Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Here are a few more pics from today's run.

Started at the Ballarat Ghost Town to Barker Ranch. The Ranch to Mengel Pass to Stripped Butte Valley. Finished off with The Escape Trail all the to Highway 127.

 

The Escape Trail I know of crosses the Slate Range which is southwest of Ballarat. I wasn't aware there was another.
http://www.off-road.com/trails-events/trails/offroad-travel-death-valley-part-1-53449.html

Escape from Death Valley: As Told by William Lewis Manly and Other '49Ers

http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Death-Valley-William-Lewis/dp/0874171083/ref=pd_sim_74_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51j73wRb8LL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR125,160_&refRID=023S9ZWMJG1TXDKV8K99

 

Just got back from my week out there. My uncle planned the trip to be almost exclusively hikes but I got a little wheeled adventuring time around warm springs. That was my absolute favorite part of Death Valley. You'd never see it if you didn't get out of the truck.

 

Here's a pic dump with some commentary from what I saw while I was out there. Death Valley blew me away, this place has some incredible solitude and scenery to offer.

First night by Cottonwood Canyon




2nd day, first full day, was spent climbing a lot of the way up Stretched Pebble Canyon.




3rd day was Lemoigne. Checked out the couple cabins, and climbed our way to a couple of the mines on the hills above here.






4th day was Lee mine and Lee wash. We hiked the ~10 miles down Lee wash including some fantastic dry falls we had to downclimb.



The closest place we could park a vehicle to the end of Lee Wash was across the basin by Panamint Springs. So an additional 4.5 miles to the 10 miles we already hiked was spent crossing the basin. I loved the feeling of being out there, 1/2 mile from anyone in my group, it was so remote. Thankfully we were graced with some clouds.




5th day we did a lot of touristy things, and ended up down by Warm Springs. Took a quick stop at father crowly scenic point.



Saw this fellow from Germany on the way through Stovepipe Wells. I'm super jealous.



Toured down through Devil's Golf Course and Badwater quickly.




Here's some of warm springs. We stopped to look at the mining equipment and noticed the yellow buildings of the warm springs hamlet in the trees.






Stopped by Grantham Talc Mine



6th day we climbed up the ridge above Coffin Canyon and rappelled down a 180 or 190ft dry fall in the canyon. Sorry I don't have pictures, but that was a lot of fun. Adrenaline inducing even for me.



And on the 7th day, I rested, and drove 27+ hours straight back to MN.

 

^^^Thanks for sharing the adventure, you really did some hiking that trip! Great pics too.

 

Looks like a great trip.

 

So awesome! I think I saw you on APRS three days ago, while I was trapped at work. I was thinking, man I wish I was that guy right now... Then I saw the MURS freq in the APRS comment field and laughed out loud. Great pics. Thanks for sharing!

 

Yup that was me! You could've figured it out by my hometown and my info on the database.

Also CRAP! I was hoping no one noticed... I thought I had my comment field turned off...

 

Another from the "morons driving too fast" file:







Not my photos. This is coming down North Pass into Saline. Folks who took the photos said looked like the morons came down the grade too fast, hit a dip and lost control impacting large rocks off the road. Note driver front wheel ripped off and completely missing. Airbags deployed, windshield broken and radiator toast. Doors locked and no one inside, no one sure where they went exactly. Lee at the springs radioed NPS and Miller's extracted a few days later.

Irony is the road is in such good condition that things like Honda Civics have shown up at the springs recently but these guys managed to destroy their truck...

 

No injuries reported and the truck has been removed by Millers $$$
The person who posted those pics on a different website said he thought they hit a dip and were airborne for 30ish feet. That's pretty crazy if it is true. Never get too comfy on those roads...just when you are distracted WHAM!

 

Epic. Trip reports like this make me want to take a week off work and start driving.

Good thing they locked their doors, wouldn't want anyone to drive off with it. Lucky they didn't make the Darwin Awards.

 

A few pics from a quick DV run on my way home from a fishing trip in the Owens River/Bishop area..



^^ Echo Canyon

^^ Tourists wondering where the epic Super Bloom of 2016 is.. Near Badwater

^^ Solitude at the Warm Springs-Saline Valley


^^ Warm Springs camp area rock art


^^ Warm Springs

^^ Pic from last trip out.

^^ Pic from last trip out to DV

 

An article I wrote for adventurist life about our Death Valley trip. Go check it out.

https://adventurist.life/article/the-death-valley-expedition/

 

"Camera snipers..."

Excellent write up.

 

Excellent trip and coverage. There is nothing like when the sun comes up or down, your out there, miles from, and just stopping and taking it all in. I just can not imagine what kind of men ventured out, many never to come back, in areas where we can drive, have a hot meal at the end of the day, and try to capture it in a camera.

 

Thank you!

 

124° today...just saying.

 

Incredible.

 

That's Crom weather