Transvaal
 Overview of Trail | |
| Trail in Google Maps | |
|---|---|
| creator: | Tim France (nvprospector) |
| Dates: | March 20, 2011 |
| Distance: | 11.45 miles |
| Trail time: | 1 hour |
| Difficulty (1-5): | 2.0 |
| Vehicle classes: | Stock 4WD AWD Small/medium dualsport Moto ATV High Clearance 2WD |
Photos
Location details
Southwestern United States, Southern Nevada, Nye County, Yucca Mountain, Beatty Wash, Beatty
Summary
Route through the Bare Mountain Mining District by way of the Beatty Wash.
Detailed description
The trail starts north of Beatty and is accessed off the US 95. The trail through Beatty Wash is easy going and does not require 4wd. There are areas of deep gravel and in a couple areas of the wash there are boulders in the wash that will require some slow navigation to get through.
Terrain type / brush factor
Non-maintained town supply routes; small boulders and loose gravel
Low brush factor
Permits? Fees? Seasonal closures?
There are no vehicle requirements or permits. The Beatty Wash trail is not maintained and it is up to the driver to determine if the trail conditions are suitable to drive. The trail to Transvaal is maintained by local miners. Please respect these roads.
Attendees (vehicles/people)
Toyota Tacoma / Tim France / (nvprospector)
Jeep Rubicon / Tim Hooper / (none)
History, geology, etc.
In February 1906, George Probasco found gold east of Oasis Valley in the Beatty Wash that assayed $182 a ton. Probasco named the new area Transvaal after the famous mining district in South Africa which means “across the river.” For this new discovery means the same thing – across the Amargosa River from Beatty and Rhyolite.
In March 1906 there was a gold rush to the new area and a tent camp soon formed. As usual for any camp the refreshment people arrived in advanced of the dry goods and grocery merchants. During April 1906, the camp acquired about 75 tents and businesses which included a assay office, saloons, lumberyard, boarding house and several other businesses along with a floating population of 800 people. Transvaal had two weekly newspapers. Clemens created the Transvaal Tribune, which he printed at his Herald Plant in Rhyolite. Shortly after Nicklin started the Transvaal miner. Nicklin printed his paper in Rhyolite by running off extra editions of the Beatty Miner but under a different master head. There where two daily stages that ran from Beatty to Transvaal every day at a fare of five dollars. The Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad even began making plans to build a six-mile spur line to the camp.
By the second week of May 1906, it was found that the initial discoveries where surface rock and contained little valuable ore the further the mines went down. By the end of the month, everyone was gone. Nothing remains except some lumber, can dumps, a few markings where tests may have been and mine dumps.
Even though there is nothing left of the site, the drive through the Beatty Wash is one that can’t be passed up. There are a lot trails and mines in the area to explore.
General considerations
All services are available in Beatty. The site is close enough to Las Vegas that it can be an easy day trip with a nice picnic when you arrive. There is cell service in some of flats, but when up in the canyon there is no cell phone service. You are able to reach a open 2 meter repeater; 146.64 (-) WB7WTS Montezuma Park/Goldfield – W central NV coverage. The repeater that is used by NHP and Nye County Sheriff’s is on the same tower so it rarely goes down.
Resources/links
GPS units/laptops used for tracking/navigation: ASUS EEE PC; GPS puck attached to computer; DeLorme PN-40 (backup in case of hard drive crash)
Navigation software used for planning/navigation: Oziexplorer
Books/maps used for planning: Rhyolite Bullfrog Miner. Numerous issues
Rhyolite Herald. Numerous issues
Beatty Miner, Numerous issues
Important waypoints as coordinates
Trailhead name: 36.943794, -116.718598
Important turns:
36.943760, -116.715891
36.942760, -116.715529
36.940161, -116.714367
36.992373, -116.606020
37.010243, -116.596252
37.009158, -116.594107
37.010040, -116.592301
37.015290, -116.588015
