Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Maybe the rain this year will go a long way towards repairing the damage to the playa from the people driving on it.

 

I’m not sure I agree. When NPS recognizes the popularity of a feature, they usually step in. I’d suggest this is the first step toward more regulation.

The damage was done long ago when the soaking books came out and again when the IG crowd started. Oh, and I’m sure Google Earth didn’t help either.

 

I hope you are right..

 

You and I both.

 

They shared the same post on IG. Millers Towing will be getting a lot of business due to unprepared travelers. Then the overkill of the area. The management plan just came out but it was based on current numbers. I sincerely doubt the parks ability to handle a significant increase in visitation. More regulation will surely follow more human visitation.

 

Imagine the amount of unprepared and stranded motorists will increase to the point of forcing Inyo County to pave SVR from end to end, just to reduce litigation and liability claims against the county. Already the county has recently started to grade the road every other month instead of the min. once a year.

 

Yep, just like me nearly 25 years ago on my first DV backcountry trip. Two flat, P-metric tires on racetrack road in the 100 degree heat. At least I was prepared with plenty food and water. Live and learn.

 

Inyo has a new OHV plan and is improving trail access to those vehicles too. They will certainly encroach on DVNP areas. God forbid any new pavement is laid down only to be washed away in the next great thunderstorm event.

 

Problem is, the "great" isn't much by some standards. Just the volume of water coming off the mountains. Definitely creates a huge problem.

 

Do you have a link to the plan? The last update to the 2009 plan was in 2013. If I missed public comment on a new plan I'm going to be pissed. lol

 

You're pissed then. There were three public meetings last year and the management plan was finalized and is done.

 

I guess I'll have to wait until Inyo FS actually publishes it online then. Currently the site is still using the 2009 guidelines. Truth be told the 2009 plan didn't affect my wheeling much at all. Of all the secondary roads that where closed only one was a bad call IMO.

Every time I've talked to the FS about roads I seem to know them better then the powers that be. On more then a few occasions I have had to give them condition reports. lol

 

Sorry thought you were talking about the SVWS management plan. I had the Inyo OHV page somewhere but can't find it.

 

Unfortunately with social media posts and everyone documenting the routes in on youtube, it's only a matter of time until more pavement comes to DV. I recently learned they are now doing bus tours on the east side to the popular spots...unbelievable.
https://www.canyontours.com/death-valley-bus-tour/

 

No worries man. I'm up to date in the SV plan. There's so much land around me I hardly ever even make it to DV. The southern Inyo's and Panamint are about as far south as I usually go. Actually heading up to Casa Diablo and out Chidago right now. I was going to wheel today but the wife wants to take a "drive". She won. lol

 

When most people are driving EV’s and only a few dinosaurs like us are still driving gasoline vehicles, but Big Pine and Panamint Springs still have fuel, for $20 a gallon, but no EV chargers, we’ll have the last laugh. Until we get blocked on one of the passes by a Tesla Cybertruck with a dead battery.

No offense meant to EV fans ... I see one in my future, and I feel guilty using gasoline for recreation ... but I also think we’re over-reacting to a FB post. Guide books, even DVNP’s own material, made SV and DV in general an attraction long before social media.

 

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october2019

 

Southern Death Valley​

Finally made it back to Death Valley. It was a bit of a mob scene between Christmas and New Years of course, but we still made it work and had a blast. Trip Report in my build thread.

 

What's consider a "good" tires" for DV? and chances of getting flats ?

 

I run Goodyear E rated with Kevlar.

Flats can happen anywhere for any reason. Be prepared.