Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Cost:
You could spend $500 for a package ( ) or build one yourself for about $150 on up
Tank - $60 to ~$150-200 The one I use is about $90 (IMO most reasonable place - http://www.beveragefactory.com/advanced_search_responsive.php?keywords=co2 tank&categories_id=315)
Regulator - $55 - $150 or up ( ) The one I use is $140 from Wheelers.

Weight:
Tare Wt is probably 18-20 lbs plus wt of gas. I carry a 10 lb one
I can get about 8 trips IIRC but who the heck knows right now.

Backup:
I have an ARB 'hi volume' compressor for my lockers and I use that as a backup.

 

Yes, I am jelly. How long were you on standby

 

What noise? Those are song birds.

My favorite flyby was where I was coming in hot just before the salt tram ruins and I had Roland chasing my dust. He locked in on me right off the deck and flared on me. His wash hit Roland - he had no idea that the guy was aiming for us and he hit the comms saying, "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!!!" He thought his truck was blasting apart! By far the most memorable one for me.

 

Stood fighter (fire) watch from Sunday-Wednesday. Great time out in Saline/Panamint.

 

Nice. My truck should be back on the road shortly. ... cause you know I wanted to head out there this weekend. Instead I'm web wheeling.

 

I always love seeing them in DV. Best flyby was on the summit of Lassen Peak. F5 flew inverted maybe 40' off the summit. We waved, he waved. So awesome.

 

We did another one with a guy that was stationed at China Lake. He tried not to burn to much on his mission so that he could buzz us before he headed back. We used our HAM as a beacon. He blasted right to us, flared just before us and full afterburner. Very cool but due to his liability we agreed never to post vids or pics.

 

Often thought about the tanks vs air conpressor, figured I would need the air compressor for lockers and wanted to keep the cost/wieght down. Yeah it takes a few more minutes but I am not in a hurry.

I liked the duratracs but lost one to a sidewall cut. This time I got the kevlar sidewalls, so far so good.

 

It has to work for you. Some use CO2 to activate their lockers. To me, 15-20 minutes savings in air up time, justifies the CO2 especially when it's freezing, raining or snowing.

... and if you ever need to seat a bead, its safer than the gasoline method.

 

Awesome fly-bys...recognize that spot too...

 

A few more snaps...

My awesome co-pilot at the bathtub..



Out of Steel Pass, first glimpse of Eureka Dunes...



Sunset at Eureka Dunes looking east...



Morning hike up the dunes...

 

The concentric circles in your pic are near the crapper, the maze in the videos are a bit further west after the knoll with the moon, bat, and yin-yang rock symbols. If you haven't done the circular walking maze yet it is quite interesting. I was at the springs when it was first started. I didn't talk to the guy who made it and had no idea what he was doing. Watched him with his wheelbarrow full of rocks.

 

Gotcha...thanks for the clarification. Spent most of my time there working on a bad CV, and didn't get a chance to check much more than the business center.

There was this inside...

 

The dunes are a kind of magical place. They should be a "must stop".

 

That's almost a nicer place. I recall stopping on a MC trip. The temp was pretty high and I was pretty dehydrated at that point. But dayum, spectacular views!

 

Have you gone up to Wildrose or the site above there? I forget what that one is called but it's maybe two spots and a porta-potty.

 

Mohagany Flats up at the top? I've been there once. Amazing views and trail head for Telescope Peak. Need to get back there but maybe late spring time. I think there are about 6ish spots.

 

That's the place-couldn't remember the name. Great views.

 

A visit to the kilns before you go up to Mahogany is worth the stop. The spots up there are great but temps can drop. It hit 0 one time we were up there. It's the reason I ditched the cot for a thick foam pad. Coldest night I ever spent outside.