The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

It even says on the MVUM maps that they are by no means fully comprehensive... I guess I'll need to do some exploring

 

Exactly. I've wheeled plenty of hard, technical trails and those are rad. Some of the most fun I've had in my rig was just exploring. Going down an unknown road that barely qualifies as a road. Getting pinstripes that will never buff out. Not having any clue if it connects or dead-ends. Then getting to see something cool you know not many in 100 years have seen, or connecting the route, or getting to that dead-end and having to battle your way back up a REALLY steep, loose sand hill the requires dual lockers and a super heavy foot. I stay quiet about most of that stuff so others can find it and smile like a 10 year old at Christmas.

BTW, if you find that hill you will know for sure. My ruts are still there. lol

 

Hard to tell looking at your map but from first impressions I have doubts about completing it the way it's laid out. Some areas around Papoose and the areas in the White mountains bordering Deep Springs are not through roadways. I'll be anxious to see how it turns out.

 

Looks like fun!

FYI, the salt tram summit route, I think it's called Swansea road or something, has been closed for over a year. Or at least was as of last summer. And that has some super-narrow off-camber shelf sections that in my opinion are much scarier than driving that infamous shelf road in Colorado. I would make sure that road is officially open before heading out on it!

Of course, road conditions change, if that one reopens maybe it will be a cakewalk for some years, but then another one will be treacherous or closed. For example I've read scary things about another road near Bishop that I think might be part of your route, but when I drove up that one a few years ago it was just a steep graded road.

Edit: I went back to find photos from that trip. The salt tram summit station is totally worth the drive!



The shelf section is (was) pretty sketchy. I will definitely do it again someday, though. A pro tip is to drive it at night, that way you can't see the terrifying drop-off.

 

The Swansea side is definitely harder than before the storms last year. I thought I posted a video in this thread of a couple well built jeeps doing it.

Those shelf roads in Colorado (San Juans) are lots of fun but one of the first roads I ever did was the salt tram from the Cerro Gordo side. The Salt Tram Road definitely has some sections with great pucker factor. I believe that road and it's washout are doable now. Same video referenced before.

Post where I shared the jeeps doing Sansea-Cerro Gordo
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rn-sierra-region.700273/page-85#post-29313864

 

There's 4 shelf roads on the East Side that have severe pucker factor. Swansa is one. The others aren't as well known but have the same "holy shit I better pay attention here" invoking mentality. I did one with my wife a few years back and she got out and walked. It's the only time she's ever done that. lol

 

Thanks for the update... I'll plan to hit this one again next summer! It was gated off from the CG side when I tried last summer, and the folks there told me it was washed out. And that was before Hillary, so I was extrapolating to the present when suggesting it might still be closed.

I think I did another one of those four earlier this year... at least gauged by the wife-getting-out factor. She's a bit smarter than I am.

 

Have you done Chicken Rock, above Briggs? That's a good one too.

 

I did the Swansea, Salt Tram, Cerro Gordo loop back in like 2002. The road was in better condition back then I believe. I told myself I'd never do it again. Now that my truck is wider, longer and more top heavy than the old 1992 22RE that I did it in originally it seems even less likely I'll do it. Pucker factor is high, but of course hundreds of people have done it and I've never heard of anyone going over the side.

 

Those are my favorite types of trips! I'll keep my eyes open for your tracks

 

That's why I asked before heading out. I did some Googling and it seems if you're brave enough you *might* be able to make it through, but it's unclear. I guess worse case I'll just turn around and skip that section all together.

 

The rains last winter really took out the roads. I think this is the one you may be thinking about near Bishop:



This was in March 2023. It was impassable even for a much more built rig than my old CRV. I hiked up another 1/4mi or so and there were some ruts that would swallow vehicles. All I'm hoping is the roads are rebuilt or re routed and that this winter isn't as gnarly as the last one.

 

I watched these videos when planning my trip! I'm just hoping this winter isn't as crazy as last winter. I think the more people that take the roads they better they'll be (hopefully).

 

Looks like the same road... back in 2021 (?) the CRV would have been overkill!

 

Yeah. Those stick in the memory for me. I last ran that route with @CVYota in 2018 was fun, but the shelf road to Cerro Gordo was terrifying at the same time. lol

The switchbacks on Silver Canyon Rd out of Bishop up the White Mountains get hairy in a couple spots. I once let some jeeps pass in a bad section of trail which put us off camber, and my kid took a picture out her window and it is 1,000' down the side of the mountain. I will try and find the photo. The perspective is wild.

 

It's also a bit misleading if it is your first time up Silver Canyon. Or if you've chosen to let Garmin choose your route to Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

 

The roads change so much it’s hard to know what will be tough. I drove up and down Silver Canyon in my 4wd Datsun in the early ‘80’s, and in my Ford Ranger a few years later, and while it was steep it didn’t seem difficult. I went back a few years ago in my Taco, much more experienced, and it seemed much rougher. But still not really pucker-worthy. On the other hand, I don’t enjoy Lippencott. Well, I enjoy it - but don’t really feel comfortable. My wife hasn’t been on any of those but she would get out and walk ‘em all.

 

Just got back from DV. We started in Trona, at the Gravel pit. Got a little chilly

Manly was opened but we went around to Ballarat because of lake Manly.
Goler and Mengal were open and a little more of a challenge than normal. We actually found Geologist cabin opened and stayed there.

Went through Warm spings, drove around Badwater lake



And went to Echo canyon. The waterfall has been made easy, 2 feet of dirt at the bottom and rock ramps built at each ledge.
Made our way to Nevada, tried to camp just inside the park, too cold and windy. Ate BBQ in Beatty, drove to Stovepipe and camped there.
Drove passed Ubehebe to teakettle explored the area around the backside of Hunter, found a well graded road then branched off to what i assume are geology stations



Ran up to Hunter, nice and clear with icy patches and back down to the 190.
The final 5 miles were bad, the part where it is partially paved. And at the end was this:


Made our way to Panamint Springs and got to see this


And of course a nice view of the stars (last 2 pics by one of the group members)

 

Sorry, thought this was the DV thread

 

It's close enough. Looks like a fun trip.