Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Heli rescue on Titus Canyon for a pair of motorcyclists. I imagine there will be a hefty fine. If it's listed as closed you better be able to self rescue.

https://www.kolotv.com/2023/11/21/m...r-driving-illegally-closed-road-death-valley/

 

this is documentation from you-tube creative RancidVandall.
looks like they had a good trip end of October.
the music underlay is a bit outdated, but i used to listen to some of it.
rather long vid over several interesting routes.
they do an incursion into closed areas of DVNP and show the condition of south section of SV road. the road condition looks real good with lots of ruts and a few boulders, it'll be a shame to have this road surface prepared and groomed with heavy equipment before it is open to regular public. I got a kick out of Mr. Vandalls several moto dumps, def a highlite.
https://youtu.be/XLaDlyeIdaE?si=SX8kJvwqMeWdLq_k

 

This sucks. It sucks for OHV. It sucks for access.

 

So if I record my access on GoPro, am I allowed to pass "closed" cones? I'm looking to spend a few days on the Panamint side, making day trips up the canyons to Striped, Pleasant, and Surprise. NPS shows those roads as closed but I'm certain I can make it up while staying out of the wilderness boundaries.

 

Dumbasses. Hope they get nailed to the wall with heavy fines.

NPS news release that is essentially identical to the article, but without ads:

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/titus-sar-11-18-2023.htm

 

Echo, Hole-in-the-Wall, Cottonwood, and Marble OPEN

Designated backcountry campsites along the roads also open with same day permits from the VC as before.

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/echo-hole-in-wall-open.htm

 

Over on adventure rider, there's a thread about it. The number of people who see a road closed gate as more of a challenge doesn't surprise me but it should. It's a hard sell when it comes to closures and action.

Fines range from $5k on up depending on endangered species and other factors...

 

Strange, thread is not accessible to new members it would appear. Any actual info in it or just the usual internet speculation?

The whole "these rules don't apply to me" concept covers subsets of almost every user group. There are a handful of soakers all up in arms about the springs not being open yet. Saw some motorcycles headed out anyway and got their info taken by a volunteer to send off to the NPS. Bozos also decided they'd head up the non-existent Steel Pass road on their bikes as well. Reports of tracks (not sure two or four wheel) coming down Steel and predictably losing their way and blundering down the wash into the springs. (NOTE: There was also at least one intrepid soul who quite legally pedaled into the springs! Hats off to them, but they still weren't allowed to camp at the springs themselves.)

I really wanted to head into the Ibex area last week, doubt there are patrols down there, but being a good citizen just went to MNP instead. It is a big desert and not hard to find parts of it that are open.

 

Just the usual speculation mostly, but the balance is off between the send it/stay out, unfortunately.

send it: ******* == 7 votes
no opinion/just bsing in the thread: **************************** == 28
stay out: *** == 3


Didn't realize you were a bike guy, Ian @ian408 - have I just missed that on here? (I am getting old and forgetful.) I loved my CBR600F2 for many many years. Can't wait to get another when the kiddo moves out.

 

It starts with the same information as here and quickly goes in two directions. One, “closed” is a euphemism for “challenge accepted” and the other, some frustration at people ignoring closures.

Because people had to be rescued, it gets noticed and next time, access comes up, we all know what could happen.

 

I’ve stayed out of the threads here and mostly there too—I read a fair bit but mostly to clean up. Plus, the site has changed a lot over the years. During Dakar, there’s been great coverage and that’s what I like.

 

An incredible write up about a couple hikers venturing the Lonesome Miners Trail (LMT) in the Inyo Mountains.
https://sgphotos.com/photostories/inyos/

 

More Road Status…

Seems like plans are evolving a bit.

North Highway is now hoped to be open by the end of December up to Ubehebe Crater.

DVNP has repaired their part of Death Valley Big Pine Road on the valley floor, no estimate from Inyo County on their portion.

DVNP is working on Racetrack and Lippincott. No estimate on opening.

No estimated date, but they are working West Side Road from the south up to Trail Canyon. The north end of the road has a large washout not likely to be repaired for a long time, but sounds like there is a chance they plan to open the south end of the road without waiting to fix the north end.

Goler Wash has a totally impassable dry fall that Inyo County is working on. Park is working on the Warm Spring side. So eventually the Goler, Butte, Warm Springs backcountry route should open. No estimate as to when though.

North Saline Valley Road is being worked by the county and appears to be getting close, but still no estimate from the county for opening. Currently any barely competent 4x4 can make it to the springs from the north. Rangers and/or camp host (not Lee, someone less easy going) stationed at the springs forcing people to leave and recording vehicle info of those violating the closure.

South Pass is a big mess.

Hunter Mountain is being worked on by the park, and they removed a boulder blocking the switchbacks, but an old water line from the spring broke near the top and has turned the road into an impassable bog (I’m guessing this is at the usual boggy spot from snowmelt, just now being replenished by piped in spring water).

Emigrant is closed but some commercial tours have permits to visit a few sites along it - so probably single lane and gravel passable, but closed by the park. Repair work doesn’t start until April.

So lots of things being worked on and it seems the are adapting plans as they go to try to get the lower hanging fruit open as they can.

 

No fucking way!

Watching it here at work.

 

Have not watched, so don't know if he adequately solves the mystery.

 

There is a comment to the video that offers the solution...

 

The answer is no, he does not answer the question. But, it's come up before and I think it's an asphalt testing facility.

 

Yeah, sadly no new answers.

But I swung through last spring, it was parked full with road equipment and piled asphalt.

Gotta keep up the illusion I guess. The truth is out there!

 

I know most folks wisely avoid YouTube comments, but probably the most reliable answer so far is the top comment:

I grew up in Shoshone and now 87 years old. We used yo drive around this circle as a teenager and see how fast we could go. The circle was used to mix cold mix asphalt with a road grader to patch holes in hwy 127. They used the circle material to make the asphault. The reason for the circle was to avoid turning the grader around during the mixing. It required many circuites to get it mixed properly. The stripes were just practice for the striping crew. I hope this helps. Jim