Death Valley

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rusty_tlc said:
Unless there was snow up the canyon you could drive a Civic to the coke ovens. I don't fault you for erring on the side of caution though, that's kind of my mantra.
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I've done it a couple times in an Accord!!

Aguerrebury Point is right near the Kilns and has a great over-look, second only to Dante's View for a drive-up situation.
 
Cruiserdrew said:
Wern't me but I wish it was. I think I've seen a Tan 60 down there a couple of times, and bet its's local. If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's a Tan 60 in good condition that has a "Jeep" emblem on the rear hatch. Sacriledge, if you ask me. The guy that owns it is not real talkative.

Last time I saw him was in Ballarat 2 years ago.
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Haha! That's the guy I was telling you about last week Dan. He's the BLM Steering Commitee rep for the Sierra Club!
 
rusty_tlc said:
Unless there was snow up the canyon you could drive a Civic to the coke ovens. I don't fault you for erring on the side of caution though, that's kind of my mantra.
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Last time I was at Mahogany Flats CG, there WAS a Civic up there! Of course that was during the summer...:hillbilly:
 
There is so much to see in Death Valley. My wife and I were there for 4 days and we barely scratched the surface. Most of the trails are just that ... 4wd trails without much rock crawling but the scenery is incredible. Our top list:

From the road:
- Lowest point in the US (just gotta take a picture next to the sign)
- Devils Golf Course (crazy formations)
- Artists Pallet (minerals cause different colors on the hills)
- Dante's View (Star Wars view on Tatwin (sp?) of Luke Skywalker's planet)
- Scotty's Castle - OK to tour the castle but we were not that impressed

4wd / Dirt Roads
- Titus Canyon (great scenery + Sand People scene from Star Wars)
- Racetrack Road and the Racetrack (racetrack is great .... moving rocks)
- Lippencot Trail (narrow shelf road) -or- Hunter Mountain (great side trips to some mines)

We did not get a chance to go over Mengel's pass but the next time we will do it...

I attached some pics for inspiration

1st - View of the trail through Titus Canyon... not the narrow section
2nd - Teakettle Junction ... on the way to the racetrack
3rd - The Racetrack - I love this picture and the fact I found several rocks 'racing' together
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DaToy said:
We will be spending the week after christmas there. Looking forward to a cool trip.
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Be sure to get the latest National Geographic Map for Death Valley. It is the best one that we found. Very accurate and it includes the mileage, topo, etc...

There are a number of other reference books that describe many of the roads. If you stop by the book store at the visitor's center in furnace creeek, they have a pretty good supply of 4wd books that describe most of the roads in the park. You can probably get the National Geographic map there too IIRC.
 
Go to Ballarat and say howdy to Rocky, buy a soda, and tell him you think that Obama is great. Just kidding. If his dad George is still alive and there, he'll want to talk about FDR. Time stands still.
 
lcolon said:
Be sure to get the latest National Geographic Map for Death Valley. It is the best one that we found. Very accurate and it includes the mileage, topo, etc...

There are a number of other reference books that describe many of the roads. If you stop by the book store at the visitor's center in furnace creeek, they have a pretty good supply of 4wd books that describe most of the roads in the park. You can probably get the National Geographic map there too IIRC.
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I think they even have maps on bandanas and t-shirts, in case you are prone to burning paper, or you're into that PC dead tree stuff!;p
 
65swb45 said:
I think they even have maps on bandanas and t-shirts, in case you are prone to burning paper, or you're into that PC dead tree stuff!;p
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LOL - The permanent residents are definitely characters!!!

Speaking of characters - That guy that runs the museum in Ballarat is one of them...

Ballarat ranks up there with the weirdest places I have been... the museum (composition of old artifacts and modern skimpy pinup pics) is certainly a place to visit. My wife and I were wondering whether we were in some kind of odd movie while there... especially since Charles Manson's truck is parked out front
 
lcolon said:
LOL - The permanent residents are definitely characters!!!

Speaking of characters - That guy that runs the museum in Ballarat is one of them...

Ballarat ranks up there with the weirdest places I have been... the museum (composition of old artifacts and modern skimpy pinup pics) is certainly a place to visit. My wife and I were wondering whether we were in some kind of odd movie while there... especially since Charles Manson's truck is parked out front
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Ballarat is pretty weird, but I think that Rhyolite near Beatty NV may be even a little more weird. The 12 apostles (the Last Supper) and night rider especially.

take the tour:

http://rhyolitesite.com/
 
lacruiser said:
Ballarat is pretty weird, but I think that Rhyolite near Beatty NV may be even a little more weird. The 12 apostles (the Last Supper) and night rider especially.

take the tour:

http://rhyolitesite.com/
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We went there... I took the 'tour' at the link you provided but I do not remember seeing any of these art pieces there. Just some of the walls from the old buildings... attached are some pics from our visit
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lcolon said:
We went there... I took the 'tour' at the link you provided but I do not remember seeing any of these art pieces there. Just some of the walls from the old buildings... attached are some pics from our visit
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I was there about 2 years ago on one of Andy's DV adventures. I sure hope that someone didn't walk off with any of those art pieces, that would be a big shame.

Did you at least see the big cinderblock woman and the miner? I doubt they'd just be able to cart those away, they're pretty big.
 
lacruiser said:
I was there about 2 years ago on one of Andy's DV adventures. I sure hope that someone didn't walk off with any of those art pieces, that would be a big shame.

Did you at least see the big cinderblock woman and the miner? I doubt they'd just be able to cart those away, they're pretty big.
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Maybe my memory is failing (age?)... or we were so focused on exploring the ghost town that I don't remember the white art pieces... I do remember checking out the old hotel, railroad car, and the cemetery. What was crazy is that someone had passed away 100 years TO THE DAY that we were visiting the town. It was getting late in the afternoon so after spending maybe 1hr there we headed out to Titus Canyon. I don't have any pics of the statues but I will have to ask the wife and see if she remembers...
 
lcolon said:
Maybe my memory is failing (age?)... or we were so focused on exploring the ghost town that I don't remember the white art pieces... I do remember checking out the old hotel, railroad car, and the cemetery. What was crazy is that someone had passed away 100 years TO THE DAY that we were visiting the town. It was getting late in the afternoon so after spending maybe 1hr there we headed out to Titus Canyon. I don't have any pics of the statues but I will have to ask the wife and see if she remembers...
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The art pieces are there. They recently opened a museum there, the Goldwell

You probably did not miss this
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The wife and I are planning a camping and hotel trip to Death Valley via the east side of the park coming from Nevada. We are looking to hike a bit and sightsee. She has never been there. Any must see suggestions?

Hoping for April or May at the latest.

And of the two hotels in Furnace Creek what one might be better, the ranch or the inn?

Thanks,
BigJim
 
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