Between 32,000 and 16,800 years ago, the land that would later become Utah was covered by an ancient freshwater sea. The existence and disappearance of Lake Bonneville literally shaped the topography of western Utah. Its signature is prolifically etched throughout the eastern Great Basin.
I grew up exploring the mountains and deserts of Utah- essentially navigating the islands in and the floor of Lake Bonneville- hence “BonnevilleMariner.”
From it’s pristine mountain lakes to vast seas of desert, my part of the West is brimming with history and natural wonders. It’s a land largely untouched by human progress- where ancient petroglyphs grace sandstone walls and ghost towns dot the valleys.
I’ve passed many a night sitting by a small fire in the wilderness- with good friends, family, or just alone. To me, happiness is a backpack and an old, dusty trail. I’m the guy who gleefully hikes miles and miles toward an unknown destination, certain that something incredible must be just around the next bend.
I’m older now. I have a gut, a mortgage, a family, and a couple jobs. I don’t get out like I used to, but I do when I can. Much of my exploring these days takes place in books, on the Web or the occasional business trip. If I were rich, I’d buy one or two of everything at REI and travel the globe.
Many self-styled adventurers do just that. I’m envious of them sometimes when I see them on the cover of Outside Magazine or buying $300 hiking boots. But there’s something today’s average outdoors bum lacks. You see, the pioneers that blazed those trails weren’t care-free peak baggers. The original outdoorsmen had more on their mind than geocaching when they mapped the frontier. Nature was less a tourist attraction than a backdrop for a life marked by trials and steeped in a struggle to survive.
Nature is best viewed through the prism of history and culture. That’s what this website intends to do- mountains, trails, swamps, seas, deserts, and Americana. I don’t pretend to be an expert on anything. I only wish to be your guide through places and times that interest me. And I invite you to share your adventures here.
To contact me or to submit a story, write me:
bonnevillemariner at gmail dot com
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May 6, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Hello,
I’m looking for ghost town enthusiasts who would be able to talk to me about an AP article on ghost towns. Would you consider yourself to be in this category or would you be able to recommend anyone who would make a good subject for my article?
Thanks,
Heather Clark
The Associated Press
Albuquerque, NM
May 6, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Heather, I have sent you an email about this.
Clint
July 29, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I love your site. The ghost town stories are fabulous and reading them made me want to pick up and head out west for an adventure vacation! I, too, have long been intrigued by abandoned towns – there are fewer out here on the east coast, however. Hopefully soon I’ll get out west. Keep up the great job with your stories!
February 18, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Love the sight and I enjoy your articles on the Tooele paper. I have a couple questions about Horseshoe springs and the Skull valley area. I want to take a group of scouts out there camping but have never spent a lot of time out there. Where are some good spots to camp? Right at Horseshoe springs? How bad are the roads right now do we need 4 wheel drive to get out there in March?
Thanks!
Mark
February 19, 2009 at 5:09 am
Mark, thanks so much for reading! There are a lot of spots out there- most of them in the same general area of Horseshoe Springs. If you’d like to try there, just take the Rowley/Dugway exit and drive until you see the sign. It’s crowded on the weekends. A lot of scout groups.
I’d recommend there, or you could try just south of Lone Rock. If you pull it up on Google Maps, there’s a fairly wide dirt road that branches west off of Skull Valley Road just south of the rock. You can camp anywhere along that road.
The roads will be fairly muddy. 4WD is recommended, but you might be fine in a 2WD unless you’re planning on driving up slops. Luckily, most of the best spots are just off the main road and on flat ground.
Id recommend staying in the north end of Skull Valley. Don’t try White Rocks or anything down south. Stay off of the mud flats- you’re guaranteed to get stuck.
Bring your fishing poles and spinning bait for the springs, and have fun!
November 20, 2009 at 11:40 pm
The things you have said about hiking in the desert remind me of my dad. He loved hiking and exploring and for several years I tagged along with him. I am going to have siblings in town for Thanksgiving and we want to do a John Morgan memorial hike. We have kids of all ages. We want to go to lone rock and horseshoe springs because of the time we spent there as children with our parents. We grew up in Salt Lake and I think I can find the way from I-80. However, I now live in Saratoga Springs. I know to go west on SR 73, but where do I go from there? Can you tell me anything about the length of the drive so we can leave early enough to get there and back in time for turkey.
November 24, 2009 at 5:47 pm
I apologize for the delayed reply, Elizabeth. You’re correct- just drive south around the mountains on SR-73, hang a left on on SR-36 and a right on SR-199. Follow that up through Johnson Pass and Terra, then out to Skull Valley Road. One suggestion, though: unless you have a lot of time on your hands and really want to see Tooele County’s backcountry, I’d just take the I-15/I-80 route. I’d estimate about 2.5 hours via the back route and only 1.25 on the freeways. Let me know how it goes!
November 24, 2009 at 8:47 am
I admire what you have done here. It is good to see you verbalise from the heart and your clarity on this important subject can be easily observed. Tremendous post and will look forward to your future update.