Hi All,
Headed to DV over 11/18 weekend for a 4 day trip. I have copied the itinerary below. I am the least experienced overlander in the group. Three other guys, each with their own truck. My brother will be in a 100 series, there will be a built Cherokee, and a Raptor. The other three have been before and said my truck will be fine, but I'm a little worried. I've googled some of the places (specifically Lippencott Mine Road) and it looks like some serious stuff. For me, anyway.
I'm on Bridgestone Dueler 31x10.50R16LT "A/T" tires. They're in good shape but they're not big knobby off road tires. Full size spare in good shape. Suspension is stock but I rebuilt it and there is no sag on any of the corners. Sits nice and high. I have no sliders and am now getting a little worried that perhaps I should- the body is in good condition and I's like to keep it that way.
Engine, transmission, 4wd all in good shape so I don't have any real concerns there.
Just curious if, based on the itinerary below, I'm getting in too far over my head. Would hate to drive up there (5 hours from LA) and realize I screwed up.
Any thoughts are really appreciated, thanks!
-Tighe
Itinerary and photos of my truck below.
On 11/15/17, the plan is to meet at the Arco in Ridgecrest sometime in the after noon. We can get fuel and other supplies (Albertson's) from this area. Then we hit the black top and go up Hwy 178 toward Trona. From there we take Trona Rd. to the pinnacles. We backtrack and get back on 178. We will take a dirt road off 178 to the Fish Canyon Pass. This trail is not marked and may be somewhat hard to find. I Googled it to get a better idea of where it is. Once we exit the canyon we will be on the D-Valley floor and on our way to the Gohler wash and to Barker Ranch for a quick stop. After Barker Ranch we head to the Stripped Butte, which is across from the Geologists Cabin. Depending on the time and mostly the amount of daylight left this should be our first camp.
Day 2- we hit the trail toward the black top and on to Badwater. We get back on the trail to Chloride Cliffs. From there were hit the trail and get on the highway into Beaty NV. This will be another opportunity for fuel and food. From here we pick up a steep trail to Lead Field. This will lead us into Titus Canyon, which is a one way trail toward Badwater. Once we are back on the highway we will stop at the visitors center because we will (should) pay for visitor passes. The plan would be to camp at the nearby Mesquite Campground; however, it will be most likely be full and I had a bad experience with it last time.
Day 3- we head to Ubehebe Crater. After that it will be the long and rough road through the valley. This will take us to Tea Kettle Junction and on to the Race Track. We will take the Lippancott Trail behind the Race Track. This road is steep and narrow. After we are over the ridge we head to the Warm Springs bathing/water hole. This will be our camp.
Day 4- we can head out of the valley toward the Eureka Dunes. Steel Pass is one way to get there. However, I think we should locate another trail out. After the dunes it will be up and out of the park to Big Pine.
View attachment 1569557
Headed to DV over 11/18 weekend for a 4 day trip. I have copied the itinerary below. I am the least experienced overlander in the group. Three other guys, each with their own truck. My brother will be in a 100 series, there will be a built Cherokee, and a Raptor. The other three have been before and said my truck will be fine, but I'm a little worried. I've googled some of the places (specifically Lippencott Mine Road) and it looks like some serious stuff. For me, anyway.
I'm on Bridgestone Dueler 31x10.50R16LT "A/T" tires. They're in good shape but they're not big knobby off road tires. Full size spare in good shape. Suspension is stock but I rebuilt it and there is no sag on any of the corners. Sits nice and high. I have no sliders and am now getting a little worried that perhaps I should- the body is in good condition and I's like to keep it that way.
Engine, transmission, 4wd all in good shape so I don't have any real concerns there.
Just curious if, based on the itinerary below, I'm getting in too far over my head. Would hate to drive up there (5 hours from LA) and realize I screwed up.
Any thoughts are really appreciated, thanks!
-Tighe
Itinerary and photos of my truck below.
On 11/15/17, the plan is to meet at the Arco in Ridgecrest sometime in the after noon. We can get fuel and other supplies (Albertson's) from this area. Then we hit the black top and go up Hwy 178 toward Trona. From there we take Trona Rd. to the pinnacles. We backtrack and get back on 178. We will take a dirt road off 178 to the Fish Canyon Pass. This trail is not marked and may be somewhat hard to find. I Googled it to get a better idea of where it is. Once we exit the canyon we will be on the D-Valley floor and on our way to the Gohler wash and to Barker Ranch for a quick stop. After Barker Ranch we head to the Stripped Butte, which is across from the Geologists Cabin. Depending on the time and mostly the amount of daylight left this should be our first camp.
Day 2- we hit the trail toward the black top and on to Badwater. We get back on the trail to Chloride Cliffs. From there were hit the trail and get on the highway into Beaty NV. This will be another opportunity for fuel and food. From here we pick up a steep trail to Lead Field. This will lead us into Titus Canyon, which is a one way trail toward Badwater. Once we are back on the highway we will stop at the visitors center because we will (should) pay for visitor passes. The plan would be to camp at the nearby Mesquite Campground; however, it will be most likely be full and I had a bad experience with it last time.
Day 3- we head to Ubehebe Crater. After that it will be the long and rough road through the valley. This will take us to Tea Kettle Junction and on to the Race Track. We will take the Lippancott Trail behind the Race Track. This road is steep and narrow. After we are over the ridge we head to the Warm Springs bathing/water hole. This will be our camp.
Day 4- we can head out of the valley toward the Eureka Dunes. Steel Pass is one way to get there. However, I think we should locate another trail out. After the dunes it will be up and out of the park to Big Pine.
View attachment 1569557
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