Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

They make water from the carbs in the seeds they eat- we do that too but we sweat and pee it all out, they don’t. Anyone see tortoises out yet? We found this girl near JT, too bad she didn’t make it through the drought.

 

Just sharing info. No pro/con from my outlook.

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=75590

Environmental Assessment for a Modification to Keystone Mine Plan of Operations CACA-33965
Death Valley National Park » Environmental Assessment for a Modification to Keystone Mine Plan of Operations CACA-33965 » Document List
The National Park Service (NPS) has approved a plan of operations that includes diversion and use of up to 470 gallons of water per day from Sourdough Spring, within Death Valley National Park, for use at a mine outside the park.

Sourdough Spring is located in Goler Wash in the Panamint Mountains. Bush Management Company (BMC) has a California State water license to divert and use up to 470 gallons per day from Sourdough Spring. This water right was established in 1941, before the area was added to Death Valley National Park. The NPS approved BMC's plan of operations, including the use and diversion of up to 470 gallons of water per day from Sourdough Spring.

BMC plans to use the water at Keystone Mine, located about one mile west of Sourdough Spring on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In a related decision, the BLM approved BMC's plan for exploratory drilling at Keystone Mine. That project includes drilling on existing unpatented lode mining claims with less than one acre of disturbance.

The BLM prepared the Environmental Assessment analyzing the proposed modification to the Keystone Mine plan of operations. The National Park Service was a cooperating agency on the Environmental Assessment. However, each agency signed a separate decision document that applied only to lands under its jurisdiction.

A 30-day public comment period ended on October 12, 2018. The Environmental Assessment and each agencies' Finding of No Significant Impact decision document can be viewed at this website.


Contact Information
Ben Roberts
760-786-3253

 

Ugh.

 

Death Valley Spring Break

Another trip report. This one is all repeat locations as it was mostly about entertaining my daughter.

​

 

Sometimes I wish I lived closer, so I could have “another trip report with all repeat locations” in Death Valley. There are great places to visit out east, but I have really been watching this thread lately. I am really hoping for a long-term road trip summer of 2020.

 

Amusingly we're planning a long road trip to the east coast in the summer of 2020.

 

Gravity never forgets

 

Thx for sharing, I'll look into this a bit more!

 

Not to belabor the obvious, but even at higher elevations DVNP is very hot in summer, with the ensuing risks coupled with fewer backcountry travelers to help you out if problems occur. Be prepared!

 

Very smart advice, thank you. I have been there several years ago, and I nearly ran out of gas, LOL. It’s easy to get in trouble out there if you don’t plan correctly. I used the word “summer” loosely. I was thinking I’d ride through DV mid-late spring then spend time in the early summer with my friends in Northern California. Then head back east a northern route. I’m just calling the trip a summer trip.

 

Saw from another forum that 1st Gen Taco lost a lower ball joint on North Pass from Saline Valley a couple of days ago. They managed to get a dolly and recover the vehicle the next day without having to pay a huge Miller's bill.

 

Sure are a lot of Toyota ball joint experts on that forum But I think the owner handled it well. I replaced my lower ball joints at 170K on my T100 (right after a solo DV trip) and it transformed the front end feel of the truck.
EDIT: I was referring to the “experts” on the FB page, not the SPA forum.

 

Saw this fella last month on a trip out there at the dry waterfall in Fall canyon.

 

Chuckwalla? I saw this one in Saline Valley last month. About a foot long.

 

He was prolly about a foot long too. Not sure what they are called. He wasn't moving for anything, I almost stepped on him before I noticed he was there.

 

Anybody tried a Roadside Assistance package like Good Sam?

 

Well, sigh, it appears Jim Bob’s request for account and content deletion was granted. At least since when Door Ding left it broke so many links that the forum software has been changed to handle such situations better...

Anywho since his goodbye message got deleted along with the rest of his content if you still want to check for trip reports - both old and new - they are on his website:

https://jimbobbarnett.com/

 

Passed them last Tuesday when driving in to the springs and stopped to make sure they were OK. Upper joint had fully separated and domino effect resulted in a busted CV joint, bent steer linkage and likely torn brake line. Miraculous they were able to get cell coverage and had help coming same day from friends who lived in driving distance. Said Millers towing would not be able to come out until Thursday and would be minimum $1000. We confirmed they had food and water and were surprisingly in good spirits about everything. Glad to hear they were able to make it out with their friends.

 

Here's my day 1 trip report from March.

Hope to get the rest wrapped up later this month.

 

A member of the Explorers Of The Mojave FB page posted asking who wants this Death Valley Book? Mind you that she only posted a picture of the cover of the book with no other details. I said that I do...

I got lucky with this one!