SideXSide Action - April 2008 - (Page 26)

end. Bob and I made our final approach to the ranch down a very steep hill where, by using the Ranger’s low gear, we hardly even needed the brakes. Again, I was impressed with the large spread as we passed under the Soldier Meadows arch. How lucky they are to live in such a beautiful area, and how lucky Bob is to have such an awesome (though sometimes challenging) commute! I’m jealous, aren’t you? The lodge is available for rent yearround, and it books up quickly. Going to the grocery store is a three hour round-trip, so planning ahead is always a good idea! This is a perfect spot to take your Side X Side on an historic trip down the Applegate/Lassen Trail where the wagon wheel ruts are still visible. Pan for gold; dig for opals; find agates, geodes, and petrified wood. See opal mines, petroglyphs, rock formations, wild flowers, wild animals, and more. There is so much exploring it would take months to cover everything, probably years! If you are a hunter, bring your Side X Side and go hunting for big horn sheep, antelope, deer, and chukar. And don’t forget to end your day on the trail by soaking in the natural hot springs that are the temperature of bath water. The options are endless, the adventures are endless, and the choices are yours. It is dark before 6 p.m. when someone rings the dinner bell. What a spread: tri-tip, potatoes, beans, salad, bread, and, of course, two kinds of dessert. All of the guests, cowboys, and ranch hands gather again around the tables, this time filling the air with laughter and stories of the day. They plan for the next day and finish dinner, scraping their plates into the pig’s bucket and piling the dishes around the sink. Afterward, everyone moves to different areas in the main house before retiring to their respective rooms in one of the bunk houses. The guests head toward the living room where there are two fireplaces burning to ward off the cold. The cowboys and ranch hands go straight outside where they have a campfire of their It may look freezing cold, but this natural hot spring is actually warmer than your average bath. It’s a great place to relax after a long day’s work (Top). Bob’s weathered face and hands tell almost as many stories as he does (Top Left). From one machine to another, preserving springs is a tough job. Luckily, equipment like this is around to make it easier (Top Right). own with the sweet smell of burning oak. The trees are thick around the main house, but with the fall leaves rustling in the slight breeze you can look up to see the full moon and brilliant stars glistening in the otherwise dark sky. Remote Living: Contact Soldier Meadows Ranch and Lodge Jim and Kathy Kurdnas www.soldiermeadows.co m soldier@hughes.net 775-849-1666 26 SIDE X SIDE ACTION MAGAZINE Communication at the ranch is slim to none. Being in one of the most remote areas in Nevada, satellite phones and satellite internet is their only form of communication to the outside world. Satellite phones are mobile phones that communicate directly with orbiting communications satellites. A satellite phone handset is comperable in size and weight to that of a late 1980’s or early 1990’s mobile phone, but usually with a large retractable antenna. The cost of making calls from a satellite phone is usually quite high, and calling them from landlines and regular mobile phones is equally expensive. Rates from landlines and mobile phones range from $3 to $14 per minute. Making calls between different satellite phone networks is also expensive with calling rates of up to $15 per minute. http://www.soldiermeadows.com http://www.soldiermeadows.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SideXSide Action - April 2008

SideXSide Action - April 2008 Contents Mailbox News Tips & Tricks Race Interview Next: Bobcat Soldier Meadows Win a Rhino CORR Season Wrap Up Race Year in Review Built For It: Rath Racing Prowler Product Review Shock Adjustments Tech: CDI & ECU Boxes Company Spotlight: Legend Off-Road Wheel Buyers Guide SXS Shoot-Out Gallery Shot New Products On The Go Photo

SideXSide Action - April 2008

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