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Ellen D Mountain, NV | August 2022

KI7EMX's picture
Summit: 
W7N/EN-043
Voice Cellular Coverage: 
Good, very usable
Data Cellular Coverage: 
Good, very usable
Cellular Provider: 
AT&T
APRS Coverage: 
Don't know

This summit is a drive-up, albeit a butt clincher at times. Here is an excerpt from summitpost.org:

“Ellen D has an elevation of 8,633 feet, and with a prominence of 2,053 feet, makes the list of Nevada’s 172 prominent peaks. . . .

“An unimproved maintenance road leads to the top of Ellen D Mountain, where you’ll find an impressive array of radio towers, solar panels and maintenance buildings. . . .

“Although some of the land in and around Contact fall under private ownership, Ellen D Mountain is located on BLM-administered lands. Access here is not an issue, other than that induced by weather. Although the access road from Contact to the summit is decent, I would advise against driving a passenger vehicle on it.”

The wind turbines mentioned in the full Summit Post blog are no longer there.  The solar panels must have replaced them. I would concur that this road is NOT Prius friendly.  A 4wd is recommended, though high clearance is not required with some careful driving.

Directions:  From Highway 93, head west on Main Street (41.76939, -114.75332) which leads to the community of Contact, NV. Main Street becomes Elko Avenue.  Google Maps will have you stay on Elko Avenue at the intersection with Tower Road (41.77667, -114.76335), but there is a locked gate with signs forbidding entrance.  Continue west on Tower Road to the summit.  The total driving distance from Highway 93 is 5.79 miles.  The first 3 miles are well graded, but the road quickly degrades into a steep, loose and rocky surface. There were a couple of times I could not see the road ahead due to the steep grade.  Once I even parked, got out and surveyed the area to ascertain where the road went!

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