March 15-22 Tahoe to Death Valley - wheeling advice?

[amaurer]

My lady and I are taking the BJ42 on a road trip for spring break, I could use some advice on where might be some fun wheeling (and what will still be inaccessible at that time), anyone got some ideas? We're starting out in Tahoe (from the Bay Area) and then trickling south through Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, to Death Valley. We have ~10 days, at least 2 of which are tied up in Tahoe already. Vehicle is stock height 40-series, 31" ATs, selectable rear locker.

Will there me any good fire roads in the Tahoe/Yosemite/Sequoia area that will be accessible at this time of year?

I've heard that Death Valley is quite nice in March, but at present its at the end of the trip and I'm not sure if I should make it a priority or not. We'd like to do some expedition style car camping if there are long trails to be had. DV is pretty big, what part(s) should I focus on?

Also we're going pass the Hungry Valley SVRA, might give that a shot - worth it?

We're travelling alone, so trails probably have to be mild unless someone wants to meet up

Lets hear some ideas!

 

[amaurer]

no one?!?!?!?!

 

[Anders]

I was in Death Valley for a week around New Year's in a stock FJ62 with ATs. We did Lippincott grade (at night), the lost chloride mine, lost burro mine, and a bunch of other trails. Other than ripping off a bumperette and hitting the diffs a couple times there were no issues, though we found out later that Lippincott was 'closed' when we passed the sign on the way out I should add that we were loaded with four people, and another 25gallons of water and gas in the back along with camping gear. You should be fine with clearance.

RE: timing, in December, Death Valley was pleasent though a little warm at 70deg in the basin. Nights were in the 40s, while there was some snow above 4500ft. I wouldn't go there during the summer or late spring unless I was headed for higher elevations or had some good AC.

For camping, Death Valley is great, you can camp anywhere that's 2 miles off the paved roads. Not hard to do. Also most of the trails are pretty easy. Though some may be more muddy now?

Of note, we did have 3 flats. One on lippincott grade, 1 on the road between teakettle junction and the racetrack, and 1 slow leak from ?. A tire repair kit and access to air at a gas station saved us. But we ended up cutting our plans short because of this.

Don't know the other placed you mentioned, but sounds like it should be fun

 

[chicago]

Id sooner go to DV than any of the other places that you mentioned, but it is REMOTE when you get back in there.
Teakettle junction and the race track are awesome places, Head down Lippencott trail and that will drop you into saline valley and the Saline hot springs are IMO a MUST, go out the back side of Saline hot springs and follow the trail to the Eureka dunes.
Death Valley is one of the most beautiful places that Ive been to, but you do have to be well prepared. The wash board roads are NASTY, and they go ON and ON.
Im going in April and Im counting the days to it.
There are SOOOOO many cool spots down there.
There are others on here that know FAAAAAR more than I, and will hopefully chime in.