Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Goler Wash was wet when we went thru there in end of April 2019, a locker wasn't necessary but with the right line, wet or not, you should be fine.


We must have driven right past Barker Ranch on the way to Mengal pass.

Mengel pass down towards Stripped Butte/Geologist's Cabin was off camber and lots of slider use for some in the party but not for me.


Sand!

 

Also, that sand dune I posted, it is said to be the 2nd tallest sand dune in NA.
Taller than the Space Needle in Seattle Wa.

 

Yeah, but did you hike up it?

Spoiler: PHOTOS FROM UPCOMING TRIP REPORT

 

I did not, but one of our teammates did about 1/3 up.
He said it was a lot of work to even get to that point.

I would have liked to hike up and 'board' down...

 

It is a lot of work to get up there, for sure. Several miles - ~4ish - to get to the summit. Plus, you slip one step down for every 2-3 up...so more like 6 miles. Still, I totally recommend it next time you are there.

Boarding Eureka Dunes is illegal, so while it looks like it might be fun, don't do it!

(from https://home.nps.gov/deva/learn/management/rules-and-regulations.htm)
Eureka, Hidden, Panamint Valley, and Ibex Sand Dune Systems are closed to sledding, sand boarding and sand skiing to protect the federally listed plant species and other sensitive endemic flora and fauna. These activities are permitted at Mesquite and Saline Sand Dunes. This closure is for resource protection.

 

Good thing I didn't do that...

 

It’s still pretty fun to glissade down the dunes even without skis, board or sheet of cardboard. It’s amazing how quick and easy the downhill goes, compared to the slog up.

 

Another death in the park...death of an era. This phone was there and working when I last visited the station in April of 2018. I copied this photo from another website.

 

You’d think that’s one place you want a phone.

 

For sure!

Last time I was there I towed some tourists and their dead SUV out from DV road. I brought them to that phone where they were able call a tow truck out of Beatty.

 

Looks like you got the right vehicle for it too

 

Borrowed from OB (overlandbro). Pretty cool to see Eureka Dunes with snow.
https://www.*****************/forum...y-on-thanksgiving-tips-and-group.27478/page-3

"Came in Thursday morning to the warm springs and had the best time coming down through the south pass that had a good 6-8 inches of snow. We headed up through Steel Pass Saturday morning and got to Dedeckera Canyon and through to Eureka dunes to see the north faces of the dunes covered in snow. Was an amazing site!"

 

That is bitchen'!

 

From another forum sounds like on Saturday that South Pass was the expected cluster fuck of ignorant springs morons clogging the route with 2WD vehicles with no chains and a stuck RV. Hope the asshole in the RV gets butt raped by Miller’s for a few thousand but the reality is probably that a whole bunch of people nicer than me spent their day helping them unblock the road. Apparently North Pass actually fared better! As usual the most reliable routes were Lippincott and Steel as long as you had an appropriate vehicle.

 

Wholeheartedly agree.
I'd bet that the roads up around The Racetrack have snow too.

 

I figured South Pass would be a mess after seeing some of the postings on the FB page even before people started leaving. But the pictures of both North and South Pass look stunning. I’ve never been there with more than a tiny bit of snow at the passes, but thinking of heading over the week before Christmas.

 

Another acquired pic from FB this time. Very low snow line on the eastern face of the Inyos.

 

Bunch of peeps camped down near Mammoth for T-day got maybe 6" of snow. But dang, how low can you go

 

I promised myself that this trip would be different. We wouldn't attempt to squeeze everything in; I wouldn't over-schedule our time; it wouldn't be like it always is - a mad dash to not miss a thing. I'd do this by keeping us in the northwest corner of the park - in Eureka and Saline Valleys, and by planning at most a single morning and single afternoon "attraction."

Or so I thought.

Read the first part and check out all the photos
In Search of Overlooks - A Fall Trip to Western Death Valley #1​

​

Yes, that's the moon.​

 

That first photo looks like the top of Steel Canyon, can you confirm?