January 6, 2001. Today I start my exploration of the Wah Wah Valley latilong. Outside the fog lies thick and cold. I hope it burns off long before I get to Wah Wah.

I rousted my 12 year old son out of bed to be with me on my trip to the Wah Wah Valley latilong. He was with me but ever since we got him a Game Boy, he has zoned out. I was able to have him join me some of the time, but then he would descend into the game and be oblivious to our surroundings.

I had an errand to accomplish at 8:00, but right after that we headed out. The fog was thick, but I joined the crazies on the freeway and headed south. We turned at Santaquin and exited the fog when we climbed out of the valley just before Eureka. We hit another patch of fog about 20 miles from Nevada, but we were in the clear until we returned coming down from Eureka later that evening.

We decided to go through Delta and continue on Highway 6 to Nevada, then turn south-east and cross the Wah Wah Valley latilong with the sun behind us. Highway 6 and Highway 50 are combined out of Delta and it is seldom traveled. Through Nevada, Highway 50 is known as the ‘Lonesomest highway in the world'. It earns its title in Utah as well.

Wah Wah Mountains as seen in the distance from Highway 6/50 at mile marker 43.

From the service station, we turned south on Highway 159 toward Garrison. After about 4 miles, we came to the 39th parallel. No, there was no sign or line drawn across the road, I used my GPS to tell when we reached the latilong. Here I took several photographs of the mountains. We continued into Garrison and drove around looking for whatever birds we could find. Garrison has a post office and a church, but I didn't see a store or a service station. Most of the homes were farm houses thinly scattered in the valley. We found Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Shrike and a Song Sparrow.

Continuing south to Pruess Lake, we found Canada Geese and some Common Goldeneye. Pruess lake was about 3/4 frozen over. Continuing south southeast along highway 21 for about a mile, we came to an old log farm house surrounded by cottonwoods, in which we found two Bald Eagles.

Looking north toward the Burbank Hills. Notice how dry and brown it is.

The road from Garrison to Milford was sparse with us finding several flocks of Horned Larks and a solitary Prairie Falcon. It wasn't until we got to Milford that we found Common Ravens, Starlings and House Sparrows.

I was surprised at the lack of snow, since this was January 6. In the high places there were patches of snow here and there, especially in the shade, but this thirsty land needed a heavy coating of snow which it hadn't received. If you want to find lonely stretches of road where the road converges into a line in the distance, this is the place. In one place, as I drove down the highway, I noticed a glint of sunlight ahead against the mountain that moved in a confusing way. As I drove on, I realized it was a helicopter coming towards me.

Looking from where Highway 21 crosses the Wah Wah Mountain east towards the San Francisco Mountains.

I was impressed with Milford, a quiet little town with orderly streets and numerous small older homes.

Returning home from Milford, we drove north on Highway 257 in the dark to Delta then retraced our path back to Provo. Highway 257 at dusk was as lonesome as all the other roads we had driven on earlier in the day for we drove over 50 miles without having to dim our lights.

We had seen 11 species in the Wah Wah Valley latilong. Not a great number and hardly worth the cost and effort, but we had driven the main paved road from one side to the other. Now, the remainder of the latilong awaits further discovery. In the future, I will take my tent and spend more time. Driving back and forth from Provo will not work, even when the days get longer.

Click here (20K) or here (87K) to see a wide picture of the Wah Wah Mountain Range.