Panamint Valley Trip in February

[locrwln1]

Ok guys, this is our official invitation to join us on our next journey to the Death Valley area. We are planning this in the middle of winter, so that everyone gets a break from the cold/snow (hopefully).

We have decided that we are going to head back down to Panamint Valley in February, 2009. The dates are leave on Thursday, February 19 and return on Monday, February 23, 2009. It takes about 6-7 hours from Reno to the camp site.

The dates/plan are as follows:

Thursday, February 19, 2009, leave Reno and drive down to the valley and set up camp.

Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, do a little hiking/exploring up Surprise Canyon in the morning. I think we will keep it to mellow distance up the canyon, not going to try and hike the full seven miles from Chris Wicht's camp to Panamint City. Figure out what/where everyone wants to do in the afternoon.

Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, head up to Roger's Pass via Pleasant Canyon and make the full loop. This will be a full days run, so pack a lunch.

Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009, head up Goler Wash to the pass, probably call it good for that trail, you can go all of the way into Death Valley proper if you so wish.

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, pack up and head back to Reno.

The area where we are going to set up camp is an easy access area that you can drive anything to (there were 5th wheel type rv's there). I would like to set camp at the lower section of Surprise Canyon, there is plenty of room for pretty much as many people and vehicles as we might want. We are going to be taking my truck and cab-over and still debating whether I will trailer the cruiser down or have Darcie drive it down.

Darcie's parents are going to go with us and I spoke with Ali and he is thinking they are going to try and meet us there as well. I have another friend that is interested also.

Both Surprise Canyon and Pleasant Canyon are extremely lush and green, they may not be as much in February, but that is ok. The temperatures that time of the year are low to mid 70's during the day and mid 40's at night. I will warn you that while we are camping at 1200ft, the trails into the canyons will pass the 5-6000ft marks.

See you there...

Jack

[450 DUDE]

Hummmmm ......................
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.ken

[spressomon]

Sounds good. And that's the weekend after President's Day weekend...we should be the only freaks around then .

Hmmm...stretch it another day or two to soak at Saline on the flip side.

[DiscoveryXD]

I'm in.

[locrwln1]

Originally Posted by 450 DUDE

Hummmmm ......................
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.ken

Do it. This should be a great trip for the family.

Originally Posted by spressomon

Sounds good. And that's the weekend after President's Day weekend...we should be the only freaks around then .

Hmmm...stretch it another day or two to soak at Saline on the flip side.

That is the plan, I tried to pick a weekend that hopefully would avoid any type of holiday and give us some very tolerable weather.

If anyone would like to add the Saline soak on either the day before or day after that would be easy to do. We are just limited on our time, so those are the days we can make it.

Originally Posted by DiscoveryXD

I'm in.

Excellent.


Jack

[DirtyHarry]

I will try to make it to this run.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by DirtyHarry

I will try to make it to this run.

Good deal Harry!

[rusty_tlc]

I'll run it by the better half tonight, but it sounds like a go for us. I think we'll both be sick of gloomy weather by then.

Any idea about the rig requirements for the trails you mentioned?

[chicago]

I MIGHT be able to swing this...
Im curious about the vehicle requirements as well, as it would be a much easier/ comfortable trip in the taco.

K

[DiscoveryXD]

Originally Posted by rusty_tlc

Any idea about the rig requirements for the trails you mentioned?

Originally Posted by chicago

Im curious about the vehicle requirements as well
K

probably LOTS of gas to keep up with Jack!

I've got a roof rack and NATO cans so I'm good to go.

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by DiscoveryXD

probably LOTS of gas to keep up with Jack!

I've got a roof rack and NATO cans so I'm good to go.

spressomon should have his aux tank done by then too. If 24hrsofnv goes the whole Exxon fleet will be there.

We might have a roof rack by then and Panamint Springs resort does sell gas, if they have it.

[locrwln1]

Originally Posted by DirtyHarry

I will try to make it to this run.

Excellent.

Originally Posted by rusty_tlc

I'll run it by the better half tonight, but it sounds like a go for us. I think we'll both be sick of gloomy weather by then.

Any idea about the rig requirements for the trails you mentioned?

Easily 100 type wheeling. The only thing is that going up Pleasant Canyon there are/were a lot of willows/cattails and other shrubbery that will give you come pin striping. I think we got some new ones on the roof of the 80.

Originally Posted by chicago

I MIGHT be able to swing this...
Im curious about the vehicle requirements as well, as it would be a much easier/ comfortable trip in the taco.

K

Goler Wash is the only one, that looks really challenging. The roads can be very easy or a challenge depending on what or if the rainfall has been bad and it washes the roads out.

Jack

[chicago]

Surprise canyon...is that the run that heads up Ballarat?
I KNOW ive been on these trails before, but Im just not quite placing them.

K

[locrwln1]

Originally Posted by chicago

Surprise canyon...is that the run that heads up Ballarat?
I KNOW ive been on these trails before, but Im just not quite placing them.

K

Surprise Canyon heads up to Panamint City. I am pretty sure you haven't been up that canyon, they closed it to vehicle traffic sometime around 1998.

Ballarat sits down in the valley, approximately two miles from the pavement. Ballarat is used as the "jumping off" point for most of the trails in that area because most of the trails can be found from heading in one of the directions from Ballarat.

