Death Valley/Mojave in springtime

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hairy_apple

hairy_apple

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Grass Valley, CA
I am planning on a trip to the desert this spring. March or early April. I have never been, and it's always been on my list of places I really want to go.

Trying to get a few friends to come with us, so I think we'll have a small group.. 3 or so trucks.

I've been doing some research, but any ideas and advice would be awesome. Are there specific trails/roads we should be looking at? Anything we should avoid. I realize it's a large area, but if anyone has any suggestions that would be awesome.

I'll most likely be taking my FJ40, so I'm doing a few minor mods to get it ready for a longer then normal drive. Going to get a long range fuel tank, I've wanted for a while and in my reading so far it's quite clear some of these dirt roads might be pushing the range of my cruiser fuel wise. The other trucks that maybe going will all be semi built, we're not looking for tough wheeling, but if something awesome we have to see while we're down there is tough to get to, that's OK we've all got semi built or built trucks.

Thanks!
 
I think we're going to try for a week. Give us two days if needed to get down there from Grass Valley, and then 4 days of playing, and another day to drive home.

I will buy the book right now. I've looked at it, and wondered about it. Also been downloading topo maps and going to buy some quality maps of the area.

I hope we can get a few friends to come with us, but my wife and I will go solo if no one else is interested.
 
The MR area can be windy in March. It is a cool drive, and the Casebier book has a bunch of histrocial info and a very good route descritopn with GPS way points--which is very handy at teh east end of the trail.

You may also check out the Saline Valley area. It could be windy, too. A bit closer, not much hard wheeling, and hot spirngs. There are enough side trips to take up 4 days. BUT no gas in the area, so bring several gas cans.....If you have enough capacity to do 350-400 miles on pavement you should be ok

The roads got hit hard by a Summer thunderstorm, and are in rough shape in some areas. The rough spots should be beaten down by March.


Order teh Casebeir book directly from him.

http://mdhca.org/publications/mojave-road-guide
 
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Yes, the book is your best pal.

Just did this trip last week (right after the shutdown) with local group here, 10 rigs total.
We entered the Mojave Preserve on the Nevada side and ended the trail in Bakersfield.
It was a blast. We were there for 4 days and 3 nights.

I heard the desert is much better in spring when the wild flowers are blooming.

Bring an insect repellant. I learned it the hard way :mad::D
It was around high 80's daytime and low 40's at night...

A CB/HAM radio would be helpful in case of emergency as to cellphones, they have poor reception to none most of the times.

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Would you guys recommend MR vs going into Death Valley? I have been trying to figure out which one we wanted to go to, had been thinking DV as it was a little closer, and some cool sounding stuff, but MR seems like it's more popular.
 
Ok, good to know. I was leaning towards death Valley... but have a friend who did MR last year and it looked pretty cool too. DV is a little closer for us to drive to, and I had been really researching it a little more so far trying to figure out the exact areas we want to go. So far I have a few areas picked out that look pretty awesome. Racetrack looks amazing, as do some of the ghost towns.

As far as the fuel, I am either going to get an aux tank, or just bring a couple of jerry cans with us. I am hoping to be able to get an aux tank, as it would simplify things.

Both areas look pretty awesome, at some point I hope to do whichever we don't do this time. We're aiming for late march or early April, hoping the widlflowers are awesome.
 
I am usually in Death Valley the week before Easter (sometimes the week after). It's a great time of year to go, the high country is accessable and the low country isn't too hot.

The park is huge, you can't see it all in a week. You instantly feel at "home" and want to go back year after year. Once you're satisfied wth DV, check out the Mojave trail for its own uniqueness.

If it turns out you're going at Eastertime, maybe I'll see you there.
 
We maybe going around Easter. My buddies GF works at at school so I think we are going to try to plan it around her schools spring break so they can go.

I will talk to him this week and we will get the dates nailed down.

How rough are the roads? Are we talking about loose shale and washouts or is there tough to get through stuff. My parents are interested in going but have a stock 02 4runner... Its got good tires but no lift or anything. From the pictures it seems like they would be ok on most stuff... But i keep reading its high clearence 4x4 required... Does that mean not a subaru or is it ereally tougher then it looks in most of the pictures Ive seen?
 
