Confidence Mine s(u) by Bicycle - Velo

Confidence Mine s(u)

The summit is small. But the views are big ... because the valleys are big and wide and stretch to the horizon. The highest point is located just about exactly on the Utah - Nevada line. I lean towards putting the summit into Nevada. But the state boundary here does not follow a ridgeline in an abvious way. So this coincidence of being just about exactly on the state line is very coincidental indeed. The mine itself is safely located on the Nevada side though. The surface on this ride is pretty good for gravel biking, maybe a little sandy in places.

1.START-END NORTH:low point, crossing a dry stream, just after tunoff from Hamlin Valley Rd.
2.profile turns left at Reed's Canyon Summit
3.TOP, Confidence Mine s(u): 7840ft
4.profile turns south on Hamlin Valley rd
5.START-END SOUTH:intermediate low point on Hamlin Valley Rd

Approaches

From North. The main road in the valley follows Hamlin Creek up from Modena. The profile starts at a small relative low point, many miles north of Modena, shortly after the route has branched off from Hamlin Road. This junction is not signed, but easy to recognize even without a gps. Hamlin Road makes a radical left turn with yet another intersection just before the turnoff up towards Reed's Summit.

But if you miss it all is not lost. Other turnoffs further north also get you there. Along the way, various sections of dead tree match stick forest are sandwiched between short sections of live juniper trees. All these approaches first go to something marked as Reed's Cabin Summit on my map. But there are no signs at any of the intersections or at the summit. But it is an obvious summit point with a decent into Nevada.

At Reed's Cabin Summit the profile takes a left turn-off, continuing further up into the dessert hills. This road does not show up on any of the map products on my computer, but it does appear to be there on satellite images. The first road gap comes into sight above. Upon reaching it a second one appears further above. In a dip between the two is a curious spring, surrounded not only by heavy construction equipment, but also various clans of wild horses. The summit is a prime vantage point over Hamlin Valley and the Indian Peak Mountains. Looking back, the just traveled approach on the road dwindles into nothingness in the scale of this vast valley. The mine itself is safely located in Nevada territory, even though the entire approach was in Utah.

From South. (described downwards) A scenic roll down leads by a lonesome rock outcrop, surrounded by dead trees. It is an easily recognized landmark. Then a fast scenic decent leads to a memorial plaque. It tells the story of two firefighters who died in this area during a fire in 2012. The memorial stands in poignant isolation. To me this memorial comes completely unexpected. Its pictures and inscriptions remain in memory even more persistently than the landscape. The profile ends where the track rejoins the Hamlin Valley Rd.

Dayride with this point as highest summit

COMPLETELY UNPAVED:

( < Arrowhead Pass | Panaca Summit > )

Confidence Mine s(u) , additional out and back: starting at about 6400ft elev. on Modena Canyon Rd > Modena Canyon Rd north > Hamlin Valley Rd north > unmarked northern approach as above west > Reeds Cabin Summit(shp) > up unmarked road south > Confidence Mine s(u) > down eastern approach as above > Hamlin Valley Rd south > back to starting point on Modena Cayon Rd: 48.8miles with 3200ft of climbing in 5:18hrs (garmin etrex40 m3:21.5.14).