Wild Nevada
Episode 124: Arc Dome Wilderness
Season 1 Episode 24 | 26m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
Host Chris turns some of her favorite activities into an mountain adventure on horseback.
Host Chris Orr turns some of her favorite activities into a grand adventure. She spends two days riding mustangs through the Arc Dome Wilderness. On the second day, she climbs Arc Dome where she enjoys the view of Toiyabe National Forest below.
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Wild Nevada is a local public television program presented by PBS Reno
Wild Nevada
Episode 124: Arc Dome Wilderness
Season 1 Episode 24 | 26m 58sVideo has Closed Captions
Host Chris Orr turns some of her favorite activities into a grand adventure. She spends two days riding mustangs through the Arc Dome Wilderness. On the second day, she climbs Arc Dome where she enjoys the view of Toiyabe National Forest below.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> HI, WELCOME TO "WILD NEVADA," I'M CHRIS ORR AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS TRIP.
I'M BEGINNING AT THE ARC DOME WILDERNESS AREA.
DOWNME >> I GOT MY BOOTS ON, AND MY HAT AND MY SLEEPING BAG READY, SO LET'S GO MEET THE GUYS.
>> HI, THERE.
>> HI, CHRIS.
>> I'M VIRGIL.
>> GOOD TO MEET YOU.
>> LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO JIM, AND HIS WIFE KAREN OF MUSTANG O OUTFITTERS.
THEY ARE RIGHT HERE IN SMOKY VALLEY.
>> THANKS FOR BRINGING OUT THE HORSES.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THE WILDERNESS, RIDE UP SOUTH TWIN, ON THE EAST SIDE.
THERE'S TWO RIVERS HERE.
THE SOUTH TWIN AND THE NORTH TWIN JUST OVER THE RISE THERE.
>> HOW MANY MILES ARE WE GOING?
>> PROBABLY ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT MILES TODAY ON THE HORSES.
>> OKAY.
>> THIS IS A MAP.
THE TOIYABE NATIONAL FOREST, WE'RE RIGHT HERE AT SOUTH TWIN TRAILHEAD AND THIS IS 376.
WE'RE GOING TO BE RIDING UP SOUTH TWIN, PAST THE MINE, RIGHT IN HERE, WE'LL GO UP RIGHT OVER THE TOP PAST THE PASTURE AND COME HERE AND CAMP RIGHT HERE ON THE MAP.
>> SOUNDS GREAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> IN ADDITION TO OUR MOUNTS, THE OUTFITTERS HAVE BROUGHT ALONG TWO PACK HORSES, WE ARE ABLE TO CAMP OUR CAMPING SUPPLIES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT ON TO THESE SMALL BUT STURDY HORSES.
>> KAREN AND JIM KNOW THEIR HORSES WELL.
THEIR STRING OF 30 HORSES IS MADE UP ENTIRELY OF MUSTANGS.
EACH OF THEM HAS A DISTINCT PERSONALITY AND STORY.
>> I'M RIDING TANNER, A WELL-MANNERED MUSTANG.
HE SPENT THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF HIS LIFE RUNNING FREE IN AUSTIN.
KAREN AND JIM ADOPTED HIM ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO.
♪ >> CHRIS, THIS IS THE BOUNDARY OF THE ARC DOME WILDERNESS SET ASIDE BY CONGRESS IN 1989.
WE'RE GOING TO ENTER INTO THE WILDERNESS BEYOND THIS SIGN.
DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS AS WILDERNESS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE CHARACTER OF THIS LAND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
>> SHALL WE HEAD ON IN >> LET'S GO.
>> COME ON, TANNER.
>> NOW, WHAT MAKES THIS WILDERNESS AREA UNIQUE?
>> SEVERAL THINGS MAKE IT UNIQUE, JUST THE CHARACTER OF IT, THE NATURE OF IT, GEOLOGY, THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT USED A LOT.
IT WAS SET ASIDE SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS COULD COME HERE AND ENJOY THE LAND UNDISTURBED AS IT WAS OR UNDISTURBED BY MECHANICAL MEANS PARTICULARLY.
A CONCEPT THAT'S DIFFERENT TO OUR SOCIETY.
IN THE BIBLE THEY TALKED ABOUT WILDERNESS IN THE PLACE WHERE GOD SENT PEOPLE WHO DID WRONG AND NOW HERE WE ARE WHERE DESIGNATED AREAS AS WILDERNESS TO PROTECT THEM.
