Top Ten Things To Do In Snake Valley

A few years back I wrote up a list of the Top Ten Things To Do in Snake Valley. Today, while I was doing an Internet search for some information, I came across it. It was on the Protect Snake Valley website, so I should have remembered it was there, but alas, my memory doesn't always work. (One benefit of not having a properly functioning memory is that when I do come across something I did in the past, I get pretty excited!)

A couple of the items needed some updating, so I made them more pertinent today. (And no, the list doesn't include cow tipping, just in case you were wondering if the photo above had anything to do with this post.)

If you live in Snake Valley, take a look at the list and let me know if you have something you would put on the Top Ten list that I don't have (and what you would take off, since a Top Eleven list just doesn't sound that cool).

If you're not from Snake Valley, hopefully the list will help you figure out how to spend your time while you're visiting this sweet part of the world. And if it whets your appetite, I'll soon be posting about how you can really learn a lot more about our desert abode.

Top Ten Things To Do in Snake Valley

JLENS in Snake Valley

The illustration above is what's been tested north of Snake Valley, with giant aerostats about three-quarters of a football field long hovering up in the air, tethered to a mobile mooring station. These aerostats are supporting radar to try and detect incoming missiles (or in this case, drones). This is based at Dugway Proving Ground, and has recently been in the press because the FAA denied the launching pad near EskDale and told Dugway they would have to fly the drones south from Dugway into Snake Valley, turn them around, and have them fly back.

You can find more in this Millard County Chronicle article.

Also, the day after public meetings, the Pentagon released a draft 2013 budget with the curtailment of the JLENS project. It's interesting to read about the JLENS project from a different point of view: the Defense Industry Daily. They include how much money has already been spent on the JLENS project.

Upcoming Snake Valley Events

Ready for some fun this summer and don't want to travel too far? Fortunately, there's lots going on right here in Snake Valley!

In addition to Tuesdays at the community center in Baker, Ladies' lunches every other Thursday, jam sessions Friday nights at T&D's, we have some extra events to look forward to.

The Great Basin Astronomy Festival will be June 14-16, with over 40 astronomers coming to help lead park visitors into the cosmos via a variety of programs. This astronomy festival keeps getting bigger and better, and is a great opportunity to learn more about what we can see from our fantastic night skies.

The Snake Valley Festival will be June 15-17, with a wide variety of events from an ice cream social, wine tasting, breakfast, parade, booths, yard sale, entertainment, silent auction, barbeque dinner, water fight, music, auction, 5K run, children's games, book sale, and much more. The schedules of the two festivals for the third weekend in June are being planned so that attendees will be able to do a lot of activities at each one, so it's a wonderful time to be in Snake Valley.

The fourth annual BioBlitz at Great Basin National Park will focus on Diptera-flies. It will be held June 19-21, so extend your stay to learn more about the area. Join entomologists, naturalists, and enthusiasts from all over the U.S. to help find what flies live in the national park. Over the past few years, six fly species new to science have been found. You could possibly find another one! The park is providing free camping to participants during the event.

Fourth of July at EskDale is always a great event, with yummy food, entertainment, and fireworks with close-up seating. Want to get an early start that morning? Sign up for the 5k/10k/half marathon!

Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, September 1, is the Snake Valley Days Barbeque and Dance. This event has been held since the 1960s and is a great way to reconnect with Snake Valley friends.

Snake Valley may not have a lot of residents, but we know how to have fun! Join us for these fun events, and check out the calendar on the side of the Protect Snake Valley blog to keep up to date with what's coming up. If you have events to add, please leave a comment!

2012 Sheepherders' Party-Open Mike

 Last night was the open mike part of the Sheepherders' Party, hosted at the Border Inn. It was a grand old time, with lots of entertaining stories, poems, and music.

 Kenning from the Mountain West Digital Library mentioned that they are willing to archive photographs, videos, and documents that help capture the spirit of the West. You can already find some great information there, like some oral histories collected by the Great Basin National Heritage Area, a co-sponsor of the Sheepherder's Party.

