Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

I remember floating around a few miles short of Badwater in early spring 1996 or 1997. It was 3 ft deep just a short walk from the paved road with sharp salt crystals for the bottom surface.

 

Glad we went when we did.

'Lake Manly' closed to boating

In part: "The lake is now too shallow and too far from the road to transport and launch watercraft without damaging the landscape. Therefore, it is now closed to boating."

 

Good news!

 

Park press release on road openings with more details and some photos:

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/2024-03-09.htm

 

Visual confirmation the lake is still there!

The park is a mob scene, but not super bloom crowd levels.

 

Great news! Just in time for my yearly visit

 

Cool video about the history of Trona and Borax works of Searles Valley. He's got several videos about the region.
https://youtu.be/rWRhDG5Pp5M?si=PiWqyZOd-JUq0y9x

 

FYI, it's motorcycle rally season at DV. A bunch of different forums have gatherings. Adventure Rider is holding their 17th year running the Death Valley Noob Rally March 20-24th. They'll mostly be at Panamint Springs though I'm sure some will stay elsewhere as the RV/Camp sites are full. Last I checked, there are over a 200 people signed up not including the + crowd.

I've never gone on one of these rallies because way to many people but I have been to many other rallies. For the most part, people are respectful but expect lots of riders. Especially on the easier roads.

 

Been a few months and a day since the last trip through DV and surrounding areas. Rig was sorta down during that time while getting things ready to redo the rear suspension. This trip was simple and nothing fancy since it was a shake down.

Snow Fall at the top of North Pass Friday Night, temps were 35°ish..


Fat flakes before, during and after the Pine Forest. Took it real easy and slow in 4L going down Buttonwillow..



Obligatory Bat Sign..


The New Rear End.. JDFabrication Frame Brace Kit with their SUA Kit paired with a set of 3.0 3Tube Bypasses performed beyond all expectations , and made the rear feeling like floating on top of a big fat fluffy marshmellow. Didnt bottom out the Bypasses once during the trip, had about a 1-1/4" shaft showing travel before bottoming out.

 

I headed back to Death Valley the first week of March for a photography trip. It had been a cpl years since I had been there. Unfortunately some of my favorite places were inaccessible...Lee Flat, Titus Canyon and Echo Canyon (for camping, no spots open when I was there).

I spent the first night in Trona, with some very, very high winds. That was an adventure.
The 2nd night I stayed at Panamint Springs CG, that was a first. Surprisingly nice, very mellow campground and not very busy.
The 3rd night I spent at Mesquite Springs CG, another first. Very cool campground, mellow and in the middle of nowhere seemingly. Good stars viewing. The last 2 nights were at Texas Springs, and that was kind of a shitshow. Seemed like a lot of people there who have never been camping before. People stealing other people's sites, loud late into the night etc. I skipped on Eureka Dunes and Racetrack camping this trip.

Badwater Basin was definitely a trip. I am glad I got to see it with the lake as I able to capture some pictures I may never be able to get from there again. Sunrise was great. Mid-day (on another day when I went back) turned into a circus. Very crowded.

Loved it there, though it seems to be getting more and more crowded every time I go. I need get off the beaten path more the next time.

Few pics...

Trona night skies



Back-lit Mesquite Dunes



Sunrise at Badwater Basin




Sunrise Dante's View. It was crazy windy and cold, was hard to keep the camera steady



Sunrise with other photographers set up down in Mesquite Dunes



Flyover at Father Crowley





First light on the Panamints



Zabriskie Point - 330am






I didn't take many pictures of my truck, but here are a few cell phone snaps

 

Back in the day, like late 1990's, I remember being like one of two people in all of Mesquite Springs at the start of December! Glad to hear it is still fairly mellow. Popular with stargazers as I understand it, and they tend to be a mellow crowd. Also kind of far from the popular attractions.

Bummer to hear about Texas Springs. That used to be the quiet campground, but again I've not been in any DV campground for like twenty years!

 

Yea I really liked Mesquite Springs, I'd definitely go back there. With Texas Springs it probably hurt that I was there on a Thurs/Fri. Had it been a Mon/Tues I may have had a more mellow crowd.

But like I said, I need to venture out more I think

 

https://youtu.be/N9nDNZ4-Wy8

I don't remember if this was posted before. Some Devil's Hole history.

 

What's going on with all the barb wire?
I headed up to Butte Valley last week and got passed by a park service vehicle going the other way with a load of barb wire in the back. I get to the cabins and find the springs surrounded by new looking barb wire including springs not even near the cabins? Few days later at Racetrack, I find the playa also surrounded by new looking barb wire and fencing tools stacked up ready to add more. It has been a few years since I was last there, so I'm left to ponder if this is new or general repair to something that been there for many years?

Megal Cabin Spring


Playa Fencing


Playa Tool Stash


Obligatory Pic: Desert Dog on mouse patrol

 

I have seen similar maze-structures in "fence breaks". I think they are intended to keep large wandering dull-witted beasts (donkeys, cows, me until I have my morning coffee) from passing unhindered. As long as the maze does not have a locking gate, it just limits the type of critter that passes.

 

Great photos

 

Finally made it to Death Valley
Toured 350+ mi and took almost 700 pics
Didn't realize how big Joshua trees grew

 

Great photos!

 

The fencing at the spring is almost certainly to restrict access by feral burros. Fencing springs is mentioned in the DV General Management Plan as one strategy in the removal and control of burros. Many other springs have been fenced in the past (e.g. upper spring in Saline Valley). In the past few years burro management has been getting more attention and funding so that’d be my guess. I believe that Butte Valley specifically has been a focus of burro removal recently.

I suspect the fencing at Racetrack is to keep asshats from driving on the lakebed. Again the GMP mentions fencing as a potential last resort to protect resources from morons. Racetrack visitation has been increasing enormously in the past decade and asshat visitation has increased at least as much if not more.

 

The trend of donuts on the playas outside of protected places seems to have upped the ante.