Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

They probably came in from Ballarat. Lots of groups stage there. Just one time if a back country patrol ranger was at the right place and cited them the word would be out. I can think of many places to stake out but I'm not a patrol ranger or a ranger of any sort for that matter.

 

Yes they are fitted out with proper vehicles as you noted.

 

Me either. Take the good with the bad. The high temps, low temps, snow, mud, but I'd take it in a heartbeat. They are stretched thin though.

 

Last ranger I saw in DV was at Racetrack in a lifted tacoma with 285's and Icons. Ranger was smoking hot too. I kept telling her I need a pat down for her safety.

 

I did Mengel Pass last May in my stock height 265/75/16 Taco. A few clunks but wasn't bad.

 

Be careful out there. Another added to the grim moniker of the valley...
https://www.inyoregister.com/sites/default/files/IR E-07.21.18.pdf

 

I recently got an inreach mini too. Just a little peace of mind when solo exploring.

 

I've been looking at the Resqlink. I don't care about the communications ability of the inreach and with this there is no annual costs.

https://www.acrartex.com/products/resqlink-plb

 

I put a lanyard on my inreach. It goes around my neck with the unit in my shirt pocket, it's always with me. Not fool proof for sure, but as good as I can make it.

 

I’ve noticed myself standing stupid places with fall exposure just when I get out of the truck for just a quick look around. Hence I make sure to carry my PLB in my pocket rather than my pack.

Looking seriously at the Mini as well.

 

I had the mini clipped to a belt loop most of the trip I was on recently. Hardly knew it was there.

 

How are you liking it so far? Much of any testing the comms? Tried interfacing with a smartphone yet?

 

I want the mini on the assumption that I'll always have the phone with me regardless. The phone is just so much more versatile than the + given I can photograph/scan guide book pages, use a theodolite app, satellite images, topos, park maps, etc. etc. etc. All offline off course (I load map layers ahead of time usually). So the + doesn't add anything for me in my assuming I have a phone with me conop.

On the flip side of course the + is much more durable than my phone so if on a trip involving lots of water then the + has a durability option that can overcome its other deficiencies compared to the phone.

I'm pretty much always day hiking and any backpacking I'll likely do would be a single overnight. It has been years since I did a multi-day backpacking trip. Easy to power manage a phone over that duration.

I'll primarily use the mini for brevity messages and so no need to connect to the phone, it is still essentially an independent device in 95% of my planned use. In the occasional case I send a custom message not going to be a big burden to connect to the phone if I want faster text entry.

Worth mentioning for me I'll still carry a PLB as well. Right now I carry a PLB and a Spot. Seriously considering the Mini to replace the Spot.

Love the fact the Mini is USB rechargeable as well. Right now I don't do tracking with my Spot. I think if I get the Mini that I may move to the Mini mounted on the day pack in tracking mode and the ACR PLB in my pocket should I end up unable to access my pack in an emergency.

 

Well after reading all the reviews to date and noticing that REI has a $20 bonus card when spending more than $100 until 7/30 I decided to bite (not to mention the $35 back in member dividend I'll get). My inReach Mini is on the way!

Will get to go through the as I understand it slow and painful process of canceling my Spot plan... Really though the Spot has served me well for many years now and did a great job of giving peace of mind to my wife and myself by allowing me to send check in messages regularly. I look forward to now getting confirmation that my messages made it through with the inReach.

Also I'm more of a fan of Iridium than Globalstar as far as technology and reliability goes. So another win for inReach.

 

I got mine from BH Photo. Did you go with orange or black? I got the orange.

 

Spot's "customer service" typically involves nitrile gloves and petroleum jelly from what I've heard. Fortunately I haven't actually had to deal with them yet despite many years of owning one. They of course let you upgrade your plan from their website. Any other change to the plan involves calling someone on the phone. Their "24/7" phone support directs you to a voicemail box if you select the option for changing your service.

Garmin appears to allow changes in plans both up and down as well as suspension of service under Freedom plans right from their website. They also document how Freedom plan activation and suspension and billing all work in their FAQs. Very different world from Spot as far as customer service goes.

Mini is definitely an upgrade on many levels. Expect to be quite happy with it.

I was about to do the B&H Photo route as they ship very fast to me over here in MD for free and of course the whole sales tax thing (for the limited time that remains thanks to SCOTUS). I've bought a lot of stuff from B&H over the years. But dividend plus bonus cash from REI won out. Plus easy 90 day return if I don't like it with REI. Think the $20 bonus (which must be spent in early August) will go towards getting my daughter her first day pack before our end of summer trip.

I went with the orange. I want to be able to see the dang thing easily!

 

You mean like when the US Navy decided to buy these:

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Good luck finding that sailor when you drop him/her overboard!

As numerous sailors said, "Why the hell would you make me hard to see in the one environment that I really want to be seen!"

(They also didn't do well around fire. That's OK though because fire isn't really much of a shipboard threat...)

 

Our son is in the Navy. I think that camo looks good on him but he’s very critical. I guess it’s going/gone now?

 

Fire is a very real thing aboard Naval vessels and they train for it. But yeah, cammo aboard any large vessel is a joke. Unless they are danger close it isn't necessary. But they wanted to be cool like the Marines and SOCOM they tote around the globe.

 

I know, was being tongue in cheek. It is probably the biggest threat of all on most Navy ships. Hence the ludicrousness of having uniforms that don't do well around fire.

Anyway, they are undoing there dumb decision. Your tax payer dollars at work!