 Hank Vogler was an outstanding emcee once again.

 Dave entertained us with some excellent guitar playing and singing.

 Now he's got some helpers!

 Kelly recited an entertaining poem.

 Jack had a couple of poems, including one that was written decades ago about Garrison.

 John's humor spread through the crowd.

 Scott told stories about nearby Tule Valley.

 Melanie sang a song for us.

 Lane shared a story about a bad winter. I can't imagine how lonely it must be to be out in the middle of the desert with only the sheep to keep you company!

 Lee recalled a story of pulling a VW through Snake Valley.

 Lois gave us a taste of what life was like with a family out in the desert. Her story of wash day, with the need to split the wood, warm the water, wash the kids, wash the dirty cloth diapers, string a line up somewhere for them to dry, hang up the diapers, unfreeze the diapers, wash some more diapers, hang up more diapers, then find the horses all tangled up in the line and all the freshly washed diapers down in the manure so the whole process had to be repeated, brought tears to my eyes. I don't think I would be that tough to do all that!

 Andy had a poem to share and also invited everyone to the new Great Basin Visitor Center. Although it's usually closed in winter, it will be open from 10-2 on Saturday.

Denys, who started this wonderful tradition, made some closing remarks and then reminded everyone of the schedule for Saturday, which includes a sourdough pancake breakfast, documentary, music, dinner, and more music. It should be a great day!

To see photos and video from past years at the Sheepherders' Party, click here.

Clase de Espanol

La Valle de los Serpientes pueden ser un lugar muy interesante. Hay una variedad de cosas para hacer. Para seis semanas, algunas personas van a aprender espanol, una noche cada semana. Es una buen pasatiempo para pasar el invierno. Las clases incluyen pronunciacion, gramatica, cultura, canciones, y mas. Es todo por ahora. !Hasta luego!

Road Art Renaissance?

 I noticed some new road art yesterday and put on the brakes. I love road art--it's a great way to express our ingenuity and humor. To read about the origins of road art along the Cave Road in Snake Valley, click here. And here's a post with more road art.

Above is a nice play on Rowland Springs--Rollin' Springs.

 This one says Bristlecone.

 I really like how the beads make the water sparkle as it comes out of the bucket.

 Rollin' Ranch isn't a new one, but I haven't photographed it before. It's nicely executed.

Here's a cute beetle. There's still more, but at this point I noticed a hissing sound from the truck, which turned out to be a punctured tire. We had to skedaddle. I'll be back, though!

Seeing this new road art made we wonder if it's time to put more up. Once upon a time there was road art all along the Cave Road, making the drive so fun. One friend suggested we should have a Road Art Renaissance. I heartily agree. What do you think?

Sheepherders' Party Coming Soon

Sheep are back in Snake Valley, making their winter rounds. That means it's time for the Sheepherders' Party! The ninth annual Old Sheepherders' Party will be held at the Border Inn on January 20 & 21.

Here's the schedule:
Friday, Jan 20: Arrive and visit
5 pm (NV): Border Inn Appreciation Dinner (for sheepherders, sheep owners, and others in the sheep business)
7 pm: Open mike program

Saturday, Jan 21
7 am: Breakfast buffet with Dave Okelberry serving up yummy sourdough pancakes ($8.95)

10 am: Documentary "Sweet Grass" done by Wyoming PBS

2:30 pm: The Red Hill Rangers in concert

5 pm: Lamb and Beef Roast dinner served Basque family style ($25 RSVP to 775-234-7300)

7 pm: The Sheepherders' Ball featuring Kirk Hoggard and his Silver Sage Band

Sunday, January 22
Sheepherders' non-denominational church service conducted by Kirk Hoggard.


If you'd like to see what happened other years at the sheepherders' party and read an article by Denys Koyle, who started it, click here.