13-Jun-2014 -- While driving westward along I-80 in Nevada - returning to my home in the San Francisco Bay Area - I wasn't originally planning to visit any confluence points in Nevada. However, 41N 116W beckoned to me, because I had yet to visit it. I realized that it would take a long time (both driving and hiking) to visit this point, but I happened to have lots of time to spare, and the temperatures were also mild - in the mid 70s °F (low 20s °C).

Often I'm surprised by how few visits some confluence points receive. In this case, however, I'm surprised that there have been three previous visits to this confluence point, as it's so remote. Previous visitors accessed the point from Elko (i.e., from the south and east), and sometimes had trouble finding an appropriate access point. So I decided to try a different approach - starting from I-80 exit 282 (at the small town of Carlin). This is several miles southwest of the confluence point. However, my map showed a prominent rural road that heads towards the point. This gravel road first passed around the south side of a local prison, and then continued across the desert for several miles, eventually ending at a farm gate, at 40.85365°N 116.00790°W. I continued through this gate (closing it behind me, of course), as the road started gaining in elevation, becoming narrower and rougher. (Needless to say, a 4-wheel-drive vehicle is essential here.)

By inspecting satellite imagery (and also by reading Shawn Fleming's report, which has helped me several times in the past), I figured that the best way to reach the confluence point was to start hiking westward up the drainage that's just to the north of Swales Creek - at 40.98110°N 115.96790°W; 2.16 miles (as the crow flies) from the confluence point. This drainage makes a dog-leg to the north (at around the 116 West line of longitude), and continues northward towards the confluence point. By following this drainage, I ended up having to do no unnecessary climbing. My total hike was about 6.5 miles (so, 3.25 miles each way). I discovered later that there's a double-track road nearby - starting at 40.97886°N 115.96832°W - that runs into the drainage for about a mile. If you were to take this road, you could save up to 2 miles of total hiking time.

The hike to/from the confluence point was enjoyable, as was the point itself, which lies on a scenic hillside covered with patchy vegetation (with some wildflowers). This whole area is ranch land. However, about halfway towards the confluence point - at the point where the drainage starts its dog-leg to the north - there's a small fenced-off area that's marked as a "Habitat Restoration Project".