What in the hell is a Jarbidge you ask? Jarbidge is a historic mining camp near the Nevada/Idaho boarder that would make a good airplane/mountain bike destination.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarbidge,_Nevada
http://nevadamagazine.com/home/inside-the-magazine/wide-open/journey-to-jarbidge/

There is a little used strip (current condition unknown) about 7 road miles from the town as shown in this GE image.



I've been to Jarbidge via roads and it is a great place for those wanting to explore and old ghost town and mining camp. I've never been to or landed at the airstrip, so beware of that and caution is advised. Jarbidge sits in is very scenic canyon and the river is reportedly great fishing.

Courierguys electrified mountain bike thread https://www.backcountrypilot.org/community/forum/latest/montague-folding-bike-conversion-to-electricty-18525 got me thinking about Jarbidge as a possible fly in destination so I thought I'd post about it. I'm going to try it later this summer, but in the meantime, if someone is looking for a MTN Bike destination to check out, this would be a good one.

Maybe Courierguy will get a chance to try it out!

There is an Inn, a bar/restaurant, and gas station/General Store open during the spring/summer/fall.

Road from the south is messed up right now. Big, like truck size big, boulder slid down blocking the canyon.

This is one of the absolute coolest places to go in Nevada. Bring your four-wheelers and Jeeps.

Gump


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That looks interesting. Give us a PIREP on the strip if you head up there, Mike. From the looks of it on the sattelite image it's pretty overgrown. It would probably be better to land on the dirt road next to the strip.

Yes Rob, you are correct, the road looks to be a better LZ. Years ago, I made the decision to land on a nearby strip, Murphy Hot Springs, rather than the adjacent road. The grass was at least 30" tall. I mowed a pretty good swath out of the center. The 182 was green for weeks afterwards!

Even with 35's on the the BH, I don't want to land in sage brush over knee high. The drag is significant, and tends to pitch the nose down as the wheels descend into it. Definitely want to be back on the stick when that happens.

GumpAir wrote: Bring your four-wheelers and Jeeps.

Gump


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And Bronco's! LOL

I'm game sometime soon after I get my Bronco back in tip top shape here soon.

Great Pat, I take it you'll provide the ground transportation? That would be pretty sweet. Let's plan a trip!

My parents used to go to Jarbidge during the summers and loved it. After hearing about it, Dee and I flew over to Murphy Hot Springs with the intent to mountain bike to Murphy and Jarbidge. We were disappointed to find Murphy all closed up and abandoned. We spoke to one of the owners of the hot springs and heard about the legal fight over water rights to the hot springs. Sounded like a mess. Then we continued towards Jarbidge. We came upon a fellow named Lucky that wasn't having much luck that day. Lucky was a ranch foreman for a large ranch in Jarbidge and his truck kept quitting on him every quarter mile or so. He was supposed to be heading into Twin Falls for a graduation ceremony but decided he'd better head back to Jarbidge. He offered us a ride but his truck wasn't cooperating. We ended up just riding back to camp, never reaching Jarbidge unfortunately.

Anyway, I mention Lucky because he told us that the owners of the ranch at one point had a strip on their ranch and used to fly in. He said it hadn't been used in sometime, but gave me his number and said he thought the owners wouldn't mind us using it if it were usable. I wonder if that is the strip you are talking about. I may still have his number, but it's been 10 years ago. Who knows if he is still there or even alive (he was an older gentleman). I'll see what I can find out.

I'd love to visit this area. The first time I saw the Jarbidge area I was headed back from central Nevada in a BLM helicopter. As we came over the range, I couldn't believe how beautiful the area was. I had no idea Nevada had such a timbered, beautiful range. At the time I spent quite a bit of time in the Three Creek area fighting fires. I had no idea that just a little further west was this beautiful mountain range.

blackrock wrote:Great Pat, I take it you'll provide the ground transportation? That would be pretty sweet. Let's plan a trip!

Sounds good. I'll text you my work schedule. My Bronco should be all good to go by end of June or sooner. Just getting all new front end bushings, springs and motor mounts installed this month sometime and need to take it back to the transmission shop to look at the transmission they said they rebuilt.

Cory, that's a great story. I'll post whenever we get back. Most likely we are talking about the same ranch strip. It's only about a 45 min flight for me. Unlike the rest of us mere mortals, you and Dee could easily run those 7 miles! I'm pretty sure I'll be pushing the Mtn bike back up the hill if I make it there before Pat can go.

[emoji1]. Back then we weren't running, but now you do have a point! I know that it was steep going up on our bikes and we welcomed the idea of a ride.

My search for his number came up empty. I think I carried his number around in my wallet for years. I'll check my Fly Idaho book when I get to the plane but I think it's long gone.

That would be a great place to visit. Please do let us know what you find! Thanks!


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After looking at google earth, I agree. It does look overgrown. It looks like that stretch of road just south of the strip, just before the fork, allows a place to pull off to the side and to turn around. That looks to be the best option...at least from google earth.


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So many places, so little time! Nonetheless, I'll check it out.

Thanks for making the sacrifice CG. [emoji56]. I know it may be a hardship excursion but what better way to demonstrate the e-bike utility! I can already feel my wallet getting lighter.

Mike, I can't tell for sure by that image you posted. But about 5 miles from town on that same side of the river, above the rim is the Diamond A. There is a very overgrown strip there. That's probably about 7 road miles. It's nasty overgrown. The current owners (Simplot) do not use it. They are friendly enough if yer not being stupid. The current manager is Matt. I'll be out there in while, I'll confirm its still over grown. But I'm pretty sure it is.

There are a few places to land on the Bruneau.

It's rough country and the roads would be plenty technical.

Jarbidge is badass no matter how you look at it. Fishing is good. Both rivers.

We should meet up out there.

https://vimeo.com/46161557

Rob,

Thanks, I'm game to meet out there, anyplace. Near Jarbidge or on the Bruneau. If you, CG, Cory, Pat or anyone else might be heading that way, my cell is seven seven 5 . Three 4 zero . Seven 0 7 three. Sounds way fun!

Mike

Very cool Rob.


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2 weeks ago they had 20 inches of snow at the Diamond A. And back in November they they got hammered with 3-5 feet depending on how far south you were. It's been a long tough winter in that country. But it's going to be really green out there well into summer.

Yes, it was a big snow year in Elko County this year. I've been 4-wheeling on the other side of the range several times in the past few weeks. Just drove through Jackpot and Rogerson this afternoon. Lots of water and the streams are running full bore. Plenty of green as you say. Below 8,000 feet most all the snow is gone now, but there is plenty of mud left!

The bottom fell out from under the jeep, high on a ridge at about 6,500 feet. This photo was taken after 3 hours of digging and jacking, just before we got it unstuck. We had built paths of rocks under the wheels. Both axles were buried deep in mud at first. No one would have guessed this ground was soft, looked hard and rocky.

Only the 4-wheelers and side by sides could get to it. No way to get pickups in here!

Been watching this one intently

But now having a hard time reconciling this photo? The only thing open in our region is turkey and the year 'rounders (lions, song dogs, maybe spring bear in a unit or two?) ... that is clearly not turkey country… and I've never seen a need for camouflage while hunting sheds (or lions, 'cats or 'dogs for that matter)…

Also interesting 'the Jeeper' is the only one not digging, and not in camo

BTW We have Jeeps for that kind of country and you know where the keys are

Counting down the days till summer vacation
Take care, Rob