Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

So I just got back home last night. My good luck with few people at the lower Springs is holding, even for a weekend, so we stayed Friday and Saturday at Saline and headed out North Pass and then over Sonora Pass to get home in one day. So, no DeDeckera, Steel or Eureka. Filled up at Ft Independence then added another gallon at Big Pine before turning off onto the Big Pine Rd. Out to Crankshaft, Ubehebe, Teakettle, down Lippincott, out to Springs and then out North Pass was 175 miles indicated, and the MPG readout was 17 mpg. Used 4wd only to descend Lippincott in 4Lo. A great trip with fantastic weather ie no wind. Met some wildlife biologists at the Springs who were doing volunteer Monarch butterfly counts in the side canyons. Never would have guessed that they overwinter there, but since my own hometown is a huge Monarch nesting site, I shouldn’t be surprised that they like Saline Valley as well, just like me. By the way one canyon they did showed the highest count since 1988.

Thanks for the tips on the fuel; bringing 4 gallons wasn’t needed but saved us some money at $4.19/gal in Wasco (lowest price on the trip) vs $5 395 fuel (almost $6.00 in Bridgeport).

A few iPhone snaps, not quite up to the high quality art some of you guys post here. The wash with running water and lush growth was found on an easy 7 mile round trip walk from the Lower Springs.

 

For extra points, I see a Coco's steeker.

 

The tire pressure mystery has been solved. After a week of not losing any air, the tire was flat again this morning.



I pulled it and found a nail that was tight against a tread lug. I missed it when the tires were dirty and it only leaked when parked with the nail at an orientation where the tire flexed enough to allow the leak.

 

Yes, bought from Coco himself a few years ago. My Taco truck has been around.

 

I was fine on the trip I just finished, though I did bundle up for our first night in Alabama Hills where it dropped into the upper 40’s (bbbrrrrrr…). My buddy found a football sized rock and put it off to the side of the fire pit (not right in the coals) for a few hours, then rolled it aside to cool a bit. Wrapped it in paper, then his towel, and it kept him warm all night. He repeated the process in Saline Valley though it wasn’t cold. I suppose this only works when and where fires are allowed, and there are suitable rocks, but I may try it just for fun sometime.

 

Found

 

Is this the trucker sleeping pad you mentioned?

$107 Electrowarmth Twin, Heated Mattress Pad, Non-Fitted, Size 36 x 60, Model# T36 12V Used in Trucks, RVs, Campers, White

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NCF9L49?keywords=Electrowarmth&qid=1639122667&sr=8-23

 

That's the one.

 

That first shot is a brilliant composition with the sunrise reflected in the rear window and the hills and Sierras in the background!

Close the driver side doors and turn off the bed light next time .

 

True confession: my friend took that picture. He also helped spot me down Lippincott, his first time ever spotting. He has a good eye.

 

Winter storm watch for most of California, including the Inyo Mountains. Forecast warns that Westgard Pass may be closed. North Pass may be tough … or fun, depending on how you see things.

 

Sun night thru Tuesday is gonna be a big storm. They keep increasing the totals across Mono and Inyo. Above 6000' is gonna be all snow by Monday afternoon. Just a heads up for anyone that gets in over their heads. My rig is down with a broken coil bucket so I won't be available to do recoveries. Kinda bummed about that and I'll miss cutting fresh track during this storm.

This shit won't buff out. lol

 

Danny sends his regards

 

I bet he's busy keeping track of all 4 posts a day on IFS. lol

 

You have a account...visit him now you have all the time in the world now.

 

LOL. Yeah, that's not gonna happen. I do have to decide whether to repair the rig, have insurance total it, or SAS it. I'm leaning towards a combination of 2 and 3.

 

LOL! You should have hiked up the wash to have met me here:

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How does that happen? I see extra after-market welding.