Death Valley Spring Blooms Run

[Iceaxe]

Hi Folks,
I've never been to Death Valley and was wondering if we could throw together an ad hoc "posse" to hit DV for a weekend. Any takers?

 

[Iceaxe]

Really? No takers?

 

[traveldud]

I'll be out there in late May if that has any interest. Coming from the east coast.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

If you want to see the bloom, you gotta go now. The instant it gets hot, it's all done. I just got back, and in the southern part of the valley the bloom of yellow primroses and desert 5 spots is incredible. I was there for the last superbloom in 2005(which actually was better), so it's a long wait if you miss this one.

Right now, the best bloom we saw was up Warm Springs Canyon off the Westside road, but this will evolve over the next week or two. There was a lot of green, just waiting for the right moment to bloom, so for the next week or two or three, there's a lot to see.

Even without the floral superbloom, Death Valley has a lot of everything. Go now before it gets too hot. Early spring and fall/late fall are the times to visit.

 

[surfpig]

We tried to get a trip together this year but no go. mrs surfpig has to work and I would want to do at least a week there.

 

[landcrshr]

It takes me a full weekend just to drive there and back.

 

[Qball]

Let's go!!!!!

This super bloom is a once a decade event at best.

 

[Kofoed]

Maps | National Park Service

The NPS map. You will need to go to main NPS DEVA page to get updates....

 

[mazder]

I'm going out that way this weekend. We are going to be running Last chance canyon.

 

[ARB777]

Interested but schedule is tight. Any dates you guys are considering? It is raining on the weekend so i guess it should be good for a couple more weeks? Want to see the racetrack playa since my truck overheated and wasnt able to go last week. I have been told that the trail to the racetrack is hard. Any experience? Im all stock with michellin m/s oem tires.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Interested but schedule is tight. Any dates you guys are considering? It is raining on the weekend so i guess it should be good for a couple more weeks? Want to see the racetrack playa since my truck overheated and wasnt able to go last week. I have been told that the trail to the racetrack is hard. Any experience? Im all stock with michellin m/s oem tires.

The trail to the Racetrack from Ubehebe is easy. It's just long and has epic washboard. You can make it there in a stock truck. Terrible washboard in spots. It will shake anything off your truck that isn't done correctly with proper torque settings.

The other way, up Lippencott from Saline is harder and much rockier. Still not "hard" but would be a challenge on stock tires and I would only recommend if you have assistance. Plus, it takes forever. First you have to get to Saline (North Pass is good and open despite the "closed" signs from Inyo County.), Then you have to get to the bottom of Grapevine Pass where Lippencott grade takes off, then do Lippencot, then turn left and go to the Race track. So if time is limited, go in through Ubehebe.

It's hard to "do" Death Valley on a tight schedule. The place is way too big, the distances too far, and the roads relatively slow. If you try and rush it, like a weekend trip, pick one small area, don't try and see everything.

 

[ARB777]

The trail to the Racetrack from Ubehebe is easy. It's just long and has epic washboard. You can make it there in a stock truck. Terrible washboard in spots. It will shake anything off your truck that isn't done correctly with proper torque settings.

The other way, up Lippencott from Saline is harder and much rockier. Still not "hard" but would be a challenge on stock tires and I would only recommend if you have assistance. Plus, it takes forever. First you have to get to Saline (North Pass is good and open despite the "closed" signs from Inyo County.), Then you have to get to the bottom of Grapevine Pass where Lippencott grade takes off, then do Lippencot, then turn left and go to the Race track. So if time is limited, go in through Ubehebe.

It's hard to "do" Death Valley on a tight schedule. The place is way too big, the distances too far, and the roads relatively slow. If you try and rush it, like a weekend trip, pick one small area, don't try and see everything.

Thanks @Cruiserdrew for the info.

 

[Shoredreamer]

Me and the wife and kid are going this Tuesday for a few nights. Anybody gonna be there? Then maybe Carrizo NM and Big Sur on the way back home.

 

[Qball]

Sounds like this coming weekend isn't a good idea because there is a huge running event there with lots of closed roads. Maybe the weekend after?

 

[Iceaxe]

I'm open to whatever, but would need to see a group of rigs going...