Death Valley "Cabin Run" 2/28 - 3/2

Here we go.

Death Valley Run Feb 28th, March 1st & 2nd (maybe March 3rd depending on interest).

This trip will be called the "Cabin Run". Please bring along large jugs of hand sanitizer, packs of TP, Lysol/spray cleaners, paper towels, fire wood and any other supplies we can leave at these remote cabins for future travelers. We want to ensure we leave these places better than we find them. This post has some photos of one of my previous trips out here with JP http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22267

DAY ONE - Feb 28th: On Friday we will meet up at Blue Diamond Travel Center 12325 NV-160 NV-159 at 0930 hrs.
Then head north on NV-160, cut through beautiful Pahrump turn onto W Bella Vista Ave to Ash Meadows Rd and follow to SR127.
This will lead us to Death Valley Junction a tiny Mojave Desert town at the intersection of SR 190 and SR 127, just east of Death Valley National Park.
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ca/deathvalleyjunction.html
We can stop and check out the Amargosa Opera House here. Try to support the locals and drop a little cash.

We will cut across DV via SR-190 and top off with fuel (it's expensive out here!) then turn off South onto Panamint Valley Rd. and down to Trona Wildrose Rd. If Trona Wildrose is closed we will try Indian Ranch Rd (I've never taken this route) be aware from this point on the road conditions may vary as heavy rain has caused washouts. If the road is marked as closed me may take it anyways. If you don't feel comfortable, don't come.

The goal is to travel into a cool little ghost town named Ballarat.
This place just refuses to die.
It’s sole full-time resident is Rocky Novak. Rocky lives on site in his generator powered home and runs the general store with some refreshments like beer & soda. He grew up in nearby Surprise Canyon at the Chris Wicht Camp, which has since been burned to the ground. Try to support the locals and drop a little cash.
We will then head up into Pleasant Canyon and if all goes well, we will make camp at World Beater cabin. This is a vacant cabin and open on a first-come, first-serve basis.
If it's occupied then we will push on to a secondary camp location. Hope this doesn't happen because it will cause us to pull into secondary camp(s) very late at night. These cabins are first come so there is no way to mitigate this risk.
Bring LOTS of firewood and feel free to bring some good food, booze, contraband, whatever because this place is great to indulge and relax. The cabin has a decent outhouse, indoor wood burning stove, 12v lighting, etc.

DAY TWO - March 1st: Next morning our goal is to be rolling by 0930. We will head up to Rogers Pass and around the loop to Middle Park, South Park and find a nice spot to have lunch. Then the fun begins because we will roll down to Chicken Rock. http://www.deathvalley.com/exploring/photos/Chicken_Rock/chicken_rock.html
Then we hit the bridge, if you didn't pucker at Chicken Rock, you will here.
No full size vehicles will be allowed on this trip due to this stretch, it's no joke. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/east.../977388-closure-south-park-canyon-bridge.html
I've done it before along with others and upon another inspection I'll do it again.
If you don't feel comfortable, don't come.
Don't say I didn't warn you, http://youtu.be/7-ye6C86uRA - you will die if your truck goes over the edge. If your rig weighs more than 6000lbs then you should not attempt.

If your still alive at the other side, we get rewarded with the amazing Briggs Cabin at the bottom of the hill. The cabin has a decent outhouse, indoor wood burning stove, 12v lighting, etc. This is an Adopt-a-cabin and open on a first-come, first-serve basis.
We can camp here for the night. If it's occupied then we will push on to secondary camp locations. Hope this doesn't happen because it will cause us to pull into secondary camp(s) very late at night. These cabins are first come so there is no way to mitigate this risk.

DAY THREE - March 2nd: Roll out at 0930. We will head down the trail until we reach Wingate Rd and head South and turn left on Coyote Canyon Rd. This will bring us to Goler Wash and eventually Mengel Pass. We will pass some really cool spots along the way. Eventually this trail will spit us out on West Side Hwy to Badwater Rd. From here we will head home.



Required Equipment:
HAM and or CB communications (no comms is NOT an option)
Cold weather clothing and camping gear
4WD w/ low range (NOT 2WD friendly, 4x4 w/ rear locker preferred)
IFS skid or some form of oil pan skid plate (thicker than stock preferred)
Tires with decent off-road tread and at least one full spare (street tires won’t last 30 minutes out here)
Shovel
4-5 gallons water supply (be prepared for worst case)
10-15 gallons extra fuel supply (no gas stations out here)
6+ bundles of firewood (the more the better)
Food for 4+ days (be prepared for worst case)
Positive attitude

Suggested Equipment:
2-3 inch lift preferred
Sliders
Hi-Lift
Onboard Air or Co2
Basic tools, supplies, spare parts, and recovery gear for your vehicle

Warning:
Some folks may experience minor damage (stock bumpers, X-members, tires, etc.). Do not attend this event if you’re not modified/protected, if you can’t afford the damage, or if your a poser. These are tough trails; you must pay attention and some wear and tear is to be expected out here.

