Water is scarce in Nevada,...
Water is scarce in Nevada, but the vegetation is a good indication of where water can be found. This stand of aspen trees was starting to change color as summer transitioned to autumn.
Time was limited on Thursday afternoon, so the group took an easy drive south of Elko to Lamoille Canyon. Nestled within the heart of the Ruby Mountains, Lamoille Canyon was filled with spectacular views of jagged peaks, peaceful streams, and the deep hues of the autumn aspen leaves. From there, everyone met at Red's Ranch in the town of Lamoille for dinner. With a full bar, country-style dinner featuring a whole roast pig, and live country music by David John and the Comstock Cowboys, no one was disappointed. It was the perfect combination of Old West, cowboy country feel and upscale elegance that discriminating Hummer owners desire.
On Friday morning we headed north to Double Mountain with John Pappenfort and a small, capable group of vehicles. Once again, we covered a lot of ground; however, unlike the aspen groves and fall colors witnessed on the previous two days, Double Mountain featured typical Nevada sage and endless vistas. Many of those views passed us in a blur, however, since Pappenfort took the opportunity to introduce the joys of prerunning to the more seasoned Hummer owners. Travelling at 60 mph might not seem very fast on the freeway, but it is a whole different story when piloting a 7,000-pound vehicle at that speed down a dirt road into hairpin turns. From there we returned to Elko where newly made friends gathered at the Folk Life Center to hear cowboy poetry, an art form unique to the rural West. Cowboy poetry does not have any defined scheme or structure; it is defined simply by subject matter.
Saturday morning the remaining participants gathered for breakfast one last time, exchanging contact information and making plans for future four-wheeling excursions. Those still in need of a greater challenge headed out on an "unsanctioned" run to the Broken Bones trail, while others headed home. One dilemma Hummer owners face by owning a purpose-built vehicle is that they often have a hard time integrating into local, Jeep-based, four-wheel-drive clubs. The Hummer Roundup gives these people an opportunity to wheel with their peers, in similar vehicles. And with plenty of trails available from short to long, scenic to challenging, the inaugural Elko Hummer Roundup was an overwhelming success.