Encounter on the Extraterrestrial Highway

About four years ago I rode home to Salt Lake City from Las Vegas on the Extraterrestrial Highway. This road in Nevada is about 98 miles long and starts about 100 miles North East of Las Vegas. My story:

I was headed North on Highway 375 at 11pm after spending time at the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel Nevada. Rachel has a population of 53 and the inn, the only business, is run by a mother and son duo. If you're thinking of going there, plan your fuel stops. For, there's no gas to be had once you've hit Rachel, not 'till Ely. And, trust me, there's not much out there in the dessert if you need something. If you want to camp in Rachel, bar staff will say “yes” if you merely ask.

So, I'm cruising at 60 MPH on my Harley Tri-glide and feeling good. It was a beautiful warm night and no one else was to be seen on the road (as I like it). Suddenly, headlights came up fast behind me at approximately 100 MPH. I slowed to let them pass. But, the lights disappeared. About 10 minutes later, the lights came up on me faster, at about 200 MPH, and I again slowed. After slowing to follow me for a minute, the lights pulled right up on me, then turned East and went out into the dessert. The lights then disappeared.

Now, I'm a regular attendee of the Bonneville Salt Flat speed trials, held every year on the Western Salt Flats of Utah every Fall. And, I've become fairly proficient at determining speeds across the dessert. I know of no vehicle, no matter what it's size or cost, that can go across open dessert at high speed. If you've seen the sagebrush desserts of Utah and Nevada, you know they're not flat at all. There's brush and insect mounds across it. It's bumpy land.

Thanks for listening. FWIW, I'm not into UFO stuff. And, I doubt most UFO stories I hear. Yet, I cannot explain what I saw out on the dessert that night. It's OK if others doubt me – I'm not here to convince you of UFO's. I just know I saw something that seemed to defy what I think most vehicles can physically do.

Hunter

Flying, rolling or levitating we'll just call it an Unexplained Speedy Object...Personally, I believe that the pinnacle of scientific achievement is not to be found native to this planet...Judging from the folks I see around me, and those I read about in the news, there's bound to be smarter beings somewhere...:zoom:...Ben

Sounds like some good acid.......

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Originally Posted by Phillbo

Sounds like some good acid.......

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Yes - I'm sure it would be.

I've never had what I would call weird experiences biking. And, that's after spending many nights camping in the dessert alone (on BLM lands). My nephew and I will do the Pony Express Trail this Summer - the 100 mile dirt section that goes from Fairfield to Ibapah (a Ute Indian reservation in the West Dessert). It's the same route Mark Twain took to California and we will stop at a pass a young Army Officer named Dwight D. Eisenhower camped at when surveying freeway routes to California. There's a lot of interesting things to see out there in the dessert.

Hunter

I have some fairly extensive experience regarding the area that Utah has mentioned and I have spent many hours in and around and that area. It's rather late when I first saw his post. I'm extremely intrigued by what he has said and will share more information tomorrow morning at some point.

Bill, did the lights following you appear to be on the paved highway behind you or off to a side in the open desert. Did they appear to be on the surface or hovering above? Were they two lights such as a normal vehicle or some other configuration/color? How did like lose visibility?

You said on another thread this was close to Area 51...how close? Anyone riding with you?

We have thought about driving out to Bonneville speed week as it sounds different and unique, With Wendover being the closest town is that where people stay & I'm sure it's booked full far in advance.

Any tips, hints or tricks of the trade in attending the speed week & can anybody enter a car if you just want to play around and see how fast it is?

Let me begin by saying that I wish it were someone other than you saying that---I could dismiss it easier :dunno:

Now, for the Pony Express Trail. One of so many wonderful days spent exploring Utah while I lived there was spent on the Trail.

I got on the trail at Camp Floyd and headed west--with no good expectations of what to expect. I think it might have been spring because the desert was alive with flora of all kinds. I was seemingly the only one on the trail in most places and so viewing at the "stops" along the way were enjoyable in their solitude.

It wasn't until I got to the western end that I began seeing signs of civilization. At Gold Hill there is an abandoned gold mine --more correctly a formally abandoned gold mine because there was a small community of squatters there apparently in search of their dreams and riches.

Whenever I immerse myself in history I try to put myself in the position of those who lived it---and that was easily done on the trail---it was a grand day!

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Originally Posted by wacojoe

Bill, did the lights following you appear to be on the paved highway behind you or off to a side in the open desert. Did they appear to be on the surface or hovering above? Were they two lights such as a normal vehicle or some other configuration/color? How did like lose visibility?

You said on another thread this was close to Area 51...how close? Anyone riding with you?

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The lights appeared to be on the highway. I could not see beyond the lights due to the brilliance of them. There appeared to be two bright lights - with the spacing between them one would expect on a car. After they went out into the dessert, they simply disappeared. And, I was riding alone. On the highway, about 10 miles South of Rachel, there's the "Black Mailbox", which is actually white, and the encounter occurred right about at that spot.

Hunter

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Originally Posted by Charles

Any tips, hints or tricks of the trade in attending the speed week & can anybody enter a car if you just want to play around and see how fast it is?

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All cars to be run must pass a safety/pit inspection. The rest of the Flats are accessible once past the entry site and you are free to explore them. Just make sure you don't get stuck too far away from the locals so that you can have someone tow you out. I usually stay on the West end of the Flats. The more you head East the wetter it gets.

