Next morning, we were reluctant to leave our spectacular camp spot high on the ancient spit overlooking the Carson Sink. Eventually dragging ourselves away, we descended the steep road back to lakebed level and visited more old beaches along the Stillwater Range, notably at Grimes Canyon, where the road ascended a staircase constructed of old beaches. We then braced ourselves to tackle the sand dune barrier separating us from the vast Carson Sink playa. The road across the dunes was primitive at best, and the GMC got stuck in the sand, but eventually we all made it to the dry lakebed. It was eerie to think of this ground being under 500 feet of water not so very long ago!
 

Camping at Cox Benchmark, an ancient beach spit overlooking the Carson Sink (Left)	The dunes left behind by the ancient lake had to be crossed on a crude road to get to the Carson Sink Playa beyond

To skirt the naval bombing range in the middle of the playa, we had to cross many more miles of bare lake bottom before reaching terra firma at the foot of the West Humboldt Range. I managed to find the 4WD “road” across the playa marked on the map, but it kept disappearing, so we had to take to the bare playa after the style used in modern automobile advertisements. The difference is that this playa was seldom visited by anyone, and was nowhere near as level and predictable as the Black Rock Desert, for example. So, we had to rely on Marvin’s instincts, developed during years of training in the Black Rock, to find us a path where we might not sink in. Those of us who had viewed the video of his daring assaults on the snow-covered road to the viewpoint above Black Rock Point were not reassured that we would again see terra firma, but we stuck together and finally reached the northwest “shore” of the Sink, formed by the lower slopes of the remote West Humboldt Range.

Greeting us here was a spectacular view of the steps cut into the Range by wave action as the ancient lake stabilized at successively lower levels after reaching its peak. An extremely steep and ancient 4WD mining road which had not been used for many years climbed this “staircase” to the top of the range, and several of the vehicles needed a tug to surmount a particularly gnarly “step”. Concern arose about potential damage to the GMC that could result from continuing, so camp was made for the night at an intermediate plateau about halfway up the staircase.
 

Crossing the Carson Sink Playa Towards the West Humboldt Range	Ancient Beach Spit, West Humboldt Range Note horizontal wave-cut beach lines on side of hill

By now the daily camping routine was becoming established, with each participant utilizing his own idiosyncratic solution. Jay and David slept in collapsible “tent cots”, which kept out the elements as well as the mosquitoes. Marvin had his classic “Oregon Trail” rooftop tent, while Lynn slept in his permanent bunk in his vehicle. Joe and Sally alternated between a tent and the open air, depending on the weather, while I luxuriated inside my vehicle with one of the back seats folded down. Providing amusement for the gathered throngs was the rest of my Range Rover routine including the evening shower and dressing for dinner before the obligatory round of margaritas and finger snacks. That night a storm appeared, but fortunately held off long enough for dinner to be completed.