Death Valley/Mojave in springtime

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landcrshr said:
We were at the geo. cabin Fri. & Sat. nights (4/11 & 4/12). the new brick s***house was a cool addition.

Sad to see Goler wash had been graded and no longer a challenge. My friend was kinda sorry since he just spent $5k on gears/lockers/tires & wheels. :doh:

The palm tree actually blew over in the wind, right across the goldfish pond and kiddy tub (no one was hurt).
within a day volunteers had it stripped, cut and removed!
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Didn't really drive up to geo cabin, saw a couple cars parked behind it so didnt get close. Went over to Owlshead Mountains the next day to look at some recent fault scarps......Going back fo sho (unless it gets really hot--better hurry)
 
See if we can revive this old thread.
Cruiserdrew, With 10 years of Death Valley trips under the hood I consider you an authority on wheeling DV. I like the way you plan the trip (Post #30) as a circuit and are looking to enjoy the time, not complete a checklist. I have some maps, have ordered Rogers DV SUV Trails Book and the DV NP National Geographic map. Enjoyed your crankshaft vid, helps explain to others how and why we become attached to these vehicles.
We are considering spending eight days in DV but am not sure when to go. I have done some research (and watched a lot of poorly done videos)and am looking at the first part of March to have decent temperatures and avoid the Spring Break crowd in the second half of the month. Or the first part of April. We want to spend some of the time on the high mountain trails (which aren't open until March) and stay at each of the high campgrounds (away from the masses) but the more I read am starting to think there may be too much snow at the high elevations. I lived in AZ for over 20 years so am aware of how egg frying hot things can get in the desert - don't want to go too late. My NW native friends feel hot above 75 degrees and think they will melt at 85! Your experienced thoughts? Thanks, Nate :steer:
 
Either March or April will be prime times. March will be colder and snow may be present up high, especially this year. If you can go in April, go then. You will likely be able to go over Hunter mountain out of Hidden Valley. It could be muddy and snowy there still. Early April or late March, with all this water, the flower show is likely to be great. I was there in 2005 for the flower show of the century and it was really impressive. This year will likely be similar.

I never really stay in the valley, so the heat isn't a huge factor, but my favorite times to be there are late March and Late October/Early November.

It's never bad there, though. A truly great place, that takes awhile to appreciate. If you like to hike, and really get out there, get the Digonnet books. He's a Stanford physicist, that has spent a life time exploring the remote hikes out of the Death Valley environs.
 
Go to saline valley hot springs. Plenty of info on how to get there. We had the place to ourselves minus the care taker (lizard Larry?). Spent a week there and got back about three weeks ago. For the love of God, do not stay at panamint springs resort hotel. Good beer at the restaurant but the hotel rooms had bugs, the walls were paper thin and had ears, and shower had mold and didn't work properly. Didn't shower there and instead, showered at the springs.

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I will start planning for late March/early April. The desert in bloom is amazing, (we lived in the upper Sonora Desert in AZ) looking forward to seeing the show. We will be staying in the valley a good portion of the time to run some of those trails and hit some hot springs. Yes we like to hike, will check out the Digonnet books.
Thanks for the information and quick response. :)
 
pkelly72, Saline Hot Springs is on the list, likely will camp the entire trip, (am set up to sleep on the storage unit) but tips like that about the hotel are much appreciated. Thanks
 
Just a heads up, Easter is at the end of March this year. If you plan to be at Saline for Easter there will be a crowd, usually a good crowd, but a crowd none the less.
 
I have to chime in... I too had the opportunity to join CruiserDrew, Pismo Jim, Alvaro and many of the Nor-Cal wagons on one of their 3 day trips thru DV. Holy Moly. I now know what 4 High is for... those wagons flat out moved thru that desert! We logged over 280 miles in those 3 days, went thru snow covered passes, every valley was different, saw all the sites and I personally ended up with 3 flat tires. It was a great time and my wife specifically noted it the best pix I ever brought home (as it was something OTHER than landcruisers on rocks).

This is also when I discovered how those Wagon folks eat! Again with the Holy Moly. Of course, they have wagons with storage, AC and more.

If you want advice, those are the guys to talk to along with Mr. Mark Algazy whom travels the desert more than anyone I know.

Have fun, stay safe! Take tire repair kit or slow down. :)
 
Haven't been there for a few years, but the eastern entrance near Shoshone up past the old Pfizer talc mine to the geologists cabin is a nice run. Don't get your head under water in the swimming pool because of potentially lethal amoebas. Btw l was at furnace creek on 1 April one year and it was over 100f so go prepared.
 
NW Wheeler said:
I will start planning for late March/early April. The desert in bloom is amazing, (we lived in the upper Sonora Desert in AZ) looking forward to seeing the show. We will be staying in the valley a good portion of the time to run some of those trails and hit some hot springs. Yes we like to hike, will check out the Digonnet books.
Thanks for the information and quick response. :)
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Don't go, it'll suck.
dvposer20-jpg.397067

I think we might be going sometime around then too.

:hhmm:
 
If you go in April, I'll see you there.
 
landcrshr said:
Deja vu :lol:
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:grinpimp:

From deeper in the archives...
cottonwood-mojo-jpeg.55096

We'll be in the 80 this time though. Don't know when we're going, the kid's spring breaks don't match up this year. Not that it necessarily matters...
 
The main issues with the DV area are gas, tires and washboard. Gas stations are few and far between and expensive. Gas up when you can, regardless of the $$$. Panamint Springs Resort is a handy place, but power goes out (no gas pumps) and they may be out of gas anyway. I tell newbies to bring enough gas to run an equivalent of 400 miles on the highway if you are doing a loop as previously described.

The long miles on dirt increase the chances on catching a rock and cutting a tire--bring two spares if you can. Check the ranger vehicles, I've seen guys with three spares and a floor jack in the back lol. I think a lot of it is not paying attention to the road.

The washboard will boil a cheap shock. So plan on ruining a pair of front OE shocks if the washboard is pronounced. Airing down tires helps a bunch, but exposes sidewalls to lurking rocks.

Cross-check any "roads" shown on a gps device with a real map.

It is a cool place, been returning since 1988 in my own 4wd.......
 
landcrshr said:
What? You don't want me to invite you?
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After watching the "Death Valley Cabins" video? F' yea. I happen to know that surfpig and I are camping compatible. :) I know you and I have been in the same camp a few times too.
 
:idea: Maybe we should both tag along with @surfpig
 
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