Death Valley

[rusty_tlc]

For those interested in a Death Valley trip I did some research this morning.

The Morning Report is back. I looks like Titus Canyon is open. Saline Valley N&S passes are closed Steel pass is probably still doable. If anyone wanted to go to the hot springs they might be deserted with both other passes closed.

It looks like day temps in the lower areas are already well into the 80's with nigh temps in the 50's. The mountains are in the 70's during the day and still in the low 30's at night.

I'm pretty much out on this one, I want to take my Mom down there this year and we will be "Hotel" camping and staying on the more developed roads.

If anyone is interested let me know some possible dates and I'll add a poll.

 

[locrwln1]

We are heading down to the Valley of Death on March 26-28th. We will be in the Cabover, so we will be sticking to the main valley portion for this trip.

Jack

 

[450 DUDE]

I trying like He!% to get to DV before April.. Somehow

 

[rusty_tlc]

I talked it over with and I think we will postpone the trip with Mom until later this spring since it will be Hotels an AC car all the time. At 82 Mom won't be doing much hiking.

When we did the trip last year with Mark we had a lot of time at Eureka Dunes, I'm not sure but I think we could have made Saline hot springs with enough time to set camp, cook dinner and relax. Maybe someone with a better sense of time that has done that route could chime in here (Jack, Dan, Ken?).

What I'm thinking is Reno to Saline HS via Steel pass and camp Friday.
Saturday down Saline Valley, up Lippencot mine road. Hang at the Race track for a while. Check out Ughebe Crater then camp at Mesquite Spring CG.
Sunday out on Big Pine Road with an optional side trip someplace for those of us that can take Monday off.

For the side trip I was thinking head north on Eureka Valley road but head to Gold Point?

We're pretty flexible on dates as long as it doesn't get to hot. People who have schedules need to post up if they want to do this trip.

So what do you guys think?

 

[spressomon]

We've done Reno to Saline via Steel Pass several times. Its about 8 hours unless you dally/take too many breaks. Otherwise do it like we did together and camp at Eureka Dunes the first night for a more relaxed pace.

Dan

 

[primer7]

I talked it over with and I think we will postpone the trip with Mom until later this spring since it will be Hotels an AC car all the time. At 82 Mom won't be doing much hiking.

When we did the trip last year with Mark we had a lot of time at Eureka Dunes, I'm not sure but I think we could have made Saline hot springs with enough time to set camp, cook dinner and relax. Maybe someone with a better sense of time that has done that route could chime in here (Jack, Dan, Ken?).

What I'm thinking is Reno to Saline HS via Steel pass and camp Friday.
Saturday down Saline Valley, up Lippencot mine road. Hang at the Race track for a while. Check out Ughebe Crater then camp at Mesquite Spring CG.
Sunday out on Big Pine Road with an optional side trip someplace for those of us that can take Monday off.

For the side trip I was thinking head north on Eureka Valley road but head to Gold Point?

We're pretty flexible on dates as long as it doesn't get to hot. People who have schedules need to post up if they want to do this trip.

So what do you guys think?

April is somewhat open for me, so most of the month would be flexible.

 

[CV Kurt]

My wife and I have been talking about a Death Valley trip this spring... dragging the new 4x6 offroad trailer. Probably a mix of camping and hotels. We have no particular plan as of yet. Would enjoy meeting up with folks, if we happen to be down there at the same time. We'd be interested in a group excursion as well, whether a separate trip or something we do in combination with our spring vacation.

We cannot go 9-14 April (fly fishing on the Olympia peninsula).

 

[450 DUDE]

The morning report states North Pass open.
The South Pass has been "closed" by the county for a while all that means that there is a road closed sign @ the beginning of the road

I seems to me if you want to make the springs by dark via Steel Pass you would want to be in Bridgeport by 8:30- 9:00 am and hit a quick lunch before turning off 395

ken

 

[primer7]

3rd & 4th week in April are looking the best for me, could do a trip towards the 15th, but I'd just be getting back from Vegas...a winner...of course!

