Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

I have a trip planned. But am bummed that the road to Scotty's Castle is closed.

 

Am I to guess your screen name refers to having actually flown the blackbird?

 

I'm heading into DV from Ridgecrest early 3/17 for a couple back roads camping nights. Exact route is still tbd, too many choices. Only "must see" stops are for the racetrack and bad water. Not sure how much to try and see in 3 days / 2 nights.

 

I would add Titus Canyon (if it's open) and Ubehebe Crater as well, you'll be driving right by them. If you're out by Racetrack, Lost Burro Mine is fun.

 

My trip to DV this month from the 22nd to the 26th is a go. I am a little worried about getting through North Pass from what I've been reading on the Saline Valley Preservation forum. I guess I'll just have to play it by ear- we may have to modify the plan a little bit and come through South Pass. If anyone will be there during that time let me know I'd love to meet up and crack a beer or three.

 

there wasnt any snow below 7000' when i was there last weekened. I attempted and failed to make the drive between cerro gordo and saline valley by way of white talc mountain rd though. there are still some good sized drifts in the upper elevations. i was in a 3rd gen T4R with a 3" suspension lift and i sunk it to the frame in the very first drift i came to. i expect in a week or so with the temperatures on the rise these will be passable. no where else in DV did i have any issues. from saline valley to lippencott pass all the way down to salisbury pass, rodgers pass on the south west end. i havent gone through goler or mengel yet this year though.

 

Hunter Mountain has significant mud at the top. There was a black jeep stuck last weekend but they made it out after a lot of digging.

 

Where did you get that report from?

 

Look at the Alerts on the NPS page.

 

Oh, I'm on there everyday.
Lots of the secluded back country roads are rarely on any of the NPS pages...

 

Oh heck no......

 

I'd prefer the Oxcart.

 

http://www.reviewjournal.com/local/nevada/abandoned-van-causes-serious-damage-salt-pan-death-valley

Ugh..

I am trying to get a week long trip together by the end of next month! Only driven through Death Valley so I am super excited, it's been a life long goal to see The Racetrack.

 

camped a couple nights last week in the valley. Preoccupied sitting near the fire I looked up to see the Fjet arrive before its sound, then change its course to vertical, I was looking into the twin jet burners full of red fire as it lifted off from its low pass approach. banged my head up a bit.

 

Thanks for the tip on Lost Burro Mine - that was a cool place to see. I just got back from DV - what an incredible place! I felt like a kid, it was so much fun exploring all the side trails, abondoned mines, etc. I'll try and write up some more detailed thoughts, but my big thought was how well the Tacoma handled everything thrown at it. These are some great all around trucks.

 

Shameless plug: http://www.adventureswithdog.com/2016/05/dvnp/

 

Leaving tomorrow morning for 5 days. Stoked that they just reopened Titus!

 

OMG, you found Heart-Shaped Pool! That's where me and my buddies were camping when the Northridge Earthquake happened. We had tried to stay at Russell's Camp, but it was packed to the rafters that weekend, so we drove out to Heart-Shaped Pool and wound up camping there. About 5:30 in the morning Wild Bill, who was living at the camp at the time, comes driving into our camp and proclaims very loudly, "Ya'll better get yer britches on, there's been an earthquake." The 5 and the 14 were down because of the bridge collapse, so we had to drive across the 58 to the 15 to get back into Los Angeles. The traffic was insane, took us like sixteen hours to get back home.

 

You may have already seen, but report on SVPA site says North Pass has a few muddy and snowy patches left but is otherwise in good condition and easily passable. Know you were considering that route earlier.

Also be advised that about a week ago someone got really stuck on Hunter Mountain and that road is notorious for bad mud in the spring. So if leaving Racetrack to the south I'd recommend down Lippincott and then over South Pass rather than taking the more scenic route over Hunter.

Have a blast!