>> WE SEEK OUT THE WILDERNESS NOW RATHER THAN SEEING IT AS ROUGH LIVING OR A WAY TO STRUGGLE.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO COME IN AND TAME IT.
WE COME IN, WE EITHER WALK OR RIDE BY HORSEBACK.
WE DON'T BRING ANY MECHANICIZED EQUIPMENT.
>> WE USE HANDSAWS.
TWO MAN SAWS, WE DO IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK.
>> IT IS A LOT OF WORK, BUT PRESERVING THE WILDERNESS IS AN IMPORTANT THING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WHAT WE WANT IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE TO OUR CIVILIZATION AT THIS TIME IN OUR SOCIETY.
WE'RE PRESERVING WHAT OUR GRANDFATHERS SAW FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN TO SEE.
>> IT'S WONDERFUL.
>> IN THE EARLY PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY THERE WAS SOME MINING ACTIVITY IN THE AREA.
THE SOUTH TWIN TRAIL WAS ORIGINALLY A MINING ROAD.
>> HE EXPLAINS THAT THE MINORS DISMANTLE AND PACKED IT ON MULES.
>> NOW, THAT'S A SERIOUS BIT OF HAULING.
>> WE TAKE A BREAK FROM THE HORSES TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE REMAINS OF THE OLD MINING OPERATION.
>> CHRIS, HERE WE ARE AT THE WATER WHEEL.
>> WHEN WAS THIS USED.
>> THIS WAS BUILT IN 1915 WHEN THE MINE WAS IN OPERATION.
THIS MILL WAS IN OPERATION FROM 1915 TO 1920.
THIS PROCESS, THIS MILLING PROCESS, WAS BUILT BY TWO GUYS DOWN IN GOLD FIELD, NEVADA, THEY BUILT IT, PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND TOOK IT APART AND BROUGHT IT UP HERE ON HORSES AND MULES.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, THE WATER COMES IN AND TURNS THE ONE WHEEL.
THEY RUN A SET OF BELTS AND PULLEYS.
THEY RUN DIFFERENT BELTS TO RUN DIFFERENT PROCESSES, ONE POWER SOURCE TO TURN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> SO THEY USED ONE PASS OF WATER TO DO THE WHOLE OPERATION.
>> RIGHT.
>> THAT'S AN ENGINEERING FETE.
>> A LOT OF ENGINEERING.
>> PRE WERE MINING FOR ORE.
>> THEY WERE MINING GOLD HERE AND IT WAS A ROUGH PROCESS AT THIS POINT TO GET THE ORE DOWN TO A SMALLER CONCENTRATE, FROM HERE THEY WOULD HAUL IT OUT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, WHERE THEY HAULED IT OUT FROM A TRUCK IN THERE, PUT IT IN MULES AND BAGS AND TOOK IT DOWN TO THE SMOKY VALLEY WHERE IT WENT TO A FURTHER PROCESSING PLANT.
>> SHOULD WE GET BACK ON THE MOUND?
>> ALL RIGHT.
GO HAVE LUNCH.
>> ON MULTI USE TRAILS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE RULE OF THE TRAIL ETIQUETTE BECAUSE OF THE BRIGHT COLORS AND UNUSUAL SHAPE OF A BACK SHAPE CAN SPOOK OF HORSE, THEY USE THE TRAILS.
>> AS WE RIDE THROUGH AN AREA, I MARVEL AS HOW WELL OUR HORSES CLIMB THE TRAILS STEEP STONE STEPS.
THEY HONE AND CUT THE STEPS BY HAND, WITH ONLY HAND TOOLS.
>> THE TRAIL CUTS THROUGH THE RUGGED CANYONS OF THE WILDERNESS AS IT FOLLOWS THE SOUTH TWIN RIVER.
PROVIDING THE HORSES WITH A CHANCE TO TAKE A DRINK WHEN NEEDED.
>> WHERE ARE WE EXACTLY?
>> ALMOST AT THE HEART OF THE WILDERNESS RIGHT NOW.
>> THE SOUTH TWIN RIVER AND WE'RE GOING TO CROSS OVER HERE.
>> YOU HAVE TWO SEPARATE RIVERS STARTING IN THE SAME AREA.
>> STARTING RIGHT HERE.
