Updates to Chuck's Guide

I knew there would be updates. Some, in the second edition, were to correct errors I made putting the guide together; some were to report changes in things and conditions described in the guide. Some were significant; others were annoying but not too important. Some updates were a stab at making available things I should have put in the first edition, but didn't.

About the only significant difference between the second and third editions, is that the NCA transportation maps bound into the second edition have been left out of the third edition. (The BLM did not make them available to me for the third edition.)

Please help me keep my updates updated. If you find an error, please let me know. To send me an e-mail, CLICK HERE. Or e-mail me directly: chuckdodd@19thCenturyPublications.com.

Index to Updates (First Edition):

An Embarrassing Update

In the box on page 3 of the first edition, I asked you to help me keep the guide accurate by telling me about my mistakes. And I made a writing error in doing so -- very embarrassing.

I wrote "I knew what was wrong, however, I would have fixed it." I should have written, "If I knew what was wrong ... I would have fixed it." The thought was correct, though. If you see mistakes, please let me know. And if you think of something that should be in the guide, but isn't, let me know that, too.

To send me an e-mail, CLICK HERE. Or e-mail me directly: chuckdodd@19thCenturyPublications.com.

Significant Updates (starting with second edition)

Trego Playa Access Sign Removed: The sign shown in photo 99, page 77, that I indicated marked the junction of the High Road and the Trego Playa Access Road has been removed. (Has to do with the BLM's reaching an agreement with the railroad on the future location of the new Trego railroad crossing.) Instead of the sign shown in photo 99, there is a small Carsonite marker with "TREGO" on it. When you are looking for the intersection, watch for the tall tower located close to the railroad tracks; the intersection is almost directly south of the tower. Note that the railroad crossing will be moved but a site has to be selected and the work has to be done.

Carsonite Markers: In addition to the Carsonite marker used to mark the intersection of the High Road and the Trego Playa Access Road, these markers are used in lots of other places in the Black Rock Desert and High Rock Canyon area. A primary use is to mark the boundaries of wilderness areas.

The term "Carsonite marker" is probably not familiar to you, but the markers probably are, since they are used along most highways in the country. Carsonite markers are thin, narrow (about 4 inches wide) markers made of fiberglass or some similar material that makes them very flexible and relatively inexpensive. They can be pounded into the ground, which makes them easy to place. They usually have stickers providing important information.

Examples of how Carsonite markers are used (for marking wilderness area boundaries, identifying designated routes, and for warnings) are provided below. Click on a small picture to see it larger.

Easier to ... what? On page 43 of the first edition (bottom of first column), I wrote "I find it easier to get to Double Hot Springs than to Double Hot Springs." I should have written "I find it easier to get to Double Hot Springs than to Black Rock Springs."

Latest Conditions Noted

Check the Black Rock/High Rock Info Net web site for latest conditions reports.

Turns Onto Casey Springs "Upper" Bypass Road (on Black Rock Springs-Double Hot Springs Road). When I check roads last fall, as I started putting my guide together, it was very clear where you should turn onto the "upper road" to bypass the Casey Springs meadow area on the Black Rock Springs-Double Hot Springs Road. It isn't so clear this year.

When you on the Black Rock Springs-Double Hot Springs Road, to turn on the upper road and bypass the meadow created by Casey Springs:

Going south, turn left (east -- toward the Black Rock Range) onto the upper road approximately 1.4 miles from the intersection of the Black Rock Springs-Double Hot Springs Road and the Hardin City Road (east of Double Hot Springs).

Going north (from Black Rock Springs to Double Hot Springs), turn right (east -- toward the Black Rock Range) onto the upper road approximately 1.4 miles from Black Rock Springs.

To see map, CLICK HERE.

Double Hot Playa Road Confusion This Season (2004). Last fall (2003), when I was putting my guide together, the West Shore Playa Road had multiple tracks, as is common, but the tracks were fairly close together. This season (on Memorial Day weekend, at least), there were two prominent and widely separated tracks. The track closest to the shoreline (closest to the Calico Range) merged into the North Playa Access Road to take you onto Soldier Meadows Road. The track farthest from the shore line angles off to take you to Double Hot Springs.

This is different from what I observed last fall. At that time (last fall), the West Shore Playa Road was clearly one road and there was a clearly defined split where the playa road to Double Hot Springs separated from the playa road to the North Playa Access and Soldier Meadows Road.

This year the West Shore Playa Road and the Double Hot Playa Road seem to be two different, though parallel, roads. (To see map, CLICK HERE.)

When taking the West Shore Playa Road as a bypass of the Soldier Meadows Road, stay on or next to the track closest to the Calico Range.

When going to Double Hot Springs, find the track paralleling but east of the West Shore Playa Road. (You should be able to identify this track shortly after you get onto the playa at the 12-Mile Access, but I have not verified that.) Also watch for the marker that marks the split of the Double Hot Playa Road from the West Shore Playa Road (photo 91 in the guide). Bear east, toward the Black Rock Range, at that marker. Note that the Double Hot Playa Road was separated from the West Shore Playa Road by 0.3 miles at the marker. Watch for the marker and make sure you are on the right road when you reach it.

Not-So-Important Updates

The table of contents of the first edition starts on page iv, and two instances of "Contents (Continued)" appear under "Contents." One of the "Contents (Continued)" lines should be on page v, the other on page vi. Sorry about that. I wasn't using my fancy (and very expensive) software correctly.