Feb 2022 Death Valley Shenanigans

Death Valley trip report

 

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Februrary 2022 - Death Valley Shenanigans

Cast of characters: @El Taco Diablo @Blue Canary @essjay @roguegs @CrashN'Burn @2BeersPlease

Day 1

We rolled out with the intention of meeting up at Trail Gear in Fresno. I needed a new Vehicle Speed Sensor adapter. Trail Gear had one waiting for me in Will Call. Without the VSS, I had no speedo, and I was throwing a check engine light.

We got to TG, I made a quick fix under the truck, and we were good to go.



We hit the road from TG, and headed down 99 to Bakersfield.



Instead of doing the Tehachapi Pass route, we decided to roll through Kern Canyon Rd 178. Views are much better, and I'd say it's easier on the trucks.




We rolled up on the turn off for Trona Pinnicles and aired down. It's washboard for a few miles out to the Pinnicles.







Chris, Larry, Angelo, and I found our buddies Josh and Jason that arrived the day prior.



We settled in and hung out for the night.

 

Day 2

We started off rolling out of Trona Pinnacles.



We stopped to top off tanks in Trona, and then we rolled out to our turn off to Fish Canyon Escape Route Trail, and aired down again.





We continued on down Fish Canyon, and finally managed to find the road we were looking for, where we regrouped.



After we regrouped we headed over a bunch of wash board and whop-d-doos towards Goler Wash.



We continued through Goler and headed towards Barker Ranch (Charlie Manson's hideout)



After we finished at Charlie's place. We took a short cut to Mengel Pass. The pictures don't do the hill justice.



Then we headed over Mengel Pass proper.



Once we were through Mengel, we headed over to check out the Geologist's Cabin.



From the Geologist's Cabin, it was a short drive over West of Stripped Butte in Wood Canyon to set up camp and have a seafood boil.

 

dude you guys got some good action shots!

 

Day 3

We started out of camp and headed through Warms springs Canyon towards Badwater Road. Originally we were going to go up West Side Rd (dirt) but we needed to make up some time.

We bid farewell to Josh and Jason... they were heading to New Mexico.



We came across the Talc Mine and decided to have a look.



Then we headed back out on the road towards Badwater Rd.



Angelo and I regrouped with Larry and Chris



And then we stopped to air up when we got out to Badwater Rd.





Got to Badwater Basin... Jen and I didn't feel like walking out to the low point. This is as low as we got.



We finished up in Badwater Basin, took off out through Furnace Creek and then tuned towards Nevada.

On the way out towards Nevada we stopped at the Wondermine.



We finished up at the Wondermine and then rolled over the pass in to Nevada. We headed to Beatty to top of all of our tanks and get some snacks.

 

is that @Fernando in the last pic….?

 

Day 3 (continued) - Titus Canyon



We got back out to pavement after dark. Aired up and headed up towards Ubehebe Crater. We had to go out past the Crater a few miles to find a spot to (legally) camp.

 

Day 4

We had no idea what we were going to see when we popped out of our tent. I was pleasantly suprised at the view.



We packed up camp and head back to Ubehebe crater. Angelo broke off early and headed home. So it was now down to Chris, Larry, and I... with our better halves as well... of course.



We then hit the road (wide open throttle) to Teakettle junction.



We hung up the first camping teapot Jen and I ever bought. We had it for years. I believe it was a worthy offering to the offroad gods.

Then it was off to the Racetrack.



After the Racetrack, it was on to Lippincott.

 

Day 4 (continued) - Cerro Gordo rd to the Pass.

From Lippincott, we headed out to Saline Valley rd and Jackass Canyon. When we got about to the Joshua trees it was time to bid farewell to Larry. He headed towards Panamint Springs and out towards home.



Chris and I continued down Saline Valley rd through Darwin Flat and then headed North up White Mountain Talc rd towards Cerro Gordo rd.



Once we made the turn on to Cerro Gordo rd, the road almost immediately started to turn upwards.



But it paid off with a pretty good view back in to the park, from the East side of the summit.

 

Day 4 (continued) - Cerro Gordo rd from Cerro Gordo to Keeler.

Once we got over the pass, immediately started seeing parts and pieces of Cerro Gordo.



And then it was on down the West side of Cerro Gordo rd.



And to the end of Cerro Gordo rd, to air up one last time for this trip.



And we headed to Lone Pine... for a night's stay in a Hotel room.

 

Day 5 - Alabama Hills, 395 to Donner Summit (then home)

Woke up, and had a view directly at Mt Whitney from our hotel room door.



Got around and headed out to Alabama Hills. The plan was just to take a quick spin through and get some perspective / lay of the land for a future trip.



Made a quick stop at Manzanar. Most of it was closed. We'll definately have to come back again.



At this point we started heading North on 395. Weather was good, but I was keeping a leary eye on the mountains. It looked like it could go either way.

We got to Mammoth and we were in snow, but the weather was still not that bad.



We reached Mono Lake, and then headed towards Bridgeport. Weather was still holding decent.



Followed the Walker River for a bit. This was a nice section.



We headed towards Carson City, then Reno, to pick up I80 over Donner Pass.

This is where progress grinded to a halt. We were moving pretty well all the way to the fruit cop stand. About a half mile from there we stopped. We sat there, taking 4.5 hours to move from the fruit cop stand to the Summit (about 5 miles). By the time we started going again, we had about 4 inches of snow sitting on the truck.



About 60 miles of chain controls later, we were in Colfax, pretty much back out of the weather, and it was pretty much smooth sailing at about 80 mph home.

 

You must have been driving through Lee Vining right around when we were at Panum Crater.

 

We saw this gem... Had to turn around and get a picture

 

Jen has been known to hang out the window and get the shot for the Gram. lol

I haven't dropped her yet.

 

What are ya doin Angelo? Did you see a snake?

 

baby snake

 

Put some grease in my JBA arms yesterday and not sure what the hell happened but 9-10 pumps into each ball joint to finally get some of the old grease out. Arm bushings were good with 2-3 pumps.

took a gander at my rear brake shoes and they seem old…probably going to tackle those soon.

put everything together and washed the truck and all of a sudden I felt a shuddering feeling and a weird sound like a fan hitting a belt or something. Went away once I started driving. Really hoped I didn’t fuck with the rear drums to the point it’s making contact to the pads. Kept driving. Sound came back again only in reverse. Went under the truck and started to hold my hand against the skids and sliders since it felt like vibrations. Found the fucking culprit….a rock was jammed between the exhaust and skid plate making the car shake at idle…WHEW.

 

@Blue Canary