The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

pulled a few miles off 395. july 15.2019. pulled off too early. elevation 9000+foot. temp about 92*F. great view. fast moving and numerous flys. "meat" bees showed up. medium sized horse flys showed up tolerated two bites. surprised at the temp at elevation. several hours of heat and bugs. finally began to cool and spent time making dinner. the meat bee and fly party transitioned into a hoard of mosquitoes. enjoyed the site and the view nonetheless.

 

Welcome back

 

Anyone know if Cerro Gordo is accessible?

 

I don't, but as of last week snow levels were over 7k feet, and I don't think it's snowed since, so I suspect there'd be no problem going up the front side to CG.

 

I was planning a last minute DV trip with my family for ski week then noticed more than 50% of my route is closed in the NP. Is this true?

• Wildrose Canyon beyond Charcoal Kilns - Seasonal closure due to ice and snow.
• Salt Creek Road - Flooding destroyed the boardwalk. No timeline for reopening.
• Titus Canyon Road - Extensive flood damage. No timeline for reopening.
• Racetrack Road - Extensive flood damage. No timeline for reopening.
• Steele Pass - Extensive flood damage. No timeline for reopening.
• Grotto Canyon - Extensive flood damage. No timeline for reopening.
• Jail Canyon

 

Yep, those roads are closed (though to various extents of passability if you read the recent updates to this thread). That said, you can still easily spend a week in the park without those roads, many of which wouldn't be great now anyway. What was your planned route - knowing that, we might be able to suggest alternatives.

Also, to lessen the drama a bit -

• Jail Canyon has been closed for years
• Grotto Canyon requires technical (rope) climbing
• Wildrose Canyon - there isn't much past the kilns worth visiting until the snow is gone anyway
• Racetrack - you can still reach the playa itself via Lippincott, you just have to backtrack out the same way.

 

Since my son is 17 and 6' he doesn't fit in the back of my Tacoma very comfortably anymore. So we were going to rent a 4runner and tool around. Not too many more trips we can plan with him.
We were going to come in from Big Pine DV road to north hwy around the sulfer mine (all closed per nps). Then do the touristy things in DV and stay in Beatty. Titus is always my favorite then head out thru Panamint and up to Cerro Gordo. 2-quick days of sitting in the car sight seeing.

 

Gotcha. Titus is a nice place, so it's definitely a bummer that it's closed.

The 4Runner will be pretty capable (as you know, flat tires are the most likely "issue"), so you could do something "backwards" like...

• Cerro Gordo,
• Then enter the park either via Lee Flat/SVR or head back down and take 190 in through PSR
• Check out Pleasant Canyon (which will be sort of like Titus) in Panamint Valley.
• Follow Wildrose around (skip Towne Pass) and check out Skidoo
• Head into DV proper and do the touristy things down Badwater Road
• Take West Side Road from south-to-north, exploring as many side canyons along the way as you have time for.
• Head back west on 190 out of the park (via Towne Pass), perhaps stopping at Mosaic Canyon along the way

That'd be a pretty nice trip with the kiddo.

 

That might work. Thanks. Just a little more time on 395. I was going to pack a 2nd spare for the rental. I always bring 2 spares off-roading.

 

The rental 4Runner will have crappy tires on it. 10/10 would take repair kit.

 

always. did i mention i'm the "rental manager"? at least that's what my business card says. lol.

 

ha ha ha.

 

The absolute best part about this whole storm. I'm not there to see it. Looks like I took the perfect time to take the winter vacation this year

 

What a super cool experience to be there when it is covered in snow.

 

I saw that and wondered how residents of the camps faired. The housing units were not really all that air tight or insulated.

 

Nor was the clothing/bedding anywhere near what we have today.

 

https://youtu.be/4uY2jBN8S1w

 

What app is that showing the weather?