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Last Seen:
County Route 34 and High Rock Canyon Rd.
This marker is currently missing
Region
Northern
Signed
No signs exist for this marker
MISSING
This marker has been missing since 2000.
Exact Description
The presence of man from 3,000 B.C. to the gold-rush days is recorded on high canyon walls. Prehistoric man left his rockshelters, campsites, and petroglyphs in this historically rich, remote, volcanic area.
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Northern Paiute Indians roamed these lands when John C. Fremont first journeyed through high rock canyon in 1843. The Applegate brothers blazed their trail from Oregon through the canyon to the Humboldt River in 1846. Peter Lassen partially followed this route in 1848, and gold seekers crowded the trail in 1849.
Case number 149
Missing Since: 2000
Whereabouts
According the State Marker System:
"Located along County Route 34 and the BLM road to High Rock Canyon, Washoe County."
​The Instant Mishap of Marker 149
Oh, Marker 149. We miss you so. It's an added downright shame we'll probably never see you again. Unlike the other cases of MIAs, we know exactly the main cause behind its disappearance.
Take a look at any of the maps I've showcased here and you'll see the number one culprit behind the mishap of Marker 149. And dare we say: the SHPO should have known better. The marker's extremely remote location, completely void of people or any form of services, was its instant downfall.
The only hint of news we've heard regarding this case was reported in 2005 when a group of hunters came upon the remnants of the marker's base at the exact listed location above: "County Route 34 and the BLM road to High Rock Canyon."
Here's the deal.
The road headed for the High Rock turnoff - unpaved County Route 34 - is a rather walk in the park, but it's the area's isolation that separates it. Nevada's Northwest Corner, or what I refer to it as "The Forgotten Corner" is set far away from what most of America would dub as civilization. In fact it's one of the last pieces of unbroken desolation in the Lower 48, a lonely triangle beginning in the northeast California, southeast Oregon, and northern Nevada.
And let me say with the utmost pride that conquering, or even making the determined drive to confirm its disappearance, will require dedication and a long three-hour drive on the wide-graded dirt road into the great interior of this corner.
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The "Conquering" of 2009
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We launched from Gerlach on a cool May late morning in 2009 to make our "conquering" of Marker 149. This one was going to be a little different knowing that this marker was already long gone. Instead we set out to catalog the exact distance without a single diversion. In short, we needed to ensure a precise mileage for our records and future marker hunters.
Of course, any venture into Nevada's Northwest Corner is a venture well-wasted!
Once leaving the security of Gerlach, anybody new to the region will be immediately taken away by the area's sudden loneliness, a remote factor that grips you tight and doesn't let go. What makes #149 such a challenge to conquer will be the complete lack of services, gasoline, and cell phone coverage immediately upon leaving Gerlach, Winnemucca, or Cedarville - depending on which direction you're coming from.
Due to its isolation factor, it's highly doubtful this one will ever be replaced again. In fact the SHPO has listed on their website that "this marker is missing," without any indication of its possible reappearance. Check out the journey we made into the Northwest Corner for our conquering of Marker 162 here. If you'd like to tackle your own journey, we need to advise all marker hunters to take all the regular precautions for lonely desert travel. Perhaps this adage applies better to this area than anywhere else in Nevada:
You are on your own ... as is this marker!​​​​​
Street View
As unlikely as it is we'll ever see Marker 149 again, we've come up with a few possible strategies we've analyzed to replace this marker. There's no easy recommendation for this one because even the SHPO has deemed this one a complete loss to the system. Even though the location for Marker 149 is nothing short of incredible, the same extreme remoteness that makes this location awesome paradoxically seals its fate as a forever MIA.
The entirety of the Northwest Corner has a total population of less than 200 people (2020 census). Deputy Sheriffs from both Washoe and Humboldt Counties make a run up there only once a month thereby solidifying any lack of possible "lookouts" for marker vandalism. As long as it's located so far away from major services, it's fair to assume that any type of replacement for Marker 149 would likely mean a repeat of the past. Marker 162, for example, is equally remote, but this one still stands because of the watchful eyes of the nearby Soldier Meadows Ranch. Unfortunately (or fortunately), any replacement for Marker 149 needs to be closer to civilization.
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1. County Route 34 End of Pavement
Our personal recommendation!
The pavement's end of County Route 34 is a strategic one and definitely the safest spot we have for a new Marker 149. It's pretty much considered the "last chance" in this neck of the woods. Locals, ranch owners, and rural postal workers, often use this location as a rural meeting spot. Think of the end of pavement as a gateway into the Northwest Corner. From this point onward, you're on your own.
The pavement's end for CR 34 (40.873206, -119.342867) is located approximately 21 miles north of Gerlach. This is what you'll see.
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This dirt pullout could realistically be the best home for a replacement of Marker 149. Yes, this location is still incredibly remote, but nowhere near as isolated as the junction with High Rock Canyon Road. This pullout sees daily regulars and deputy sheriffs use this as a quick pullaround.
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2. Soldier Meadows Road Junction
This one is a tad closer to Gerlach than the last. This is an important crossroads for the region that's frequented enough to see regular lookouts, especially officials from the BLM.
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3. Soldier Meadows Campground
This fairly occupied campground just south of the Soldier Meadows Ranch is the most historically accurate location, but it does run the risk of vandalism. However, the campground is occupied enough and frequented regularly by the BLM, so shenanigans will be seen, though, marker maintenance could be an issue for this one.
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The campground and hot spring sits on the High Rock Canyon Road, just thirty miles shy of its namesake destination. Getting to the campground is a breeze for any vehicle, but any travel further on this road over into High Rock will require a hefty four-wheel-drive and plenty of essentials!
Do not risk a breakdown out here!
Placement of the marker would offer an appealing backdrop of the High Rock Range along with essential overnight services and the safety net of civilization in this remote nook.
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4. Old Yella Dog Ranch - Vya
This is by far the most remote possibility we have here and runs a 50-50 chance of meeting the same fate. However, we've listed because of the existence of this single year-round ranch and services.
My proposal places this replacement right across from the Old Yella Dog Ranch in Vya. The extreme remote placement of this marker is a perfect backdrop, and may we say almost obligatory, for this marker's content. Why Vya? Vya acts as the only outpost in this area, so this placement guarantees easy visibility and accessibility for the marker in this very remote region. Most importantly, a seasonal Washoe County Sheriff headquarters is located here which would further protect the marker from vandalism (which tends to be the case with Nevada's most rural markers).
Getting to Vya is no easy feat and will require a half-day trip minimum from Reno! You can get to Vya on County Route 34: a trip that'll take about four hours alone from Gerlach. You can alternatively reach it by taking the fast route of US 395 through California to Cedarville on CA 299, then seven miles east back into Nevada. This route will only take you about six hours from Reno.
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Either way, this new replacement would make Marker 149 the most isolated marker in the system, making it farthest away from any significant town in Nevada. ​​​​​​
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What do you think?
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If you have any more information regarding - 149 - HIGH ROCK CANYON we ask that you please contact me or the State Historic Preservation Office at
(775)684-3448 as soon as possible.
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Let's get this marker back to the people and/or the justice it deserves!
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572 miles
Next Stop:
Glendale
Total Mileage to Nevada's First State Park
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