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Friends of Nevada Wilderness
On March 18, 2019, the Massacre Rim Wilderness Study Area (WSA) became just the 7th designated Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world! This WSA is publicly-owned land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to maintain its wilderness qualities. Located in far northern Washoe County near the borders with California and Oregon, Massacre Rim is so remote that it has "exceptional quality of starry nights" and a nocturnal environment that is protected for its natural values, criteria necessary to meet the International Dark-Sky Association's strict standards for a Dark Sky Sanctuary.
Because so much of our world is flooded with artificial light, most of us have no idea what we can actually see if we are in a place as dark as Massacre Rim. So it's hard to describe. Stunningly beautiful. Definitely awe-inspiring. So many stars on a moonless night that they actually cast a shadow. You really have to see it for yourselves. As our ranch is just 10 or so miles from the Massacre Rim WSA, our visitors can witness the amazing stars and Milky Way right from the comfort of the ranch without having to travel out to the Rim. For stargazers, the photo above of the Andromeda Galaxy was taken by one of our guests during his visit.
For more details about the Massacre Rim, go to https://www.nevadawilderness.org/massacre_rim_wsa_dark_sky_sanctuary
Because so much of our world is flooded with artificial light, most of us have no idea what we can actually see if we are in a place as dark as Massacre Rim. So it's hard to describe. Stunningly beautiful. Definitely awe-inspiring. So many stars on a moonless night that they actually cast a shadow. You really have to see it for yourselves. As our ranch is just 10 or so miles from the Massacre Rim WSA, our visitors can witness the amazing stars and Milky Way right from the comfort of the ranch without having to travel out to the Rim. For stargazers, the photo above of the Andromeda Galaxy was taken by one of our guests during his visit.
For more details about the Massacre Rim, go to https://www.nevadawilderness.org/massacre_rim_wsa_dark_sky_sanctuary
Lady at the Bank
We came across the following story which describes the hard work and dedication of those who raise cattle for a living. It was written by Ruby Uhart who has family in Alturas, about 20 miles from us. Ruby lives on a ranch "in the middle of nowhere" and blogs about ranch life at Rubyuhart.com.
Last fall I'd gone into the bank to deposit checks after we'd sold our calves. The lady at the front desk wasn't familiar with the company who had written the check. I explained to her who they were and that we had sold two loads of calves.
She replied, "Wow! I'm in the wrong business."
At the time, it caught me off guard that she would say something like that, and all I could do was chuckle a little and say, "No. You're not."
Read more...
Last fall I'd gone into the bank to deposit checks after we'd sold our calves. The lady at the front desk wasn't familiar with the company who had written the check. I explained to her who they were and that we had sold two loads of calves.
She replied, "Wow! I'm in the wrong business."
At the time, it caught me off guard that she would say something like that, and all I could do was chuckle a little and say, "No. You're not."
Read more...