Hunter

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Originally Posted by Dave Grubb

I got on the trail at Camp Floyd and headed west--with no good expectations of what to expect. I think it might have been spring because the desert was alive with flora of all kinds. I was seemingly the only one on the trail in most places and so viewing at the "stops" along the way were enjoyable in their solitude.

It wasn't until I got to the western end that I began seeing signs of civilization. At Gold Hill there is an abandoned gold mine --more correctly a formally abandoned gold mine because there was a small community of squatters there apparently in search of their dreams and riches.

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Sounds fun, Dave.

We'll probably start our run at Camp Floyd as well. It was, in the 1880's, the site of the largest military encampment in the Western U.S. And, at the site of Camp Floyd is one of the largest military cemeteries in Utah. In fact, the cemetery is all that's left of the camp. The LDS church is still offended that the Feds put the soldiers there at the camp to enforce Federal law here (e.g., the Mormons were seen by the Feds as out of control). So, the church destroyed the camp once the Feds were gone.

The wet area you hit in the middle part of the Trail is known as Fish Springs. There's a ranger station there with a ranger's family that lives out there. The wild horse herd that lives out there comes in from South and Central Nevada - once Nevada gets hot enough during the Summer. My father and I were out there recently and we stopped to take pictures of the wild horses as they crossed the Trail.

About 20 miles West of Fish Springs there's a little town called Callao that has a functioning elementary school for the few children that live out there. The people of Gold Hill and the other settlements out on the Trail get deliveries from 4x4 trucks that run the Trail as needed.

Hunter

I have traveled to the area that Utah has referenced many times and have spent hours in the desert with some people that have extensive knowledge of activities that have occurred in that area for decades. As many know the infamous "area 51" is very close to this area. The mailbox referenced by Utah is the placed on the famous Groom Lake Road. There is a bunch more to the area that old wives tales and legends. Area 51 was and is real. The US has conducted many super secret projects there (and still do). I do not necessarily agree that the occurrences are " extraterrestrial" but in fact I would argue they are quite terrestrial. I was featured in a documentary that the Travel Channel was producing and was interviewed at the famous Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel ( BTW they have good sandwiches if for some perverse reason you ever find yourself in the middle of nowhere). Based on my personal knowledge of what has and does go on in that area my suspicion is that Utah encountered a low flying aircraft (either manned or a drone) that was being tested. The purpose of the test was likely to determine the ground tracking capabilities of the aircraft at very, very low altitude and Utah's bike was a perfect target. You can laugh, disbelieve or mock, it matters not to me. I know of what I speak.

I had been to Camp Floyd prior to my taking the trail west--in fact my visit there is what prompted me to take the second step.

I spent a fairly long time at Camp Floyd on my first visit since what I learned (and you spoke to) were all new to me. The fact that the Federal Government sent troops to "manage" the citizenry could serve as fodder for a good discussion.

I did go through Fish Springs, which seemed as out of place as it is!

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Originally Posted by Honda

As many know the infamous "area 51" is very close to this area. The mailbox referenced by Utah is the placed on the famous Groom Lake Road. There is a bunch more to the area that old wives tales and legends. Area 51 was and is real. The US has conducted many super secret projects there (and still do).

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The main activities out in that area are occurring in the air. The airspace in Nevada and Utah in that area are where "Red Flag" faux combat happens between the U.S. and what ever country is invited to play along. The exercises are supposed to be secret, but enough people are involved that word gets out. So, if you do a web search for such activities, they show up on the web with plenty of notice. I've been out there when they're conducting exercises. The jets I've seen out there don't just putter along - they run at full bore. They're usually moving so fast that, by the time you hear them overhead, they're already over the horizon. It really is amazing to see.


The Mailbox actually belongs to a rancher that lives down one of the dirt roads. It became famous because of the chatter about it on the internet. So, now it's become a gathering spot for people interested in the area and UFO's. It's got several stickers covering it and a lot of handwritten "art" on it. Every now and then, the owner of the Mailbox has had enough and comes out to spray paint it - until the next wave of visitors hits.

Civilian visits to Area 51 are not permitted. I remember a time when our government did not admit Area 51 even existed. Now, the property around the area is heavily monitored. If you try to approach the area, the dirt roads around it have signs warning you to stop and turn around. If you do proceed further, you will be met by armed guards who will stop you.

Hunter

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Originally Posted by Dave Grubb

I spent a fairly long time at Camp Floyd on my first visit since what I learned (and you spoke to) were all new to me. The fact that the Federal Government sent troops to "manage" the citizenry could serve as fodder for a good discussion.

I did go through Fish Springs, which seemed as out of place as it is!

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There is a small tourist cut off just before you hit Fairfield. The state maintains the small hotel there and a visitors center with a museum. The small hotel is kept maintained as a part of the tourist attraction. It's historic because it was up and running when the Pony Express Trail was operating. This is the same hotel Mark Twain stayed in when he cruised through the area on his way to California.

Over 100 years ago the LDS Church ran a tight shop in Utah. They even appointed governors. So, the military was stationed outside the Salt Lake Valley at Camp Floyd to remind the locals that the Feds would intervene if things got out of hand. To this day, locals do not trust the Feds. People who want to know more about the period can web search things like the Mountain Meadows Massacre to see how the Utah Militia violently reacted to outsiders. It was during my early days here in Utah that the LDS Church finally acknowledged its role in killings and paid to renovate the site.

Hunter