This will be an epic run. These are some of the toughest trails and trickiest shelf roads in Death Valley.


Please post up any questions/comments/suggestions and your interest level!
I will be cross posting this trip on other forums.


After adding your name, please copy and paste this list if your going to attend.
Attendees:
mandzach (Charlie)

 

Been here twice! Definitely recommend it. Just went last month. Started in Ballarat, to Goler wash, through Mengel, through Butte Valley, warm springs road, then to the highway. Visited Badwater, artists drive, devils golf course then camped at furnace creek. Next day did chloride cliff, rhyolite, Titus canyon, and then camped at mesquite. Due to some damage on my buddies keep like a sheared motor mount and other stuff, we had to eliminate the offroading on day three. But still went through panamint and stovepipe wells and out to 395 just south of Lone Pine. If you have the means....Go!

 

Bump for a great trip.

 

Vegas and SoCal guys come on - this is a great trip.

 

Bump -

This run is happening!

We have a few guys from TTORA signed up. Post up if you want to go.

 

BUMP for a great trip with a great trip leader. Charlie knows his shit.

Man I wish I wasn't stuck up here at UCD. I'll be pulling my hair out prepping for finals while you guys cover death valley. Next year for sure.

 

Hmmm. Sub'd.

 

Damn, This looks like a great trip! I'll still be in class, though...can't do any weekdays and a weekend trip out to death valley is a bit short. Might do spring break in the end of March, though.

 

I'm getting pretty interested. I have one reservation...

Twice you mention the following caveat:

While I don't mind dirt road driving or mild obstacles at night - if there's any treacherous wheeling to be done (shelf roads, climbs and descents with any rollover risk, etc...) - I'd strongly prefer to face it during the daylight, even if it meant pitching a tent at a less desirable location instead of making it all the way to a vacant cabin.

So, how's the route on beyond those 'primary' cabin choices?

My HAM 2M/70cm is functioning fine - but my CB antenna was taken out by a ping pong table falling over in my truck bed and is unlikely to be repaired by end of Feb.

 

Good questions and I can understand your concerns. It's all a crap shoot with these cabins being occupied or not. Most of the time they are empty but we have run into times when we traveled all day to get to a specific cabin, only to find it occupied.

You should also know I'm the guy who likes to get to camp early, be setup, cooking dinner, and drinking cocktails as the sun sets. I hate pulling into camp in the dark.

The only treacherous area, as in it will 100% kill you if you f-up, is Chicken Rock. But the plan is to travel through/past it during daylight on our way to a cabin. But be aware equipment sometimes breaks and delays could occur. So if that cabin is full we will not turn around and go back through the treacherous pass, but rather make camp somewhere off the trail.

My opinion is this run will consist of 80% easy off-roading, 15% moderate and 5% advanced.

If you have never been to these places I'm telling you it will blow your mind. Words and pictures can't do it justice - you have to see it to believe it.

Oh and regarding the comms, I always prefer ham over cb. I only have a cb to help the FNG's along the trail. So if your ham is gtg then you should be fine.

 

Sounds good. I'm down.

After adding your name, please copy and paste this list if your going to attend.
Attendees:
mandzach (Charlie)
bjmoose (Steve)

 

After adding your name, please copy and paste this list if your going to attend.
Attendees:
1. mandzach (Charlie) [NVTTORA PRES]
2. bjmoose (Steve)
3. sngltrak1 (Steve) [NVTTORA]
4. vegastoy (John) [NVTTORA]

 

I did not know this......I thought you enjoyed wheeling all day and searching for camp spots with flashlights late at night? This set up camp before dark will be something different for me....I'm looking forward to it!!

 

What's the plan for food?

Some type of potluck arrangement? Or every man for himself? I'm good either way - just need to know how to prepare.

 

great pics Charlie...looks like an absolute blast! Just curious, you mention having a lift, armor...all the typical off roading gear, but i noticed in your pic thread some very stock looking trucks....how did they do out there?

 

Can't wait to see pics!

 

Ya, ya, ya... More like searching for where the TRAIL disappeared to with flashlights. . Ahhhh Grand Escalante

We always tend to bring to much food, share everything we bring and feast like kings. Typically we eat light/fast for breakfast, stop for a brief lunch and put on a spread for dinner.

Stock trucks could probably make it through the trails we are going to run, but I would strongly recommend against it.
In stock form, a driver would struggle in some of the areas we will be traveling, it could be done but would require a high level of skill and lots of rock stacking to bridge voids. Mengel Pass is one example of an area a stock truck would seriously struggle.

 

Hmmm.

In that case I'll probably make a "Throwdown" jambalaya one night and a pecan pie the other night.

 

Sounds great man. Looking forward to meeting you.

 

It's gonna be a hoot.