>> THEY DON'T RUN PARALLEL.
>> THEY GO IN TOTALLY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
>> ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WILDERNESS AREA.
>> OPPOSITES SIDE OF THE DIVIDE.
>> ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.
>> I HAVE TO SAY MY LAND IS VERY PRETTY.
>> KAREN'S, TOO.
>> YOU GET A CHANCE TO COME OUT HERE AND EXPLORE IT OFTEN.
>> YES, WE DO.
>> WE'RE UP HERE QUITE A BIT.
>> PEOPLE HAVE THE CHANCE TO COME UP WITH YOU AND ENJOY IT.
>> YEP.
>> WE DO SUMMER TRIPS AND FALL TRIPS AND HUNTING TRIPS, WE'RE IN HERE ALL OF THE TIME.
>> HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE FROM CAMP >> WE'RE ABOUT 45 MINUTES, JUST OVER THE TOP OF THE HILL HERE.
>> SHALL WE MOUNT UP AND GET INTO CAMP BEFORE -- >> YOU BET.
>> BEFORE IT GETS TOO MUCH LATER.
>> YEAH, BEFORE WE GET A LITTLE RAIN ON US.
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
>> WE CLIMB UP OUT OF A MEADOW AREA AND ON TO A SADDLE.
THE VALLEY AND THE WATERS STRETCH OUT BELOW US.
>> FROM HERE, IT IS JUST A SHORT RIDE INTO CAMP.
>> YOU'RE HOME, BIG GUY.
>> WE REACH THE MUSTANG OUTFITTERS CAMP IN THE LATE AFTERNOON, GIVING US TIME TO UNPACK AND GET COMFORTABLE.
♪ ♪ >> MOST OF THE CAMP CHORES ARE DONE IN TIME TO WATCH A SUNSET, AND THEN ENJOY A ROUND OF CAMPFIRE STORIES BEFORE WE CALL IT A NIGHT.
>> WELL, WE WERE UP HERE WITH DIVISION OF WILDLIFE, NRCS, SOILS, PEOPLE AND WE WERE ALL CAMPED IN HERE.
SO WE PACKED THEM IN AND WE SET UP DOWN THERE AND I SET UP AN ELECTRIC FENCE FOR THE MULES THAT WE USED FOR PACK ANIMALS IN HERE.
WE HAD TO PACK A COUPLE OF SOILS PEOPLE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL AND THEN THEY WERE GOING TO WALK DOWN.
I HAD THAT ELECTRIC FENCE SET UP AND ED HAD NEVER SEEN ONE OF THOSE.
SHOW ME HOW THAT WORKS.
>> WHEN YOU COME UP TO AN ELECTRIC FENCE, YOU TAKE A PLATE OF GRASS AND YOU LAY IT ACROSS THE HOT WIRE AND YOU SLIDE IT UP UNTIL YOU CAN FEEL THE TINGLE IN YOUR HAND WITHOUT GETTING SHOCKED.
HE TOOK THE GRASS AND SLID IT UP, HE SLIDES IT ALL THE WAY UP, AND HE JUST GRAB THE AHOLD OF IT.
IT'S TOUGH.
HE SAYS I DON'T FEEL NOTHING.
>> I TOOK THE GRASS AND SLID IT UP.
>> WE HAD THE MULES IN THERE FOR THREE DAYS AND I HAD FORGOT TO TURN THE THING ON.
>> BUT THEY STAYED IN THERE.
>> SO ED SAID, THAT'S GREAT.
>> WHY DIDN'T I JUST BUY YOU A WHITE PIECE OF ROPE.
>> GOOD MORNING, CHRIS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> HOW WAS YOUR NIGHT?
>> IT WAS GREAT.
>> DID YOU SLEEP WELL?
>> VERY WELL.
VERY NICE AND COMFORTABLE.
>> NIGHT MOUNTAIN AIR.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ARC DOME HERE.
>> HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE?
>> WE'RE GOING TO BACK UP OVER TO SUMMIT THERE INTO THE SOUTH TWIN DRAINAGE, FROM THERE TAKE A CROSS CUT AROUND A CANYON.
WE'LL TOP UP THERE ABOUT A 100 YARDS FROM THE TOP AND THE LAST STRETCH WE'LL WALK.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A FULL DAY.
IT IS GOING TO BE A FULL DAY, BUT A LOT OF FUN.
