Death Valley 2016 Trip report
- Thread starter PabloVTA
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- death valley
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Cruiserdrew
On the way there
I sure wish you had come by and introduced yourself! We could have at least talked on the radio. We were on 146.400.
Are you asking about the Toyota with the broken front end? If so, it was still there. Pics as we get there.
Oophs, I was out 3 weeks ago......when it was F-ing windy late Sat night and into Sunday, when it started raining....
And the truck with the blown ball joint was what I was talking about. It looks like it had been there a while 3 weeks ago
And the truck with the blown ball joint was what I was talking about. It looks like it had been there a while 3 weeks ago
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Yep.. IFS and Saline washboard are not a good mix. 100 series beware! Spresso had to bail at this exact spot a couple of years ago.
Strangely, the Taco guy was not in a particularly rough spot. In fact, it was pretty benign. I'd like to know the story.
We were there around 10/24-10/26 time frame.
Strangely, the Taco guy was not in a particularly rough spot. In fact, it was pretty benign. I'd like to know the story.
We were there around 10/24-10/26 time frame.
- Thread starter
- #47
about those washboards...
I had to stuff a beer coozie into the hole on the left of my steering cover around the tilt handle to stop the annoying rattle.
Thankfully, I carry trail spares.
I had to stuff a beer coozie into the hole on the left of my steering cover around the tilt handle to stop the annoying rattle.
Thankfully, I carry trail spares.
- Thread starter
- #48
That Coho was awesome. Poor Clive wanted way more than I gave him, which was nuthin. Last thing I'd want is to have a dog have a sudden and explosive release.
So the next day Tom and Drew go out with the radios and enter their own "cabin Quest" , yes the story is rather unique, but interesting.
Steve and I stay at camp and take in the scenery and try to catch pictures of the jets as they race over us. We didn't get too many of the down on the deck flights like we saw the previous day. Tom hits us on the radio as they are going out just to check in. They are basically trying to find an over grown spur of the trail, next to a rather newly eroded tall river bank. Tom is how do you say, height challenged, and this would be a difficult task for a 7 footer regardless.
As Drew is heading out there, he looks up and sees something in the distance.
So the next day Tom and Drew go out with the radios and enter their own "cabin Quest" , yes the story is rather unique, but interesting.
Steve and I stay at camp and take in the scenery and try to catch pictures of the jets as they race over us. We didn't get too many of the down on the deck flights like we saw the previous day. Tom hits us on the radio as they are going out just to check in. They are basically trying to find an over grown spur of the trail, next to a rather newly eroded tall river bank. Tom is how do you say, height challenged, and this would be a difficult task for a 7 footer regardless.
As Drew is heading out there, he looks up and sees something in the distance.
- Thread starter
- #49
those burros I mentioned earlier paid us a visit.
(it wasn't what Drew saw, but I'm just adding what I have)
Steve made a new friend with a well placed ear scratch.
(it wasn't what Drew saw, but I'm just adding what I have)
Steve made a new friend with a well placed ear scratch.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
So the first night in camp (this is getting confusing) I'm standing there, sharing a 22 oz beer with @PabloVTA and while I'm pouring, an FA18 comes by right behind Pablo at Mach 1.2 and 100 feet. I'm like, "hey, there's a jet". We wave to the pilot and navigator who wave back. He's so close, he's reading the label on the bottle, and the sound and jet blast arrives only after he's long gone and over the Inyos, refueling. Too cool.. 'Murica" !!!!! But it's this ripping, ground shaking, air tearing sound, like nothing else. You feel it in your soul. F'n cool as hell.
I was wondering how the trip went! Bummed I couldn't make it but am enjoying reading this report. The pics of Eureka Dunes, reports of low flying fighter jets, weird people on the other side of Steele Pass, the donkeys, half naked hippies around the hot springs, endless Saline Valley washboard, crazy wind,.. its all bringing back memories of my last DV trip. Keep the pics coming!
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
And yeah.. Tom and I take off mid morning to look for the cabin up towards Steel Pass from the hot springs. We go back to where I spotted it from the embankment on the way in yesterday. THe guy who built the cabin was an out there loner mining something that he had to smelt, but the smelting was away from the cabin. Some cross desert navigation, and we were there.
So this ramshackle cabin had 110 electric lights, a refrigerator, all the comforts of home, 100 miles off any "grid". @TrickyT , hopefully can come back with more of the story.
So this ramshackle cabin had 110 electric lights, a refrigerator, all the comforts of home, 100 miles off any "grid". @TrickyT , hopefully can come back with more of the story.
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Cruiserdrew
On the way there
So we explore the cabin a bit and find a lot of broken junk but not many clues about what went on here. I decide to hike back across the desert using dead reconing, lined up on the mountains in the background. Came out within 100 feet of the truck. Pretty cool. Tom takes off down the wash, and amazingly we meet on the trail within minutes. We're in radio contact with each other, and with Pablo and Steve back in the springs. But weirdly, I can't see Tom, until he's 100 feet away. He could see me 1/2 mile off. Very cool desert distance compression.
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Cruiserdrew
On the way there
And running up the canyon, we met @beno the chain smoking turk in the white 70. He was fresh off the Hole in the Rock, and headed to California for some R&R. I didn't get a pic but maybe Tom did. We tried to get him to join the cabin search, but he wanted to get to the springs and check out the hippie chicks. Who could blame him?
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Check out what I saw at Georg's today. Steve had too much fun at Turf and Surf and now after hundreds of DV washboard miles and some sand goofing, has a broken transfer case. But dang, those filets were good.
