Fencemaker, an Enigma

The Fencemaker area and moniker are one of the least known areas within the state of Nevada.  The area does indeed have outstanding scenery and wilderness character.  The following, taken from the 2015 Friends of Nevada Wilderness Inventory of the area offers one of the most complete descriptions of this beautiful area:

Overall, human intrusions and development are minimal throughout these lands, and the area’s naturalness quickly becomes apparent to those who visit.  Dense pinyon pine/juniper forest covers much of the higher elevations, creating a natural habitat that is dense and easily hides past blemishes.  This forest stretches from the top of Fencemaker at 7283 feet, down the mountainsides, to elevations of around 5000 feet in the foothills.  Sagebrush is also prevalent throughout the area, mingling with the forest and present at all but the area's lowest elevations.  In such regions, these plants have been replaced by hearty desert shrubs: greasewood, saltbush, grasses, and others.  On the eastern side of the unit, the Sou Hills are dominated by such vegetation, which clings to what little moisture may be available.  Here, the sparse vegetation makes the geology of these hills much more apparent and visible.  Pockets of color dot the hillsides, created by red, yellow, purple, and brown variations in the rock.  These rolling hills are reminiscent of Death Valley or the Painted Desert in Arizona.  While rock in the western portion [aka Fencemaker Ridge] is less colorful, grey limestone has certainly created more dramatic topography.  Huge cliffs tower above the Buena Vista Valley and several deep canyons cut through the Stillwater Range.  The most pronounced of these, Grayson Canyon, offers a scenic route of passage from the area’s west slope.  This region is marked by tall cliffs and strange rock formations, a rugged landscape indeed.  It is also likely that caves exist here, and small shelters and holes only hint further at their presence.  On the eastern slope of the Stillwaters topographic relief is larger, and the mountains form an imposing wall from the floor of Dixie Valley.  While there is only one named canyon, Old Man Canyon, the east side is also cut by several deep and scenic clefts.  These mountains are rugged and diverse, offering an array of exploration potential, and plenty of natural value.