>> WE BETTER GET GOING.
>> SADDLE UP AND GO.
>> LET'S DO IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
♪ ♪ >> ONE OF THE HORSES IS A CURLY, A RARE BREED OF MUSTANG.
>> HE WAS CAUGHT OVER BY EUREKS.
HIS COAT JUST GETS A TIGHT KINKY PERM.
HIS WHOLE BODY IS TIGHT, KINKY, CURLY HAIR.
THEY'RE HARD TO COME BY AND WE CAME ACROSS THIS ONE.
HE'S NOT VERY GOOD, BUT HE'S GOT EXCELLENT FEET AND GREAT HEART TO HIM.
HE'S A LITTLE GUY, BUT HE CAN PACK HIS GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT AND HE WON'T QUIT YOU.
>> KAREN SAYS MUSTANGS ARE IDEAL FOR PACK TRAILS, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY HAVE HAD A FEW YEARS RUNNING WILD, THEY ARE STURDY AND KNOW THE TERRAIN.
>> IF I TOLD HER, GOT HER UP TO THE EDGE OF A CLIFF AND GO OFF IT, SHE WOULD GO OFF IT WITHOUT QUESTION.
>> I HAVEN'T SEEN TOO MUCH THEY CAN'T GO DOWN.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING IT WITH NOBODY TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO.
>> TODAY'S TRAIL IS STEEPER AND MORE MOUNTAINOUS THAN YESTERDAY.
I EMPATHIZE WITH THE HORSES.
>> AT THE SAME TIME I'M GLAD TO LET THEM DO SOME OF THE CLIMBING, KNOWING THAT WE'LL GET OUR CHANCE LATER.
♪ >> WE'RE GOING TO GO THIS TRAIL HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO UP AND OVER AND THEN YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE TRAIL CUTS THROUGH THE TREES AND TOWARDS THAT SADDLE.
>> ONLY ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE LEFT TO GO.
IS EVERYBODY READY?
>> WE FINALLY REACH OUR STAGING POINT WHICH IS AT AN ELEVATION OF 11,000 FEET.
WE LEAVE THE HORSES AT A SMALL STAND OF TREES BEFORE WE HEAD OUT ON FOOT TO CLIMB THE FINAL 700 FEET.
>> WE'VE USED YOUR HORSES TO GET THIS FAR ON THE TRAIL.
>> CHRIS.
>> I THINK IT IS TIME FOR OUR WORKOUT NOW.
>> ARE YOU READY?
>> SURE.
>> LET'S GO.
>> OKAY.
>> THIS MUST BE THE TRAIL.
>> OKAY.
>> WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND LEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> AFTER YOU, JIM, YOU GUYS KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING.
♪ ♪ >> FROM OUR ADVANTAGE POINT, ARC DOME DOESN'T APPEAR VERY ARC SHAPED OR DOME LIKE.
BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS SNOW-CAPPED, THE NAME FITS.
>> THE TRAIL WE FOLLOW TO THE PEAK IS STEEP BUT WELL-DEFINED.
THE PATH WAS ORIGINALLY USED IN THE 1930S.
BY SURVEYING MAPPING CREWS.
NOW THE FOREST SERVICE MAINTAINS THE TRAILS TO KEEP THE MOUNTAIN ACCESSIBLE TO CLIMBERS AND HIKERS.
♪ ♪ >> IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY ACTUALLY WAS BUILDING UP HERE.
YOU CAN'T TELL ME SOMEONE TRIED TO BUILD A STRUCTURE UP HERE.
>> THIS WAS A TENT PAD DURING THE '30S, THERE WAS CREWS STATIONED ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN HERE AND THEY USED A SYSTEM.
>> YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THAT TERM IS.
>> THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT.
THEY USED A MIRROR IN THE BACK OF A TELESCOPE AND THEY WOULD CATCH THE EARLY MORNING OR LATE EVENING SUN AND SHINE THAT LIGHT THROUGH THE TELESCOPE AND SHINE IT UP TO ANOTHER PEAK.
THE OTHER PEAK IS THAT MIDDLE SUMMIT, BY TRIANGLEATING THOSE ANGLES THEY WERE ABLE TO DO SOME MANNING.
>> DURING THE 30S, THERE WAS A CREW STATION HERE FROM SOME TIME IN EARLY MAY UP UNTIL THE FIRST SNOW IN NOVEMBER.
