Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Seems like a long night for those people LOL. Did you help them out? Tire patch ?

 

Kids usually mean bathing suits, which I'm fine with, as long as those suits haven't been laundered in scented laundry products.

 

It was a long night for all of us! We changed their really bad tire that was missing a grapefruit sized piece of rubber, then plugged a sidewall tear (amazingly it held) in the other. The driver and her child rode in my rig with my GF driving, and I rallied (60mph in places) the Lexus over the pass and all the way down Racetrack to Ubehebe Crater pavement. We had to move quick because a hole near the bead could not be repaired, requiring us to air it up every 20 minutes or so. I carried my portable twin ARB and was able to get far enough ahead of my rig that I aired up before the chase vehicle caught up! Tire held air better at high speed washboard so i rallied it like my own. Got them to pavement but missed out on a lot of scenery since we ran the pass at night. Good times though!

 

That's rad!!

People often ask why I carry so much crap and supplies with me, and I tell them because it's mostly for helping others. That all comes from experience over the years

 

I like the strategically placed ice chest!!

 

Yep, my tools and gear are rarely used for myself! Had the Lexus carried a few extra parts and tools instead of lamps, carpets, and furniture, they may have been better off. I was amazed at their collection of home items they had aboard. They wanted to get to the hot prings for NYE but were shut down by the pass. Just happy they didn' have to spend the night on the side of a cliff in 30 degree weather!

 

It

It was a sketchy place to do a double tire change, that's for sure. I wasn't taking any chances!

 

Looks like the cooler is trail rated.

 

Lots of good karma going on here. Sad that people go unprepared and take the risks they do. Especially with children.

Yes "textillians" entering hot springs with clothes laundered with strong flavorful detergents is not looked on kindly by most soakers.

 

For the Military Aircraft enthusiasts that watch Aircraft fly thru Rainbow Canyon ( Star Wars Canyon/ Jedi Transition) . The Father Crowley's Overlook is open but the popular Padre point trail from the parking lot is closed . Park rangers are patrolling this area frequently and enforcing the closed areas

Military Aircraft are now only flying no lower than 1500ft due to flight restrictions and training activity has been decreased . Also the restricted zone around the canyon and In Panamint Valley has been expanded . This is a result of the Fighter jet crash 5 months ago

 

I’m heading into DVNP in a few days. Was planning to go to SVWS and explore that area for a few days, but may also check out more parts of Panamint Valley or even cross over into Death Valley itself depending on weather. Or leave SV over Steel Pass toward Eureka Dunes. I just wish it was forecast to be a bit warmer.

 

Keep an eye on the forecast. I know there's precipitation in about five days. Still far out to be reliable.

 

Well we had an eventful weekend in and around the valley. We had just turned off of the 160 towards Tecopa when we found a lady in a BMW with a flat tire and no spare. Put 3 plugs in a 1/2" hole and hoped for the best. I have her husbands card and am going to reach out and make sure she made it home ok.

We had started to do the South Park to Pleasant loop and we pulled up to the Briggs cabin and found the jeep below on it's top. Almost immediately 3 people can running into the road waving their arms and yelling help. I packed them and a bunch of their stuff into the truck and ran them back to Panamint. The driver ended up being transported to Ridgecrest by ambulance but the other 2 were mostly unharmed. I believe they had a group from Bakersfield area headed up to recover the Jeep but I can't find anything about it on FB.

 

holy!!! I wonder how the Jeep flipped

 

The dirt on the left hand side of the picture gave out.

 

that’s so unlucky

 

Yikes, I know it' all part of the inherent risk, but so freaking unfortunate! glad you all were able to help out, hope everyone ends up okay

 

I don't think many new cars even come with a spare these days and I'm not so sure I would even go to someplace as remote as DV like that. Even staying on the road!

 

sadly most don't realize that they don't have a spare, but just a tiny compressor and maybe some tire goop.