles to Meteor Cove from 12 Mile playa access, so it is an easy trip.
Bikepacking Northern Nevada’s Perseids through the years:
2021 Through the smoke! – I didn’t post on this, odd. But here is the IG post
2022 Ride with Friends to the Quinn!
2023 The last of Playa Paella? At least for now.
2024 Playa Pulled Pork Tacos – food motivated
Since my first ride into camp I have offered it as an event. The short flat ride has its appeal. The support of food, water, and shade offered by the group setting is also attractive. Then there are the activities and stargazing that keep adding to the allure. The challenge is what to do with all the down time. It is August so the temperatures reach 90-100oF. Most campers are chilling under some shade structure or in the shade created by a vehicle or inside a camper with AC. None of which are possible by bike, but everyone is willing to share if you are up to socializing. Without the event prioritizing the playa I would look to the higher elevations to have a bikepacking overnight.
This year my longtime friend and past coworker Jed Spangler joined me with his dog Kola. Then we were met by Mitch Ison of BurritopackingNV fame and podcast host, I Talk to Rocks. We were met by Mark Yakushev, who makes the trip out to the desert from Scotts Valley, CA. We were the only ones to tour in by bike. A few other campers brought bikes to ride.
The meteor shower was washed out by the full moon. This happens from time to time. But we did do a scorpion hunt. Besides the food, playa tacos hosted by FBRHR, my highlight was the entertainment by the Dustparados, a local Gerlach garage band. If you get a chance to hear them perform I highly recommend it. I passed on Will Roger’s Dangerous Margaritas, I fell victim to Kerry Crawford’s Lemon Drop cocktails.
We probably should have had a night ride. But I host a sunrise ride and I try not to burn the candle at both ends. The sunrise ride to the Quinn River terminus has become quite the hit. Everyone who has done a sunrise ride on the playa will tell you it is like nothing else. Then to experience the terminus of an endorheic river in such a place as the Black Rock Desert is a real treat. This year we sampled fairy shrimp and tadpole shrimp. The water where we stopped was totally clear and we could see the invertebrates swimming around.
Next year the Perseids Meteor Shower will peak during the New Moon! Let’s make it an event around astrophotography celebrating Nevada’s starry skies. Hope to see you in the dust!
Great Photos!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks for the report! What is that last creature, some kind of immature crustacean? It looks nothing like the other Triops you found.
I am glad you enjoyed the post. The last crustacean is our beloved fairy shrimp. It would have been best to get shots of them swimming. On one trip to the Quinn my friend Pete brought a small aquarium just for that.