>> THEY GOT TO SEE ALL KINDS OF WEATHER EXTREMES THEN.
>> YES, THEY DID.
>> IT WAS PROBABLY A PRETTY TOUGH LIFE.
I'M NOT SURE I WOULD WANT TO STAY HE ALL SUMMER.
EVERY THUNDERSTORM THAT CAME THROUGH THE AREA, YOU HAD TO LIVE RIGHT THROUGH IT.
>> IT MAKES ME ANXIOUS TO GET TO THE TOP AND SEE WHAT THE VIEW IS LIKE FROM THERE THOUGH.
>> THE VOLCANIC STONE OF ARC DOME AND THE NEIGHBORING PEAKS GIVES IT A REDDISH BROWN.
IT HAS BEEN LABELED AS THE RED TOIYABE.
>> JIM CALLS THIS CLIMB A HEART TESTER AND A LUNG CLEANER, I HAVE TO AGREE.
>> GUYS, WELCOME TO THE TOP OF THE ARC DOME.
>> THANK YOU.
WE MADE IT.
>> THIS IS IT.
WHAT A VIEW.
>> YOU CAN SEE FOREVER.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, WHAT'S THAT?
>> YOU CAN STAND HERE AND DO A 360, AND YOU DON'T HAVE A BAD VIEW.
>> THEY'RE ALL HERE.
♪ >> OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR REGISTER HERE.
INSIDE THERE'S A NOTEBOOK, AND PEOPLE SIGN -- >> I THINK WE ALL DESERVE TO SIGN THAT ONE TODAY.
>> PUT YOUR NAME AND SIGN IN THE NOTEBOOK THAT YOU MADE IT TO THE TOP.
SOME PEOPLE WRITE IN THERE.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
OREGON, DALLAS, OHIO, NEW YORK.
HERE, NOW, I LIKE THIS.
I NOW FEEL LIKE I CAN CONQUER ANYTHING.
>> OKAY.
TIME TO SIGN.
>> READY?
>> LET'S HEAD BACK DOWN.
>> LET'S GO DOWN AND HAVE LUNCH >> AND MAKE SURE THE HORSES ARE STILL THERE.
>> YEAH.
>> NOW, THIS IS THE HARD PART WALKING DOWNHILL.
>> THIS IS WHEN YOUR TOES START TO COMPLAIN.
YOUR THIGHS COMPLAIN ON THE WAY UP, AND YOUR TOES ON THE WAY DOWN.
♪ >> THE NORTH TWIN TRAIL THAT WE TAKE AFTER COMING DOWN ARC DOME FOLLOWS THE RIVER.
IT IS EVER BIT AS BREATHTAKING AS THE ROUTE WE TRAVELED YESTERDAY.
THIS IS OUR PATH OUT OF WILDERNESS AREA.
DESPITE A SORE MUSCLE OR TWO, I'M RELUCTANT TO LEAVE THE PEACE AND BEAUTY OF THIS INCREDIBLE PLACE.
♪ ♪ >> SO I HAVE TO CONFESS THAT I HAVE A NEW MALE IN MY LIFE, HAS HE BIG BROWN EYES AND LISTENS TO ME FAIRLY WELL, HIS NAME IS TANNER.
>> WHERE ARE WE NOW?
>> CHRIS, THIS IS THE SOUTH TWIN RIVER TRAIL, WE'RE ABOUT FOUR MILES FROM WHERE WE PARKED THE TRUCKS.
>> SO THIS IS OUR WAY HOME?
>> THIS IS IT.
JUST FOUR MILES.
>> WELL, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT TRIP.
IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> YES.
WE'VE GONE TO THE 6TH HIGHEST PEAK IN THE STATE OF NEVADA.
WE SPENT A NIGHT IN THE ARC DOME WILDERNESS.
>> WE FOUND A BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF MINING HERE IN CENTRAL NEVADA.
>> IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS OR ANY OF OUR TRIPS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT KNPB.ORG.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE SEND US AN E-MAIL AND TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR NEVADA BASED JOURNEYS.
>> UNTIL NEXT TIME, GO OUT AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF OUR STATE FOR YOURSELF.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
MAJOR PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR "WILD NEVADA" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NEVADA COMMISSION ON TOURISM WHO ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO EXPLORE THE SILVER STATE'S
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