Travel 7848 miles through the desert southwest - a 2025 adventure
- Thread starter wngrog
- Start date
Stories, Adventures and Travels of our members and their rigs.
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #103
Day 6 GAIA.
Of note, I doubt this route works if there is heavy snow. There was very little when we went but I bet it's socked in now.
Mileage post.
1182 miles on this leg.
Total in 2025 since crossing into New Mexico
Total on the Whale
It would take less time to walk back than to backtrack our routes
Of note, I doubt this route works if there is heavy snow. There was very little when we went but I bet it's socked in now.
Mileage post.
1182 miles on this leg.
Total in 2025 since crossing into New Mexico
Total on the Whale
It would take less time to walk back than to backtrack our routes
Franken470
SILVER Star
If I hit it big, The 550 is going on portals and being put out west, hell I may just put it out west and get another one or a 600 for daily duty?
- Thread starter
- #105
Time for your story.
Franken470
SILVER Star
I'm about to hit the floor for service, but I'll get this S*&^ Show written in the AM.
Silverton is one of my favorite towns. Thank you for the pictures. The million dollar highway is magical. If you guys ever get back, I highly recommend the Durango Silverton steam railroad for a great way to spend a weekend. It's one way to make Smokey's exhaust look like a Tesla's by comparison.
- Thread starter
- #108
I did it once 1 way. I was ready to bail at the 1/2 way point. I've got too much ADHD
Send it!
Franken470
SILVER Star
I’ve run 2 legs of this journey solo, it’s always more fun with friends, due to other work and travel were the main reasons I couldn’t go with the whole crew, both times my routes were a little more condensed.
I started this leg of the journey from BtB just like the other guys but it was Dec 23rd and I was going to see family in Scottsdale for a few days. We hadn’t gathered since my grandmothers passing a few years ago.
I rolled down to Scottsdale via interstate the whole way and got checked into our families Air BnB. Next door, lo and behold I spot a car lift and spent 1/2 day reorganizing my truck, cleaning it out (it had a year of dessert dust in it). Both of my cabin pressure vents behind the rear tires were shot and I had BtB replace those which on my truck is involved work. I kept an eye out for the owner since I wanted to get under the truck and do a visual inspection on everything and a nut and bolt check on the big suspension components.
We had a great time in town and saw some cruiser especially this clean 250.
I started this leg of the journey from BtB just like the other guys but it was Dec 23rd and I was going to see family in Scottsdale for a few days. We hadn’t gathered since my grandmothers passing a few years ago.
I rolled down to Scottsdale via interstate the whole way and got checked into our families Air BnB. Next door, lo and behold I spot a car lift and spent 1/2 day reorganizing my truck, cleaning it out (it had a year of dessert dust in it). Both of my cabin pressure vents behind the rear tires were shot and I had BtB replace those which on my truck is involved work. I kept an eye out for the owner since I wanted to get under the truck and do a visual inspection on everything and a nut and bolt check on the big suspension components.
We had a great time in town and saw some cruiser especially this clean 250.
Franken470
SILVER Star
It was Dec 28 and time to head to Death Valley, I had been under the truck and everything looked good enough to roll hard. I had a seeping front pinion leak and also my freshly rebooted RCV axles with “the newest non tear” update were all seeping at every band (oh well, this has been the story of RCLT and RCV). I departed about 7:30 headed for Baker.
I made it to Baker about 11:30, grabbed some petrol and made my way to a route as soon as I could hit dirt, this took me through Ft. Irwin just south of Death Valley. I ended up winding through Ft Irwin and maybe a couple spots I shouldn’t have been like a dry lakebed that wasn’t so dry and I quickly made a 90 and stayed on the throttle to keep on top of the crust.
I eventually came out right at Owl Springs in the south side of the park. I picked my way through the park and out towards Ballarat, it’s been mentioned here that I’m a degenerate smoker and to my own chagrin, I found out about an hour into Death Valley that I was out of smokes.
I made it all the way to engineers camp right at dusk in time to check out the cabin and former home where the Manson family was arrested. Truly a secluded part of the world.
I made my way back to the nearest town with a pub and checked into a hotel for the night as it was going to be about 25 degrees in the park.
I made it to Baker about 11:30, grabbed some petrol and made my way to a route as soon as I could hit dirt, this took me through Ft. Irwin just south of Death Valley. I ended up winding through Ft Irwin and maybe a couple spots I shouldn’t have been like a dry lakebed that wasn’t so dry and I quickly made a 90 and stayed on the throttle to keep on top of the crust.
I eventually came out right at Owl Springs in the south side of the park. I picked my way through the park and out towards Ballarat, it’s been mentioned here that I’m a degenerate smoker and to my own chagrin, I found out about an hour into Death Valley that I was out of smokes.
I made it all the way to engineers camp right at dusk in time to check out the cabin and former home where the Manson family was arrested. Truly a secluded part of the world.
I made my way back to the nearest town with a pub and checked into a hotel for the night as it was going to be about 25 degrees in the park.
Franken470
SILVER Star
The next day, I woke up bright and early in the hotel at 5:30 am, I had driven 14 hrs total the day before but still felt good and ended up driving 12 hrs today.
I made it back to DV and Ballarat just in time for the sunrise and headed straight into south park which is definitely one of the highlights of the trip including chicken corner.