 

[rusty_tlc]

The morning report states North Pass open.
The South Pass has been "closed" by the county for a while all that means that there is a road closed sign @ the beginning of the road

I seems to me if you want to make the springs by dark via Steel Pass you would want to be in Bridgeport by 8:30- 9:00 am and hit a quick lunch before turning off 395

ken

Conditions seem to be changing fast, N Pass was closed yesterday when I made my post. I agree S pass probably has a couple of rocks in the road, we have been over at least twice when it was closed. No idea how they decide when to close that road..

I for one would skip lunch in Bridgeport, we usually just eat a sandwich on the side of the road somewhere.

2.5 hours drive time from Reno to Bridge port with a 7:00 am leave time (Reno), puts us in Bridgport at 9:30.

Last year we met at the Arco station on the S end of Carson at 8:00 and had camp set as Eureka Dunes by mid afternoon. Mark, Joanne and I stopped on a side road outside Big Pine for about 1/2 hour for lunch.

I think we decide to have the meet at the Arco in Minden at 7:00AM this year. So Saline by dark sounds dooable as long as no one wants to stop for lunch at a restaurant along the way. An we don't have a large group, I think you need to add about 10-15 Min per stop for every vehicle you add to a group. No bad on anyone, just the way it is.

Kurt: I would not recommend a trailer on the route we have planned.
This is where we were denied with our lifted Pop-up. We actually had to have everyone lift the trailer and move it so I could back out of that and let everyone else through. We were just to wide with ours. That said Spressomon walked right through with his Horizon Adventure Trailer.

Once you know what you can, and can't, do with your trailer it might be okay.

Same place last year with the FJ60

This is our camp at Eureka Dune

 

[Bbumbl40]

Sounds like a better plan than I was going to post.

 

[primer7]

Great pictures, makes me what to head out ASAP!

 

[chicago]

Donno if I can pull this off as much as Id LOVE TO.
Have a pending tax issue for one
mexico vacation in the beginning of May
Come home, turn around and head down to Blotch in....DEATH VALLEY!

 

[rusty_tlc]

Sounds like a better plan than I was going to post.

What did you have in mind?

 

[rusty_tlc]

Anybody have any dates in mind other than the last part of April(primer7)?

Tick Tock, Tick Tock People

 

[WILLD420]

Loan me a trailer to camp in and we can go next weekend... Little damp and cold still yet..

 

[rusty_tlc]

Loan me a trailer to camp in and we can go next weekend... Little damp and cold still yet..

Yeah, it's tough trying to plan this trip such that you catch that perfect weekend between freezing your Hoo Hoo off and cooking it.

 

[locrwln1]

Loan me a trailer to camp in and we can go next weekend... Little damp and cold still yet..

What are you talking about???

Drag that Mobile Home 5th wheel of yours down to Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells (where we are staying) and base camp from there. We have done it several times. You can go exploring in the Dodge. We are going to leave the camper on the Ford and do our exploring that way. Won't be too rugged, but still plausible.

Jack

 

[WILLD420]

So pick a date will ya.

We're booked for the weekend of April 16, otherwise we're pretty flexible if we have advance notice.

 

[rusty_tlc]

A base camp at Stovepipe Wells wouldn't be a bad thing. It's kind of like camping in the Walmart parking lot, but if you have one of the West facing sites on the outside the sunset view is good.

In addition to the club DV run and I have been planning to hike Marble Canyon with a base camp either at Stovepipe Wells or boondocking thereabouts as soon as the Furnace Creek weather reports start hitting the 50's at night. We are kind of spontaneous about our trips so it's tough to put a date on it for those who need to plan in advance.

FWIW the road from the SW airport to Marble/Cottonwood Canyons looked like it would be doable with a Cab-over or 5th wheel. We saw trucks boiling out there at a really good clip the time we camped at SW. You could probably boondock it with either type of rig.