High Rock Canyon – Stevens Camp; National Trails Day 2025

Iconic High Rock! This photo was taken by Shay Daylami who was on the first High Rock Rides with Friends trip. Its never the same without you! June 6-8, 2025 My first tour through High Rock Canyon was the test for Rides with Friends, a bike touring program for Friends of Black Rock High Rock. …

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Rides with Friends #3 Fly Canyon Potholes and High Rock Canyon

I take this photo every time I enter High Rock Canyon, the guardians Oct 5-6, 2024 October 2020 was the start of Rides with Friends. The idea that we would have a trip every October was born. I figured it had to represent the ā€œBest Ofā€, or as I termed it the ā€œCrown Jewelā€. So …

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Perseids Meteor Shower Campout: Rides with Friends #2

Just to clarify, my last blog post about the Black Rock Rendezvous was labeled Rides with Friends #2, but it was the first of this year's series. The Perseids Meteor Shower Campout was Rides with Friends #2. I am probably the most confused by this matter, ha! Riding into camp with Kelly N, the Calicos …

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Bikepacking into Black Rock Rendezvous; Rides with Friends #2

Nick LePalm gives his presentation at the Black Rock Rendezvous, all a part of Connect, Inspire, Protect 5/23-27/2024 I will stick by my assessment that BRR is the best event on the playa. It brings together the diversity of multiple user groups to show the many uses of the Black Rock Desert. The main host …

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Rides with Friends #7: Hot Springs – Micro-Playa Loop

Will Lumpkin making the biggest navigation decision in his life, Go Forward! Photo Ky Plaskon October 14-15, 2023 This year’s Rides with Friends crown jewel route was the Hot Springs - Micro Playa Loop. The route traveled northeast from 12 Mile playa access to Double Hot Springs, then south on the Applegate Emigrant Trail route, …

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Rides with Friends #6 Massacre Ranch Dark Skies Overnight

Celebrate rolling sagebrush grasslands under Nevada's blue skies Sept 16-17, 2023 I really wanted a ride for Rides with Friends that showcased the Massacre Rim International Dark Sky Sanctuary. But not surprisingly it is one of the most remote places beyond the NCA. So I planned a route from the turnoff from Co Rd 34 …

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Rides with Friends #5 Perseids Meteor Shower Campout

Welcome to the Perseids Meteor Shower Campout Photo Marc P August 12-13, 2023 The Perseids Meteor Shower Campout is a longstanding event hosted by Friends of Black Rock High Rock. Two years ago I decided to ride out to the camp rather than drive. Why not, I’m the bike guy. It was a smokey evening …

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Rides with Friends #4 Fox Mountain Loop Overnight

Riding out of Lone Juniper Canyon on Day 2, there is no escaping the sun While early summer was cool and stormy, the switch was flipped to peak summer temperatures just weeks before this trip. In anticipation of this, the climb to the summit of Fox Mountain at 8,196’ with a descent into camp by …

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Smoke Creek Desert on my way to Black Rock Rendezvous

Rides with Friends #2; Cassidy Mine Loop Friends of Black Rock High Rock volunteers greeting campers on playa May 25, 2023 My favorite event for Friends of Black Rock High Rock is the Black Rock Rendezvous. Analogous to the regional meetings of fur trappers and pioneers as well as indigenous peoples, the Rendezvous is a …

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Rides with Friends #1 Little High Rock Canyon and Denio Camp

As it was originally planned this route was 45.5 miles with 3000’ of climbing around the perimeter of Little High Rock Canyon Wilderness. I originally rode the course as a day ride with Pete Rissler in 2017. We were both on gravel bikes but a mountain bike would be my tool of choice. I planned …

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