Jack

[chicago]

Originally Posted by locrwln1

Surprise Canyon heads up to Panamint City. I am pretty sure you haven't been up that canyon, they closed it to vehicle traffic sometime around 1998.

Ballarat sits down in the valley, approximately two miles from the pavement. Ballarat is used as the "jumping off" point for most of the trails in that area because most of the trails can be found from heading in one of the directions from Ballarat.

Jack

OKAY...so if head into Ballarat and go straight up to the ghost town, what is that? Is that Goler wash? If you got right at Ballarat and down about 3-5 miles you then hit South Park canyon...

Im usually just kinda taggin along following the crowd when we go in the spring, so Im not too savvy with the names and locations. I just know that I LOVE IT down there.

K

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by chicago

OKAY...so if head into Ballarat and go straight up to the ghost town, what is that? Is that Goler wash? If you got right at Ballarat and down about 3-5 miles you then hit South Park canyon...

Im usually just kinda taggin along following the crowd when we go in the spring, so Im not too savvy with the names and locations. I just know that I LOVE IT down there.

K

Beer haze maybe?

[Campfire]

Can I come along if my wife lets me? She says I can't wheel this one due to the last outing.

I promise not to play with my iPod on the way home this time and crash.

[chicago]

Originally Posted by spressomon

Beer haze maybe?

On Blotch...
This may very well be the case!

K

[locrwln1]

Originally Posted by Campfire

Can I come along if my wife lets me? She says I can't wheel this one due to the last outing.

I promise not to play with my iPod on the way home this time and crash.

Hope to see you there.

Originally Posted by chicago

On Blotch...
This may very well be the case!

K

Jack

[DirtyHarry]

Oops, I didn't realize that this is the same weekend as the Chile Challenge. I am going to have to get together with you guys for another trip unfortunately.

[locrwln1]

Originally Posted by DirtyHarry

Oops, I didn't realize that this is the same weekend as the Chile Challenge. I am going to have to get together with you guys for another trip unfortunately.

Bummer.

Jack

[WILLD420]

Still thinking about it. Can I get the black beast down the trails or is it too big? Paint isn't an issue since it's already pinstriped good. Just don't want any rock rash. I'd be wiling to take the sissy steps off for clearance and I might have the front locker put in by then if I'm not busy moving to a new house...

[locrwln1]

Originally Posted by WILLD420

Still thinking about it. Can I get the black beast down the trails or is it too big? Paint isn't an issue since it's already pinstriped good. Just don't want any rock rash. I'd be wiling to take the sissy steps off for clearance and I might have the front locker put in by then if I'm not busy moving to a new house...

Will the only problem I see is on the Pleasant Canyon, Rogers pass loop. On the south side of the loop there is a bridge that is rated at 6000lbs. Now you could certainly make it up to the pass and then return on the north loop as opposed to following us on the southern portion of the loop. That is the only one that I know of that would give you any problems, as long as you don't mind the pinstriping. Of course in February the foliage shouldn't be as bad.

Jack

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by locrwln1

Will the only problem I see is on the Pleasant Canyon, Rogers pass loop. On the south side of the loop there is a bridge that is rated at 6000lbs. Now you could certainly make it up to the pass and then return on the north loop as opposed to following us on the southern portion of the loop. That is the only one that I know of that would give you any problems, as long as you don't mind the pinstriping. Of course in February the foliage shouldn't be as bad.

Jack

Is that the famous Scary Bridge?

[450 DUDE]

Dang Im well over 3 tons......
ken









Guess I will have to floor it!
ken

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by 450 DUDE

Dang Im well over 3 tons......
ken









Guess I will have to floor it!
ken

You carry it well, I wouldn't have put at more than 175, 180 max

[locrwln1]

Originally Posted by 450 DUDE

Dang Im well over 3 tons......
ken









Guess I will have to floor it!
ken

Let's just say that plenty of loaded 80's have crossed it.

Originally Posted by rusty_tlc

Is that the famous Scary Bridge?

Yes.

Originally Posted by rusty_tlc

You carry it well, I wouldn't have put at more than 175, 180 max

Really, I was going to do 165-170 max.

Jack

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by locrwln1

Let's just say that plenty of loaded 80's have crossed it.



Yes.



Really, I was going to do 165-170 max.

Jack

I'm fat your skinny, funny how that affects our prospectives.

[WILLD420]

I don't know what Earthraper weighs, but I'd guess 7K or more. That cummins is a heavy beast and the winch and bumper don't help any. Throw in a 200lb 5th wheel hitch, a 50 gal aux tank and a couple hundred pounds of tools and junk.

[locrwln1]

Originally Posted by WILLD420

I don't know what Earthraper weighs, but I'd guess 7K or more. That cummins is a heavy beast and the winch and bumper don't help any. Throw in a 200lb 5th wheel hitch, a 50 gal aux tank and a couple hundred pounds of tools and junk.

Yeah, I would venture to guess you are well over 7k. I know that ours weighs 7800, but it is a little bigger. Now having said that the bridge is made of old telephone poles and the county would only let them rate it at 6k. Everyone seems to think that it will support much more.

Jack