Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Lake Manly has left the building........

 

With Furnace Creek temperatures at 121 F, probably will not return soon.

 

The danger bees sign is one of my all time favorites. Never fails to get a smile out of me.

 

Well, that's super cool. You may only have a slight inkling of this from various PMs I've sent, but I've always thought, "sure would be nice to meet Eric," given that you're really the person who turned me on to the 395 corridor, starting with the wave in the Tablelands. I'm sure we'll have another chance!

Was on my way from Vegas to the Sierra (via the west flank) to spend a few very enjoyable days sitting in one place with my Pops.

 

Yes we'll meet one day. Glad I could inspire so much exploration.
Ah going with pops to that elusive spot. I've got a bunch of tabs open on my browser regarding that beautiful place.

 

Phoenix Valley at 113+ for the next 7 days. Do I get a popsicle?

 

It’s going to be insane here next few days. Motorcyclist died this past Saturday. Supposedly they are bracing for record breaking numbers. Be cautious out there.

 

EDIT: The much preferred and straightforward NPS news release has been posted:

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/motorcycle-fatality-july-2024.htm


Story on the motorcyclist death:

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local...th-valley-after-record-breaking-temperatures/

There isn’t a news release posted on the DVNP site yet or I would have linked to that instead.

 

I've come through there and also ridden in other hot areas and I can tell you, it sucks the life out of you. I remember stopping in Tonopah. It had been sofa king hot that we stopped at a diner drinking iced tea for a while before continuing on.

I see this was a group. Just given their proximity to Vegas, it looks like a European group who rented in Vegas. For the most part, they're usually geared up and well prepared and have planned well. Usually, you run into them in places like DV or Yosemite, Mammoth, and sometimes Tahoe. They stand out because they're wearing European gear and riding Harley's

 

I sent my then boss through DV on a Harley in summer once. I warned him repeatedly to start the day early and abort if forecast temps were high. Ended up starting a bit late, but highs were only in the upper 90s. They were just traversing east to west via 190 so it wasn’t too long or bad. Said it was hot but they loved the ride, especially heading over the Inyos into Owens.

Their alternate routes wouldn’t have gotten as low and hot, but they would have spent much longer at somewhat higher but still hot elevations. So it was really a choice between various hot options and so the more scenic one seemed the best.

 

On the bike, you have little or no choice about your environment. For the cold, an electric vest works. For the hot, believe it or not, full gear helps a lot. Cooling vests and other gizmos help but at some point, getting out of the sun is the only way

 

South Pass Open and Another Truck Torches Itself

Inyo County and the NPS map both say South Pass into Saline Valley is officially open. Hunter Mountain still listed as closed by both.

Over on 190, yet another truck set itself on fire via excessive braking:

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/vehicle-fire-7-15-2024.htm

This has been confusing me. I thought commercial drivers simply must be trained to use compression/engine braking? Has something changed that might explain why we are seeing this seemingly more frequently?

 

I think the "quality" of drivers has taken a nose dive.

 

Officials relaxed standards for drivers in the last 3 years. Age requirements lowered, experience requirements lowered.

 

I rode in a Saddlesore 1000 event in 1988 or 1989. I think now these are solo, GPS or otherwise verified, 1000 miles in 24 hours or less. Back then, a big group left Fremont, California at midnight and had to pick up gas station or other timestamped receipts from four corners of the route to insure a minimum of 1000 miles was ridden. For the honors, I paid an entry fee and got a belt buckle as a finisher (18 hours in my case). Anyway, I rode from Hawthorne Nevada down past Scottie’s Castle (road open of course) and through Stovepipe Wells to 395, etc. Came through Stovepipe at 10AM and it was 113F. I did the whole ride in full leathers, on my BMW. At the gas station in Stovepipe, I encountered a group of Germans on rental Harleys, in shorts and sneakers and nothing else. They were all bright red, sunburned and generally flushed. I was warm, but poured a bottle of water down the inside of my leathers every hour or so, and at least felt safe. Not to mention cozy when it rained both ways over the Sierra passes coming and going. They were very friendly but thought I was nuts to be in leathers. I kept my opinions about their attire to myself.

 

Yeah, if you have a pulse and can hold the wheel you get a CDL. I've had mine since '92 and fortunately don't have to use it anymore.

 

You can say it. Fucking millennials lol

 

I've noticed a bunch of trucks parked around the hood lately. Maybe 6 or 8. They are all the same owner and most are questionable as far as safety goes. Like lots of nearly bald retreads. And given the current economy, I'm almost certain maintenance is being pushed out too.

 

I was going to say that trucks losing control and crashing in Death Valley isn't a new thing, and that there are just more trucks these days...

But then I looked through the park incident history -- an enjoyable read by the way -- and I only found two cases listed from 1987-2016 (and a third involving an RV). And I lost count at five since then.

I'm not certain that this is an exhaustive historical record, but all evidence points to a marked increase in trucking accidents in (and near) the park in recent years.

We can say, with certainty, what is causing it, though:

Spent the past couple weeks driving all over Colorado, mostly on highways, and definitely saw a lot of smoking brakes. More than normal.



It was a good trip though.