I made somewhat short work of those miles and was back out to Ballarat and headed up to Panamint Springs resort for a burger and lunch right at 11am as they changed menus.
Bailed out after a 30 min lunch to go hit saline springs, and work my way up to the old naked men at warm springs.
My truck has long travel and all the great adjustable shocks so I made some pretty good time but sections of this were definitely some of the roughest “road” I had been on.
I worked my way out to the north via the canyon and some great trail that led me to snow and ended up coming out all the way in Nevada at dusk, my ola was to head over to Big Pine and stay the night.
I got to Big Pine about an hour after dark and hit up the local taco truck for dinner.
Went to find a motel only to find “no vacancy” in town, luckily one of the motel owners had another lace 30 mins south and called his wife in independence and I had secured the last room in town there.
I bedded down about 8:30 after eating my tacos and getting a shower. To rise about 6am again the next day.
I was making a few adjustments to my truck that morning and noticed that my passenger rear shock and completely lost the mount off of the lower shock shaft…
No hard wheeling was left in the truck, so I departed and started making a plan, I still ran through the Alabama hills and movie road on my way south and stopped for breakfast in Little Pine on my way out.
After a few texts, I had made up my mind to head to Stockton and my favorite cruiser shop in the country, Valley Hybrids.
I had met Georg a few years ago and actually won a trans upgrade for my truck at a Texas event and felt it was fitting to let them install it and pay labor and added an LRA as they were the primary vendor at that time a few years ago.
I rolled into Stockton and waged the DV off the truck and got it as clean as possible before checking into a hotel and grabbing a rental car, to finish my journey to SF for NYE
I made it back to DV and Ballarat just in time for the sunrise and headed straight into south park which is definitely one of the highlights of the trip including chicken corner.
I made somewhat short work of those miles and was back out to Ballarat and headed up to Panamint Springs resort for a burger and lunch right at 11am as they changed menus.
Bailed out after a 30 min lunch to go hit saline springs, and work my way up to the old naked men at warm springs.
My truck has long travel and all the great adjustable shocks so I made some pretty good time but sections of this were definitely some of the roughest “road” I had been on.
I worked my way out to the north via the canyon and some great trail that led me to snow and ended up coming out all the way in Nevada at dusk, my ola was to head over to Big Pine and stay the night.
I got to Big Pine about an hour after dark and hit up the local taco truck for dinner.
Went to find a motel only to find “no vacancy” in town, luckily one of the motel owners had another lace 30 mins south and called his wife in independence and I had secured the last room in town there.
I bedded down about 8:30 after eating my tacos and getting a shower. To rise about 6am again the next day.
I was making a few adjustments to my truck that morning and noticed that my passenger rear shock and completely lost the mount off of the lower shock shaft…
No hard wheeling was left in the truck, so I departed and started making a plan, I still ran through the Alabama hills and movie road on my way south and stopped for breakfast in Little Pine on my way out.
After a few texts, I had made up my mind to head to Stockton and my favorite cruiser shop in the country, Valley Hybrids.
I had met Georg a few years ago and actually won a trans upgrade for my truck at a Texas event and felt it was fitting to let them install it and pay labor and added an LRA as they were the primary vendor at that time a few years ago.
I rolled into Stockton and waged the DV off the truck and got it as clean as possible before checking into a hotel and grabbing a rental car, to finish my journey to SF for NYE
Franken470
SILVER Star
With the truck secured in Stockton for a laundry list of repairs and mods to get her ready for the 26’ adventure I made my way to San Francisco for a NYE to remember by knocking out my first ever Michelin Star restaurant and it didn’t disappoint, early the next morning and flew home to get back to the grind and make some money for repairs and tickets for the next adventure.
Looks like such a blast.
Looking at these pictures inspired me to venture out for longer than just a weekend.
Last time I got out, I snapped a tie rod and spent a few hours fixing it.
Need a good crew.
Looking at these pictures inspired me to venture out for longer than just a weekend.
Last time I got out, I snapped a tie rod and spent a few hours fixing it.
Need a good crew.
I was stationed at Ft Irwin for 4 years, it was the best of times and the worst of times lol.
- Thread starter
- #116
Were you OpFor?
Oh yeah, 2/11 armored cav, killer troop. I was a medic attached to scouts and light infantry. Dismounted OP's, cop/fob attacks, etc.
We hammered every rotational unit for 2 weeks straight sometimes.
The box was a cool place to romp around in s*** technicals and humvees lol.
- Thread starter
- #118
I'd love to sit across the fence there in DV and watch
We did that about 15 years ago. Got down to the border of DV and Irwin and watch a rad tank battle with helicopter support roll through the battleground. Then the dudes with machine guns showed and, considering I am brown ME dude, we left pretty quick after some discussion.
That southern portion of DV is outstanding.
That happened to me when I was stationed there, I had just bought a 71 k5, and was romping around close to the Goldstone complex. Two trucks full of defense contractors chased us down, and politely told us to go the other way. They had dusty MP5's at the low ready which I thought was excessive at the time. lolWe did that about 15 years ago. Got down to the border of DV and Irwin and watch a rad tank battle with helicopter support roll through the battleground. Then the dudes with machine guns showed and, considering I am brown ME dude, we left pretty quick after some discussion.
That southern portion of DV is outstanding.