Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

A number of Joshua trees and other plants can resprout from their branches or stumps as long as the fire wasn’t too intense, but it looks like many of those wont make it due to the amount of fuels from dead grass that covered a lot of that part of the Mojave this year. In some areas, over 80% of the trees will die over a period of a few years, so the full extent of damage won’t be apparent for several years. As pointed out earlier, it’s because of the annual grasses. Historically, the bunch grasses that used to grow in the Mojave grew in bunches that had mineral soil patches between them which would’ve acted as a firebreak. The soil also developed a crust made up of lichen. This acts as a soil stabilizer, and even fixes atmospheric nitrogen and fertilizes the soil. Any type of soil damage in these areas ends up being eroded by the winds, causing blowouts or plants can’t grow and more serious soil erosion events happen. This is partly why making fireworks would be a bad idea in the Mojave Desert, they would end up becoming rats or off-road trails in the more pristine areas. I’m not against roads and trails, but they need to be properly planned out to protect the resources as well.

https://mojaveproject.org/dispatches-item/the-joshua-tree-myth-mutualism-and-survival/

 

What?! Desert season is all year!
(but don’t tell anyone that secret!)

 

Not for me. I'm in a constant chase for 70 degree weather.

 

Missing Death Valley hiker found dead after 123-degree day O.O

https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/20...valley-hiker-found-dead-after-123-degree-day/

 

These 2 are related.


DV season is late fall to late spring for me, easier to deal with 20° than 120°

 

I'm aiming for the week before thanksgiving this year, I hope the weather is good!

 

I think last time I was in DV was when you saw me there by the hot springs.

 

That's' not a good thing. If the smoke clears a bit I may head out next week. Yes I'm optimistic. It is definitely the season.

From one of my trips from this year...RIP

 

Well the smoke is still enveloping Owens and Death Valleys so I'm here with the truck loaded out and ready but...well I found this to watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aoF3gH6ym0

 

Has anyone hit lippencott recently? Will be out there tomorrow

 

Yes, the smoke is thick in the Owens Valley, as it has been for the last week or so. The temp's are cooling, though, and it seems that the smoke is sinking with the cold air. The air at elevation is decidedly less smokey.

 

The webcams still show smoke on the Inyo crest and satellite views this morning show the smoke having moved all the way to death valley proper.

 

The crests on either side of Owens Valley look to be smokey from the valley floor. If you drive up into the mountains the smoke is significantly thinner. At least that was the case yesterday.
We need a good rain.

 

Ooofff... just went into town (Big Pine) and the visibility is not much more than a mile.
Suck.

 

This is my new find:
https://weather.cod.edu/satrad/?par...lor-48-1-100-1&checked=map&colorbar=undefined
That in addition to the Owens Valley Dust Cams, plus many others, help me get an idea of current conditions hundreds of miles from home.

 

That was cool, and that guy is badass for doing all that on a Fat Bike....but 8:30 kind of made me cringe. I realize it looks pretty dry at the time but did he really just ride his loaded down Fat Bike across Racetrack Playa? Hmmmm

 

Looks like he's running with his camera and not riding his bike across it.

 

Yea, maybe you are right. Hard to tell at first glance

 

https://www.sierrawave.net/the-big-pine-roosevelt-giant-sequoia-tree-passes-into-history/

Pretty bummed but hopefully they plant another in the same spot. The Roosevelt was a marker for me. It indicated the turn off towards not only the northwest access of Death Valley but also the Whites, Inyos, and northbound travel of Owens Valley.

From a trip earlier this year...

 

I've always been curious what's gonna happen to that tree. Hasn't been looking all that great lately.