I've done three tours in the Death Valley area in an 06 tacoma w/ a leveler kit and stock size tires (245x75x16) with NO issues. The wheeling is tame. MILES of washboard dirt roads and AMAZING scenery. The 4 runner would probably be the more comfortable ride down there over the 40. Leafs beat the hell outta you on that stuff.
Also, MAKE SURE, all nuts and bolts are TIGHT!!
If anything is loose... It's GONE!! I'd make a point of routinely checking nuts and bolts during the trip, regularly, as well. I DV is one of my happy places.
Saline Valley is a MUST SEE and MUST STAY!!
As Kofoed said, if its windy... It's a BIT@H, but that place is just... AMAZING!! Be aware, though... It's clothing optional, so you'll see what you wish could be UN seen!!
Race track is rad the trail down lippencott can be a bit sketchy. Ballerat canyon area has GOBS of trails in the area w/ many ghost towns and mines to explore and some really cool cabins that are maintained by wheelers. Barker canyon is down the way from there too. Never seen that yet.
Spring can be sketchy for weather. It can be perfect, or it can be WICKED nasty w/ winds.
I go w/ a group annually down there in the end of April and always, can't wait to go back.
You're right to be concerned about fuel, though. Plan your routes carefully and any chance you have to fuel up... DO IT!!
Stoked to read about it!!

K
 
Awesome, yeah... almost everyone else going is taking a modern truck other then me... I just WANT to take the 40.. but I will be slightly jealous if my parents do go with us and take the 4runner.

Thanks all for the answers. It's really a ton of help planning this trip. My buddy and I were looking at the maps yesterday and thinking we need to make a list of what we want to see/do and plan out a route and figure out the best way to route it.

I am getting REALLY excited for this trip. It's been on my bucket list forever.
 
The whole place sucks.



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Most of the backroads in DV can be done in a Subaru (with stout tires).
The biggest concerns are sharp rocks and epic washboard.

Last month I did the Goler wash/Mengel pass route and it was the worst I've seen, not for stock trucks w/open diff's.

Being your first visit, check out the visitor's center at Furnace Creek. The rangers there are very helpful with road information and will help you plan accordingly.

You can call them at: (760) 786-3200

I think my trip next spring will include either Racetrack valley (via Hunter mountain) or Butte valley, then into Saline valley.
 
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Epic washboard in a 40... yeah... going to have to get some good speakers to drown out the rattles!
Actually, I've got a huge list of stuff I need to get done in the next few months if I'm going to drive the cruiser more miles in one week then I normally do all year. :) Besdes fixing all the little stuff and making sure it's all ready for a long drive, going to build some kind of storage system for the back and a roof rack.

Talked to my parents today, and they are going to come with us for sure.

Thanks again for all the responses, it's really helping a lot with the planning of where to go.
 
Road trip

How many rigs and people are going on this trip? Could i tag along? i will be working on the 60 all winter since my 4runner is back on the road,need new clutch and a whole bunch of under carriage work to be done.let me know what dates are you guys heading out i always wanted to go to DV.:D
 
Right now I have only got my cruiser (me and my wife) and my parents going, but I think we have at least two other's most likely coming. I will let you know once we nail down the dates, I don't mind at all if you want to meet up with us! Should have 3-5 trucks depending on who all actually commits.

I should have some idea of the dates soon... waiting on a buddy to see when his GF can get off and that's kind of the sticking point.. should know by the end of the week and if not, I'll just pick a week and say that's it whoever can make it cool those who can't, too bad so sad.

I have a list a mile long of stuff to get done on the cruiser... it didn't seem too bad until I actually started making a list today and realized there is a ton I need to get fixed. That's the thing about cruiser... 80% of the parts of them can be malfunctioning and they still run. :)
 
When you ask the rangers for a map, make sure you specify that you want the BACKCOUNTRY Road Map, or the ranger will give you the standard tourist map.

Here's the digital version of part of the Backcountry Road Map on the Death Valley website:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=139091

If you can only do one, I'd definitely recommend Death Valley over Mojave Road. I've gone/done both multiple times.
 
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