Deep Creek Mtn Solitude

[DrMoab]

My wife and I had planned on heading to Fall Fling for a couple of days but money, the fact that I blew up another front drive shaft and well...money kept us from making that trip. Not wanting to sit around the house with those days off, I conned DaveW and a couple of friends from www.expeditionutah.com to make a shorter trip out to the Deep Creek mountains and the almost ghost towns of Partoun, Trout Creek and Callao Utah.

So we met up in Lakeside Utah, topped off our tanks and several extra cans. (it was 350 miles between fuel stops) and headed south to the Weise Hwy (a dirt road) and headed west.

Our first camp spot was under the eastern edge of Topaz mountain.

Relaxing and watching the shadows form around the desert hills.

The next morning we woke up to bright blue skys and nice october cool temps as we headed west.

A few shots from camp that morning.

The guy from expeditionutah was driving this Samurai.

Back on the main road. At this point we had already traveled about 60 miles on dirt. It's a long long ways out to these little towns.

The roads are smooth. Since I didn't have a front driveshaft, this was a good thing.

As we were booking along at close to 50 MPH I see something crossing the road. At first I thought it was just a regular old lizard but it looked wrong. I couldn't slow down and as I passed it, I realized it was a spider!! I yelled at Dave on the CB not to hit it and I turned around to go investigate. This is what we found...

He was pretty good sized for a Utah spider. Reminded me of something you would find in the Amazon.

We made a quick stop at the Honeycombs. A very strange set of rocks. I didn't get too many close ups but this mountain has to be one of the strangest formations I've ever seen.

Then it was off to Partoun...

 

[DrMoab]

Partoun... This was one of the only buildings there and it had some of the most strange things hiding around in the junk piles.

I will just let the next few pics speak for themselves.

 

[DrMoab]

Then it was time to hit Trout Creek and the mountains for our second nights camp.

The Deep Creeks in the background.

This is about all that is in Trout Creek. Although behind the bus was a little house and as I was taking this photo, I noticed people walking around the house. While there was other curiosities to snag some photos of, I didn't feel comfortable sticking around.

We finally made it to Granite Creek and was amazed to find several camps along the road. Finally at the very end there was a spot big enough for two trailers and a tent.

A little waterfall by the road.

Stephen using Daves axe to chop wood. This axe came off his conquorer trailer and we were joking about spending $6000 for an axe. It was dull and then the handle broke.

Dave's wife Tami and Steve talking about the finer points of...something.

The trailer set up and the granite cliffs giving the creek it's name.

Heating water for some hot chocolate while enjoying a wonder night around the campfire.

 

[DrMoab]

The next morning we broke camp and headed to Calaio and then east along the Pony Express trail.

Looking at our camp in the rear view mirror.

In Callao, it's a long way on a bumpy dirt road back to Tooele.

Looking at the Deep Creeks in the back ground.

Camo...from camp.

The School house in Callao. Weird because it's new and the town is almost extinct.

Kind of weird, this was in down town(so to speak) Callao. There isn't a railroad in 75 miles.

 

[DrMoab]

Finally we left Callao and headed east along the Pony Express trail. Along the way there are several old ruins of the buildings they used to keep the horses and such. This was one such building.

The Deep Creeks are getting further and further away.

Out in the middle of nowhere we ran across Fish Springs. These are warm springs that form from a fault line that runs through the area. They created a federal wildlife reserve and it lives up to its name.

The first critter we ran into was this coyote.

It seemed awful weird to see so much lush green stuff in all that desert.

Ducks.

The last stop of the day was Simpson Springs Pony Express station. It was one of the few places along the route where water was available. They have reconstructed the building.

All in all we covered 375 miles from Tooele back to Tooele. 250 of those miles were on dirt roads.

 

[jmaxj]

how much is left of callao? i havn't been that way in yrs and last time i was there it was dying off.

 

[DrMoab]

how much is left of callao? i havn't been that way in yrs and last time i was there it was dying off.

It's about like its been forever. They have that new school and a couple of houses that look fairly new out there. Other than that it's just like it always has been....dying.

 

[Quinn1.8t]

Thanks for sharing, looks like a great time was had.

 

[jakeWI]

great pictures! thanks for sharing!

 

[jmaxj]

It's about like its been forever. They have that new school and a couple of houses that look fairly new out there. Other than that it's just like it always has been....dying.

thats why i asked, cause it seems weird to build a new school out there when there's not much of a town left

 

[OverlandZJ]

Great pics Ryan, looks like a good time.

Whats the story with all the old articles at the one stop?

 

[DrMoab]

Great pics Ryan, looks like a good time.

Whats the story with all the old articles at the one stop?

I honestly don't know.

 

[scully]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing!
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