Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

I'm heading out this weekend to do some social distancing. Anyone else going?

 

I’m heading out on the 23rd or maybe earlier. Do you think they will close it off ? Due to virus ? I know Big Bend just closed

 

They can't really close DV due to roads that pass through for travel to and from areas outside the park. When traversing Yosemite they will charge you, DVNP will not. DV is also so large (largest NP outside AK) that it would be very difficult for the park service to close off all dirt roads.

 

The Visitor's Centers are closed. You might not be able to get food or fuel at some point.

The Park Service could issue orders closing the parks at which point you might be denied entry or kicked out.

Seriously though, if you are in a county with Shelter in place in effect, please stay home.

 

Going tomorrow for 4 days

 

Mind letting us know the situation?

 

Contemplating a move...

 

no gas... I guess I can build a pop up shop in middle of DV selling gas for $10 a gallon!!! MMMHAHAHAHAH

 

I think this article is a pretty good wake up call for folks who want to leave their more crowded metro areas and “get away”. I was thinking of a DV trip until maybe a week ago ... now we are shelter-in-place. And this reminds me why I should stay put.
http://www.thundercling.com/2020/03...ity-struggles-beneath-the-weight-of-covid-19/

 

And another one. Pretty balanced pro’s and con’s, but even if you go way off the grid, you’ll still need gas, food, etc etc away from your community.
https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/newbie-articles/3-ways-to-use-an-rv-during-coronavirus/

 

I am hoping to take a Death Valley trip in about a month but will cancel if things haven't drastically improved. As others have pointed out already it's easy to think traveling to remote areas is harmless but we are all still reliant on infrastructure to get there (gas stations, rest areas, grocery stores) and for me to drive from Oregon to Death Valley puts a lot of people at risk, myself and my family included. I will be really bummed if I can't go but it's a small sacrifice to help keep others safe, the park will still be there when this passes.

 

It's not just relying on services. If you are not symptomatic but infected you could be infecting others without even knowing it and small communities are not set up to deal with this. We were supposed to be heading down to DV at the end of the month but have cancelled our plans.

 

We were supposed to leave tomorrow Also cancelled-but it's for the better and hopefully, we'll be back at it sooner rather than later!

 

Same. I was looking forward to having some clouds

 

Cerro Gordo was quite chilly this morning with increasing snow flurries.

And it is closed!

 

We had to cancel our trip to Hawaii in a week. Been really looking forward to it for 6 months, but so be it. Just have to wait til next April. Stay safe out there all.

 

Went out Wednesday to Surprise Canyon. SURPRISE! I made a turn too early and went up Happy Canyon. spent the night there and hit Surprise the next morning. about 5 vehicles at Chris Wecht Camp and 2 sets of campers so better for me to have stayed up Happy Canyon.

Hiked up the canyon for the first time. Tried to get to Panamint, started out at 8am and at 11am I was only half way there so I called it quits at Brewery Spring. Ate a sandwich and headed back down. Disappointed I didn't make it all the way but still worth getting that far. Forgot to change to waterproof shoes and managed to soak my feet on the way out. Would help a lot in navigating the canyon if you don't have to worry about wet feet and just stomp through in several places.

Snow on the way in to Titus Canyon.


Could see the light flurries as I was driving in. Stopped by the time I got there.

After driving the flat gravel road in, the downward slope turned to a reddish dirt. slick mud. Filled the treads and I slid around like I was on ice. Didn't get out to take a pic but it was pretty sketchy as I was already committed. Turning around would have been very difficult and I didn't want to try sliding AND going uphill. Kept to a walking pace. Made a note to be very cautious about entering Titus Canyon when it is wet. Maybe a half mile until gravel again (guessing?). No problems after that section.

Didn't spend any time there just drove through and headed home to Los Angeles.

 

Looks like Yosemite has closed services. Effectively closing the park.

 

DVNP is closing most vault toilets but some back country ones will remain open but not serviced. I can understand the motive but IMHO it creates more problems than the bathroom closure attempts to solve. People will crap more in the desert and not clean it up. It happened at Joshua Tree when it closed. It creates more opportunity for other diseases to spread.

 

In the past, closures have been money related and no employees were around. This time, rangers will still be there at the gate enforcing the closure.

Technically, people should not even be foing to the parks.