Eight of us are going to be cruising the Saline Valley Road May 6-9. I haven't been out there since the late 70's, any "Must see" sights? We plan on going to Race Track Playa but no other set plans. Two full size trucks a jeep and my BJ.
Saline Valley road
- Thread starter dblugly
- Start date
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surfpig
The Anti-Tech
Which route?
Lots to see, depending on where you're going to/coming from...
Lots to see, depending on where you're going to/coming from...
roads were in great condition a few weeks ago when I was there. Lippencott was in great shape but for a full sized truck? Not sure about that one. Some real tight turns and narrow washouts. I was fine in the cruiser.
Here is a pic on Lippencott going from Saline to the Race Track -
You can see my report here - Cabrito
and tons of pics here
Have fun!
Here is a pic on Lippencott going from Saline to the Race Track -
You can see my report here - Cabrito
and tons of pics here
Have fun!
- Thread starter
- #4
Cabrito
Nice pics and thanks info on the roads. I was wondering about Lippencott and a full size truck. Might have to leave the truck at the base of the trail and have my buddy ride in my jump seats to the race track. How was the weather.
Surfpig
we are going from Big Pine down to Lone Pine.
Nice pics and thanks info on the roads. I was wondering about Lippencott and a full size truck. Might have to leave the truck at the base of the trail and have my buddy ride in my jump seats to the race track. How was the weather.
Surfpig
we are going from Big Pine down to Lone Pine.
Weather was great. It was in the mid 70's and windy as heck. Don't plan on those low temps when you are going.
There are places to pull over on Lippencott and if you are in a group then the lead vehicle can sort of recon ahead and let the bigger vehicles know if they can make it if you have some way to communicate with each other.
-m
Just got back last weekend...
Sailine Valley rd was in the BEST shape I had EVER seen it. Still tooth ratteling, but not as bad for some reason. A pleasant surprise for sure.
The weather was dissapointingly chilly (low 60's) and WINDY.
We began in Olancha, went down to Darwin falls, out through Darwin into the springs, out through steel pass (?) and up and over Papoose which spat us out in Independence.
This about sums up the weekend weather.
This is the wind WHIPPING across the flats at Olancha. It actually kinda SUCKED.
Have fun!
Chicago
Sailine Valley rd was in the BEST shape I had EVER seen it. Still tooth ratteling, but not as bad for some reason. A pleasant surprise for sure.
The weather was dissapointingly chilly (low 60's) and WINDY.
We began in Olancha, went down to Darwin falls, out through Darwin into the springs, out through steel pass (?) and up and over Papoose which spat us out in Independence.
This about sums up the weekend weather.
This is the wind WHIPPING across the flats at Olancha. It actually kinda SUCKED.
Have fun!
Chicago
surfpig
The Anti-Tech
Just got back last weekend...
Sailine Valley rd was in the BEST shape I had EVER seen it. Still tooth ratteling, but not as bad for some reason. A pleasant surprise for sure.
The weather was dissapointingly chilly (low 60's) and WINDY.
We began in Olancha, went down to Darwin falls, out through Darwin into the springs, out through steel pass (?) and up and over Papoose which spat us out in Independence.
This about sums up the weekend weather.
This is the wind WHIPPING across the flats at Olancha. It actually kinda SUCKED.
Have fun!
Chicago
That's a bit like our trip, but what are you gonna do?
Eureka dunes, April 6 or something. (we stayed up in the canyon, pretty nice there)...
surfpig
The Anti-Tech
That's a bit like our trip, but what are you gonna do?
Eureka dunes, April 6 or something. (we stayed up in the canyon, pretty nice there)...
View attachment 321377
We were trying to outrun a giant dust devil right there, but I had to stop because I couldn't see ANYTHING!
surfpig
The Anti-Tech
Striped Butte area is nice, 4000' elevation, so cooler. Some cabins to stay in. Goler Wash is uber cool, and challenging in spots...
It's vast out there. Make sure you're well prepared. Sounds like you are.
It's vast out there. Make sure you're well prepared. Sounds like you are.
That's a bit like our trip, but what are you gonna do?
Eureka dunes, April 6 or something. (we stayed up in the canyon, pretty nice there)...
View attachment 321377
WHOOOO! that looks like a DUSY of a dust devil there man!
We got blown out, but nothing like that.
I get ya. Even in the SH*TIEST weather down there, its a blast.
I think this about says it all....
A group BEFORE us wrote this and I thought it was fitting.
Chicago
Did Saline/Lippencott at the end March.
Lippencott downward is a piece of cake. Could be real interesting going up, though. We came on a Honda Pilot who had crawled down - the driver was pretty stressed out, said he shouldn't done it. He was getting stuck in the bottom of every ditch crossing at the end of the road. No 4WD necessary but a big (long) vehicle is going to be a chore.
Lippencott downward is a piece of cake. Could be real interesting going up, though. We came on a Honda Pilot who had crawled down - the driver was pretty stressed out, said he shouldn't done it. He was getting stuck in the bottom of every ditch crossing at the end of the road. No 4WD necessary but a big (long) vehicle is going to be a chore.
dude...did i pass you coming out of striped butte valley, i was in my silver lifted fj60?
there were a number of tlcs around when i was there a few weeks ago. it was windy too down in the valley with big dust storms but up in the canyons off west side road it was real nice.
very nice place. i love staying at russell camp and thats where i hung out for 5 days, went up and down mengel pass a couple times. goler isnt very challenging but mengel pass can be.
darn ome springs grumbled all the way, even with freshly greased shackles.
one love
jah bill
there were a number of tlcs around when i was there a few weeks ago. it was windy too down in the valley with big dust storms but up in the canyons off west side road it was real nice.
very nice place. i love staying at russell camp and thats where i hung out for 5 days, went up and down mengel pass a couple times. goler isnt very challenging but mengel pass can be.
darn ome springs grumbled all the way, even with freshly greased shackles.
one love
jah bill
oh one more thing, is it just me (i doubt it) or is that lippencott trail way overrated? ive gone up and down it maybe 3 times round trip, and its never very challenging. does it get its rating for "full size" trucks or something? as you know it *is* a little narrow but nothing to get worried about. I even went up it the first time out in my cruiser with old funk special 30" tires, went up it fine but then at racetrack where i stopped and got out to sightsee, i heard a "hissssssss" and i had a *nail* in my tire! luckily i just pushed it in (with a rock as i remember) and it made it out of there and i kept checking pressure and it was fine so i kept going for a couple days!
anyway, lippencott: overrated or scary?
one love
jah bill
anyway, lippencott: overrated or scary?
one love
jah bill
Could be...
I saw quite a few cruisers when we were down there.
Actually, we stayed RIGHT ACROSS from a guy at the springs who had a Nicely set up expedition style 62. Him and I chatted at length about the cruisers, griping about the power and such.
Chicago
Lippencott is no big deal, but you have to remember that tourists flock to The Racetrack in sedans. Once you're at the Racetrack, Lippencott is sorely tempting, especially for tourists looking to do something "crazy" so you have to assume anything less than a stern warning about the road would eventually be ignored by someone in a Civic.
As I said, the guy I met on there in a Honda Pilot was having a tough time of it. I don't think I'd take my Ram down either.
alia176
SILVER Star
what kind of temps can one expect in Saline valley right about end of may/beginning of June time frame?
Yes it will be really hot -
check these sites for good info -
Death Valley National Park Tourist Information
http://www.dvnha.org/morning_report/Morning.pdf
check these sites for good info -
Death Valley National Park Tourist Information
http://www.dvnha.org/morning_report/Morning.pdf
