Nevada Teardrop Camping: Unionville Gathering

Last week I took off for the middle of the Nevada desert with the Stargazers to attend the Twain and Tears teardrop gathering in the tiny hamlet of Unionville. It was hot, but the area had just received several inches of rain, turning the desert into a green paradise.


Unionville currently has about 20 residents and was the site of a mining boom between 1863 and 1870 and had over 1,500 residents. For a short time Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain, tried his luck here. Canyon springs and rushing creeks make this area of the desert lush and full of wildlife. During this trip we saw antelope, wild donkeys, deer, marmots and chukar.



We chatted and ate with other teardroppers, went fossil hunting in the foothills, explored the rugged and muddy backroads, and hiked the canyons around the former mining towns that used to dominate the absolute middle of the middle of nowhere.








Photos by Christina Nellemann








6 comments:

  1. What a great base of operations these things make. Keeping it simple.
    Bet the Star Gazers thought it was fantastic with clear horizons.
    Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thank you Greg. I think that's one of the best things about teardrop camping, you can park them just about anywhere and then go exploring—and come back to a comfy bed.

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  2. Looks like a very cool adventure. The ammonite reminds me of a book I read by Daniel Quinn. Are the wild burros friendly or should one keep their distance. They look like they are used to getting treats from passing vehicles.

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    1. These burros were friendly and were used to receiving food. I have seen some burros be territorial, so it is best to keep your distance.

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  3. How cool is that!? Wild donkeys and fossils, all on one trip!

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