Sand Springs to Simpson Summit gravel-startThe start of the road from US 50, heading west, is wide and well-gradedranch-road-entranceEntrance to the ranch road just west of US 50.mucky-tubTubs like this, filled with muck like this, appear along the road at the beginning of this stretchnorth-to-fourmile-flatLooking north from the ranch road toward Fourmile Flatsplit-to-fourmile-roadFork in the road (facing north). Left stays along the Cocoon Mountains; right leads to the road along the western edge of Fourmile FlatXP MarkerPony Express markerxp-sign-at-riseAs I've mentioned before, it's always comforting to see one of these BLM XP Trail signsgeothermal-plantGeothermal plant near Simpson Passsimpson-xp-signPony Express sign on the XP Trail below Simpson Passsimpson-pass-historical-markerNevada State Historical Marker just before the last section to Simpson pass. How many people even see this in a year?simpson-pass-sandDeep sand at the base of the last ascent to Simpson Passsimpson-pass-eastView east from Simpson Pass, with Sand Mountain in the background (middle-left)sand-to-simpson-passLooking back at the tracks I made in the sand coming up to Simpson Passrock-springsRock Springs was bone dry when I was there in late October.no-roadThough there is a road along the west edge of Fourmile Flat marked on maps, in reality, it is not always so clear to seeraised-roadbedA few parts of the road along the Flat are raised, as shown here. I doubt this would make riding any easier if the roadbed were wet.greeneryA surprising sprout of plant life on the edge of Fourmile Flatroute-connectionMy map said this was a road connecting the XP Trail with the Fourmile Flat road. I didn't take it.ohv-dustDust from OHVs is easy to spot on this windless day. I am in the Flat; they are on the XP Trail.tracks-and-sand-mountainRiding in tire ruts makes for easier going across this dry lake bed. With luck, you might even be able to follow tracks all the way to US 50.
