Feeler for a Norcal Death Valley Trip

That's actually a pretty good idea...I might have a club trip planned that weekend but that's the only break I have before March, so it's better to do Death Valley in January than in March, and I can skip the club trip.

 

Eureka Dunes is on the list. But, I have been looking at road conditions and they are not good. Ignoring the snow (that will probably be gone). Titus Canyon, Saline Valley, Emigrant Canyon, Panamint Valley, Twenty Mule Team, West Side Road, Willdrose Road and some backcountry roads are closed.

Conditions will change over the next month or so but I'm kinda bummed by all the closures. Some of the cool stuff might not be doable.

 

we could very well end up waiting till march april anyway Ian

 

If we plan for spring break, MJ won't have an excuse to not come, and if I get a job, I might have a lift so I won't have to bum a ride.

 

sub'd.

I overnighted on the valley floor over new years eve a few years back. Daytime in the 70s - very pleasant - overnight low in the 40s. But there was snow on the surrounding mountain ranges - so don't necessarily plan to do the mountain passes as 4x4 routes if you visit in December/January/February.

I have other plans for spring break easter week - a solo trip with my 16 year old middle son; but don't let that stop you guys if that's the best time for everyone else.

Telescope peak is an all day 15 mile there-and-back hike from the Mahogany Flat campground; figure two nights in that campground bookending a day trip up to that peak - though I suppose you could park at Mahogany Flat and do a backpacking overnight up to Telescope peak. But either way the road ends at Mahogany Flat and from there on the only access is on foot.

 

Sadly, the road to Mahogany is closed.

 

Mystery solved, Death Valley ain't no joke

http://www.tacomaworld.com/out.php?url=http://www.thelocal.de/20091114/23273

 

Yeah, that's a crappy situation to be in, but despite warnings, tourists still get lost annually.

This is why we're apart of a 4x4 club and all have radios, food, snacks, refreshments, and entertainment that will keep us happy, drunk, and rowdy until rescued.

 

Damn thats nuts! But why would you go there in July? Ian - Did you narrow it down to what month?

 

haha I aint got no excuses. If it lines up good with work, I'm in.

 

It looks like the March time frame.

I am currently trying to find out more about some of the back country campsites-many of them seem to be closed. There are also a bunch of roads that are closed too

I should have my list of places done by this weekend. So much stuff on the outskirts.

I've been through DV in 130*F. Don't ask me why but it was f'ing hot-like take a breath scorching hot. No idea how anyone hikes in the park at that time (except maybe to the pool at Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells).

I've talked to a couple of friends who are doing trips as well. Should be interesting.

 

Hottest I've ever experienced was 115f, but I've been to a sauna at 158f. I could barely breathe in there and could only stand a few minutes. Starting at 130-140 I simply can't do any physical work at all, all I could do was sit and breathe.

 

Yeah I once had to do field work in jeans out near the Salton Sea during the summer, it was 112F and the air was completely dead. That was not fun. I don't think anyone should be doing anything anyways at 130-140, that's just crazy!

 

Here are a few of the places I would like to visit. I have no route information since there are some variables with roads and other closures, I'm going to wait until a bit later to get some more details.

There is no GPX upload option so renamed this to .csv.

1. Down load the file.
2. Rename it to dv.gpx (anything with the file extension ".gpx".
3. I use Garmin Basecamp to read GPX files. You might want to use something else. Basecamp is free and available from the Garmin website.

If there's a spot not on the list, please let me know and I'll look into it and add it.

 

March. Probably near the end. However, there are some things happening atm and I may need to cancel.

 

I can only do it between March 22 and March 26th, but I may end up going down to Ecuador during spring break to see my girlfriend. She doesn't know if she'll be allowed visitors at that time, though.

 

Yea with me going to Moab this year, this trip may not be able to happen for me.

 

I won't be able to visit my girlfriend until after the first week of April, so I'm free to do this in the fourth week of March again.