Baker, Nevada & Gandy, Utah

We were here in April, but there was too much snow to be able to visit Wheeler Peak bristlecone pine grove at the top of the park.

Wheeler Peak Grove
The Wheeler Peak bristlecone pine grove, the most accessible grove in the park, is located on the northeast side of Wheeler Peak. It is unusual in that it grows on a glacial moraine consisting of quartzite boulders. Most groves grow on limestone or dolomite. The northeastern exposure of the Wheeler Peak grove is also unusual as most other groves have a generally southern or western exposure. The Wheeler Peak grove is reached by a 1.5 mile trail

The growth of most bristlecone pines is uniquely slow.  The wood is fine grained and resinous, - highly resistant to decay.  Instead of rotting, these trees are eroded and polished by the elements.  After death they may remain standing for thousands of years.

Reluctance to die
This 3000 year old remnant has been dead for 250 years.  It has two buttresses.  The one on the left died about 1100 A.D., the other continued growing for six more centuries.  This great reluctance to die is common among bristlecone pines.  They may cling to life for centuries after reaching old age.
Born: 1300 B.C.  -  Died: 1700 A.D.

Bristlecone pines are often confused with Limber pines. They can be found growing together at the same elevations. They are affected by the same erosional processes, and may look very similar with dead and twisted wood exposed.

A bristlecone's needles are about one inch long, and grow in packets of five. The needles completely surround the branches. The tightly-bunched tufts of needles may extend back a foot or more along the branch, giving the branch the appearance of a bottle brush.


Limber pine trees, on the other hand, have needles in packets of five that are 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, and grow only towards the ends of the branches. Also, the cones of the limber pine do not have bristles.

Glad we didn't meet this one on the road.  This is the largest oversized load we have seen.
This trailer is 125 feet long, 20 feet wide and has 48 tires.  With the cargo it's 18 feet tall.
It's been sitting here for a week while arrangements were made for State Troopers to escort them to Sparks, Nevada.

30 miles of improved county dirt road will bring you to Gandy, Utah.
Gandy Warm Springs is located less than 2 miles from Bates Family Ranch. The water is a perfect 81 degrees year-round. The spring flows from a cave and down beautiful waterfalls in the south end of Spring Mountain. It is literally an oasis in the desert!

Notice that our chairs are facing in different directions?  Today we didn't agree as to which was the best lunch view.  What do you think?
Dave's view

Cindy's view

The Bates Family Ranch is located in an extremely rural part of North West Millard County in Utah. That does not mean that there is nothing to do in the area.

They have rental cabins and dry camping available.
Dave picking an apple.

Crystal Ball Cave is  located in Gandy, Utah near Great Basin National Park and surrounded by the wonders of Utah's West Desert!

In 1956, while looking for lost sheep on Spring Mountain, George Simms noticed a hole in the ground. The sun was just coming up and illuminated the inside of the hole enough that he could see that it was very deep. He went back down the mountain and got his nephews and they explored the cave for the first time.  What he discovered was a cave like no other.  Crystal Ball Cave is a natural limestone cave.  We like to think of the cave as a giant Geode that you can walk through. The walls, ceiling and floor are covered in crystal!  Crystal Ball Cave is now under the control of The BLM but managed by the Bates Family through a public private partnership. If you like caves, we can guarantee that you will love this one. Trust us, its worth the drive.

Upon arriving at the Bates Family Ranch, they escort you farther down the dirt road and up the mountain.  Where you park and hike 1/4 mile up to the main entrance.


This round hole was the original entrance

This wagon wheel was used to secure the original entrance years ago

You used to have to slide down this ramp

There are no handrails or lighting in the cave.

An old ladder that the family used to use to climb into an upper level

This one is the only hollow one.  It makes the sound of "a flat" when she taps on it.

Tight quarters

The crystals light up when she shines the black light

In this section she holds her flashlight against the wall and when she removes it....

it glows for a short while.

A few bones found in the cave

Ancient horse foot

The Throne

You exit out the back door

View upon exiting the cave

The Bates Family also raises Cichlids.  They pipe the water in from the warm spring.

​Devils Gate Slot Canyon
Located just 6 miles from Bates Family Ranch and Crystal Ball Cave this slot canyon is carved through the marble in the desert floor.

Check out the large bird's nest over my head.

Evidence of times past.  The water had been harnessed at one time.