Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

You mean the ones that are "in the park," but "not in the park?" As in, in Nevada?

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That’s them.

 

Panamint Valley has claimed two victims in separate incidents…

Hiker found deceased:

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/fatality-2022-06-01.htm

Vehicle found on Lake Hill Road, body 1/4 mile from vehicle.

F-18 crash kills pilot:

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3052863/super-hornet-crashes-near-trona-california-pilot-killed/

From another source sounds like crash may have actually been in Panamint Valley a bit north of the Wildrose turn off.

 

DVNP posts occasional Facebook updates for Scotty's Castle. Though it's been 7 years and it's still not open, the DV Conservancy has built a 3D model that you can surf through. This has been really well done.

You can read how the repairs are going (sadly, they lost the garage to a fire last year) here. Looks like they have another couple of years before they'll finish.

 

Another death, and probably another yet to be found…

Saw a ranger closely examining a vehicle in the Zabriske parking lot as I drove by on 6/12 and thought, “that’s not good, probably means they’ve seen it left there for a few days.” Indeed, not good:

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/fatality-2022-06-14.htm

Note at the end of the article they’ve also been looking for the owner of a vehicle abandoned in the Emigrant campground since 5/23.

 

I think that’s three or four deaths now? All seem to be within a few miles of the car too. Sad.

 

30' from 190? There's no way you don't here cars that close to a road.

 

Geriatric brain rot
....and definitely not the sharpest since he was caught illegally offroading a several days before.

 

Not many travel 190 during a heat wave... state of mind likely absent from extreme dehydration. Laying/sitting under a bush for whatever shade possible, and too weak to even wave a hand for help to any passing vehicle(s)

 

I drove through the park one August...if you broke down on the road, it could be a long time before anyone came by. Whether they stopped or not is another thing.

 

It is a little weird. There was no reason to leave the Zabriskie parking lot in the first place.

Yes, at least by the NPS description seems there were already some decision making issues at play before the tragedy set in.

That section of 190 actually seems to get plenty of travel. When I drove by at 4p in the peak heat (120F at the VC) there were more than 10 cars in the Zabriske parking lot. Remember, the Europeans specifically drive through Death Valley to experience the heat when making the NP tour from Yosemite to Zion/Bryce. In fact, excluding the past COVID years, peak visitation to the park is the summer and right along the 190. Prior to 1994 the summers were empty and winter was the peak. Once it became a NP summer visitation rapidly increased and eventually overtook winter as DVNP came on the European radar.

I asked the ranger at the VC if the Europeans were back yet and he said not quite to 2019 levels this summer but yes, definitely back in significant quantity. The VC parking lot was certainly more full than last June when the Europeans were still locked out.

I think you are spot on with the dehydrated behavior. Once things go downhill they can go downhill fast. The mistake was leaving the parking lot in the first place and apparently not following the road.

 

Back in 1988 or so, I participated in a 1000 miles in 24 hours motorcycle ride. In July. Part of the route involved crossing Death Valley from Nevada and out past Stovepipe Wells. We had a pretty broad range of temperatures on the ride, since we had left the Bay Area at midnight and crossed the Sierras in the wee hours, in rain. In addition, I was an ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) disciple so I was wearing full leathers. We rode through DV in the morning and stopped for fuel at Stovepipe Wells around 10AM, where the thermometer read 113°F. As I was filling up, a group of Germans rode in on rented BMW’s. They were wearing helmets, sneakers, and shorts - nothing else. They thought I was nuts for wearing leathers, and told me so. Their skin was bright red, and I thought they were nuts for their choice of riding gear, but said nothing. I did pour a gallon of water into my leathers, and another quart in my helmet, before riding on. By the way, we also had rain over Sonora Pass on the way back, before arriving back at our starting point 18 hours after departure. I guess that wasn’t a drought year.

 

the plight of the unfortunate hikers is a good reminder to respect the place. don’t count on luck.
poor decision can quickly escalates to disaster.
they call it death valley for a reason.

i’ve never been there but am wanting to make the trip there in my taco.
hopefully after the summer is over i can satisfy my desert travel bug.

 

The Germans are nuts. I ran into a couple on 58 around Lancaster. T-shirts and tank tops (helmets, sneakers, no gloves). I was hot but I doubt I was anywhere as hot as they were.The wife asked if I was hot in my riding gear and I answered that I was but that the pavement was hotter and if they were involved in an accident, not only would they have road rash but would likely remain on the pavement until medical got there. At that point, the wife smoked hubs and said "see, I told you so!".

 

Last thing that happens before heat kills you is in addition to delirium, your muscles cramp up to the point that you can only crawl and cant grab anything. He probably groveled his way to the mesquite tree for shade. The guy who traversed the basin and tried to get back to his car at badwater with only a gallon of water was found only a short distance near the road also- he couldn’t crawl the rest of his way to it before he died laying on his back with his arms and legs all cramped up. They think he tried using the flash on his camera to get attention, but not much helped as he was doing the hike during the middle of the day.

 

Those whole body cramps are no joke. I was camping in 100 degree heat but was prepared and went to hike a large, steep hill. Had plenty of water, took my time, had my SOS with me and I was fine until I got back to camp. I cooled down before I reclined in the shade and my whole body started cramping up. Pretty scary and I busted camp in record time to start heading back towards civilization because it felt like I was going to cramp up and not be able to move. Now I add to hydration packets to my water when I'm in the heat.

 

I'd guess it's not just water but salts and electrolytes that are important.

 

Sounds stupid but I always keep a packet of ramon flavoring in all my packs. Mix that with some water and your electrolyte balance returns quickly. I've only cramped up bad once but it sucked. I was about 1000' off the ground on Sunshine Cracks in the Bugaboos. My wife was belaying me when I stopped moving up. My right hand cramped into a tight fist. Then my left hand started to cramp. I don't know if any of you guys climb but that's a problem when climbing finger and hand cracks. I barely managed to get to the next belay and had her lower me. Then I had to rap down 10 pitches. By this time I was cramping in every major muscle group. I always rap first when her and I climb. This time I didn't trust myself to be able to control the descent so she rapped first and gave a a firemans brake just in case. It was the most useless I've ever felt climbing.

Once we got back to the packs I had some salt and was fine about 15 minutes later. To this day I still don't know what caused it. I had plenty of water and have climbed much longer routes without issue. It sucked.

 

Yep. I was trying not to be a complete dick by not saying anything about that offroad ticket he received. Thanks for taking care of what I was thinking. How's the truck running?

 

Cramping from dehydration sucks ass. I've learned that it's better to probably just keeping the added electrolytes coming.