Road Block Canyon
Road Block Canyon is on the way to Freedom Ridge, the former legal
viewing spot for Area 51. The road block was caused by the camo dudes
dynamiting the cliff nearby. If you have a serious monster truck, you can drive
past the road block. For the rest of us, park nearby and walk to the warning
signs.
Here is a photo of the same area in Oct 2007. I think the previous
photo was from 2000 or earlier. Some of the road block has been
removed, though you might still have problems with some SUVs crossing
the mess the camo dudes left.
These cliffs are the source of the debris to block the road. I wonder if they
got a permit to blow up the rocks? We don't need no stinkin' permits!
The end of the line, marked by the warning signs. So close, and yet so far
away.
The signs have been stolen or removed by the base in the October
2007 visit. The only warning devices are the orange poles, only
one of which can be seen approaching the border. Look for one at the
left of the photograph.
The electronic surveillance devices are different as well, but due to
backlighting, the latest photos are not very good. To be revisited....
GPS information
NOTE: While this is a guide, you are on your own. You get stuck, well,
thems the breaks. Be prepared to do some walking, because nobody will
help you. If you cross the border, there is no defense the judge will
accept. Did I mention you are on your own? Do you have water? Food?
Decent footwear for walking. [I have to mention that because I've seen
women arrive in flip-flops. Doh!] Spare tire? A pump? Did I mention you
are on your own?
Directions: From the ET Highway or Mail Box Road, get onto Groom Lake
Road (AKA "51 Road" on some navigation systems). Head west. i.e.
towards the non-existent base..
Turn left at waypoint "Rbstart". In less than 4/10ths of a mile, you
will see the road branch, where the better path is to the right. If you
are following the trail on a GPS, this should be a no-brainer. [Take
note of this area because on the way back you want to turn left and
avoid the bad part of the road, which is not visible until you are on
it. Again, if you are following a GPS
trail, this should be automatic. The waypoint "Rbgoleft" is there to
remind you on the way back to turn left.] Stay on the road until you
reach "Rbpark", about 3 miles. This location can hold two vehicles.
Maybe three if you don't mind blocking the road. [It is possible the
ranch hands may want to use this road to retrieve cattle, so blocking
even a remote road like this is not recommended.] At this point, you
can
either walk the remaining 3/10ths of a mile, or drive over the
roadblock
all the way to the T intersection. If you break down, don't expect
the base to save your ass, so I suggest parking. I also suggest
a big stick should you need to dissuade any wildlife. As of this
writing, the warning signs are stolen. Don't go past the orange
posts. The GPS file has the waypoints of a few of these posts, probably
good to about 4ft accuracy. The waypoints are "Rbcop1" through
"Rbcop5".
Obviously, use your eyes, and not the GPS, to detect the
orange border posts.
When hiking near the border, the rule is to have two of the orange
posts in view. This is to prevent accidental border crossing at
corners. Occasionally the orange post is replaced by a silver ball on a post. This is to aid the base security chopper.
road_block.gpx Use to upload to map program or gps.
road_block.kmz This should open up in google earth.