Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

How's the snow level in the Panamints (if there is any)?

 

Beatty and nice are seldomly synonymous.

Weather looks nice. Getting chilly elsewhere. 70 and sunny would be welcomed.

 

Just back home today, there’s definitely snow but it’s pretty high and seemed to fade back at least on the sun-facing sides over the few days until I headed back home on Friday afternoon. Telescope Peak was gorgeous. We drove over Emigrant Pass on Thursday and there was no snow anywhere near the road, and the road up to the kilns was open, as were Thorndike and Mahogany CG’s.

 

I got back last night after camping in Coyote Canyon south of Ballarat, driving the “Escape Trail” through Fish Canyon over to Trona with a CA4WD group, then back to the Bay Area. Long day. Although I first visited DV in 1981 and first went off pavement there in 1984, and have since explored quite a bit of easier backcountry roads solo, I’m a rookie on the tougher stuff. So I went with this group which had a 3 day itinerary: up to Chloride Cliffs then on pavement to Ballarat, Goler and Mengel out to an overlook of Striped Butte, and then the Escape Trail. The last pitch up to Chloride Cliffs as well as the east side of Mengel were challenging for me (the former mentally, the latter more the vehicle) and I appreciated being able to watch more experienced drivers and get spotted a few times. Weather was perfect.

Wednesday morning just east of the DVNP boundary coming from Beatty.


Friday morning climbing out of PV on the Escape Trail. There were two Bronco’s, four JL Wranglers, an XJ Cherokee and me as the only Toyota. The company was good, mostly old retired guys like me but also a young family, and a young woman who was by far the most adventurous driver, trying and making the tougher lines while the rest of us took the bypasses. The guide knew a lot of history and the pace was overland/explore but not too many stops and delays.

 

Great news from DVNP!

 

Just got back as well. Road is cleared to PS.

We made it up Lippincott to teakettle and hunter, no closed roads. Some snow on hunter and only one spot of loose sand near teakettle.

This moring we did the back way to Darwin, with a stop at the koi pond.

Surprisingly we saw no traffic from panamint days.

 

^^ Funny, I was just talking with someone about the koi pond a few days ago. Nice picture.

 

Nice, and just in time! Will make an upcoming trip a bit easier driving-wise!

 

Wish I didn't have to drive to furnace creek to pick this up but it will probably be better than going to JT. Any other veterans here should go get your lifetime parks pass too.

 

Nice!

I will be 62 this winter and can get a old man lifetime pass. Or golden eagle or whatever they call it now.

 

november 13 2020, 1645, nostalgic, wish i were there now. border DV.

 

I was able to get my lifetime senior pass at a nearby BLM office. No need to find a park. The senior passes not only provide free admission to all Federal fee recreation areas, they also enable 50% off camping fees at all Federal campgrounds; I would hope the military passes do the same. I know lots of us prefer dispersed no-fee camping when we can, but sometimes you gotta stay at campgrounds. $7 for a campsite at Stovepipe Wells this week. The full moon was amazing and the CG wasn’t busy.

 

Congratulations! My friends call it the “Geezer Pass”.

 

That's what I've heard it called too. I'm 51 so I'll take the military pass till I get a few more trips around the fireball under my belt.

 

Got mine a year ago. I prefer to call it the “Boomer Pass”.

 

I will take my youth over free entry to NPs!

 

I don't have that option anymore

 

I mean, you could choose to pay for the NP pass if it makes you feel younger

 

Youth is not guaranteed but I understand where you’re coming from.

 

This wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.

But, by the same sentiment as youth not being guaranteed, old(er) age is also not guaranteed.

Bottom line, enjoy the national parks, whether you pay for the pass or not