20140131(JAN31) Death valley

[troyboy162]

Time to go see things again. Trying to get there before land use issues get worse. Anyone who has gone on other runs with me knows I often have a loose(to say it politely) plan when going places I have never been before. This will be another one of those loosely planed trips so the below itinerary is at this time "Plan A". Also at this time the Harry wade road is closed as well as several others after the flooding. I dont know about ducking the ropes in DV...We may very well be limited to whats "open" and with budgets the way they are who knows when things will be open again. The last trip (http://www.ultimateyota.com/showthread.php?10215-Death-Valley-Panamint-Tour-20121110-11-Report) left unfinished business. This trip will correct that and close out the far southern tip of the DVNP.

Difficulty: 3- trail-rating (http://www.justruns.com/files/dif.htm)

When/Where: JAN31-FEB2 Meeting courds sent via email.
CB channel:14
FRMS/GRMS channel:15 (bring two radios to share with a CB equipped rig)
2M HAM: UY simplex primary 146.430MHZ
Monitor 146.52 (National Simplex Calling Frequency)
70CM HAM: as needed
Repeters:not sure any of these are good...
146.970 PL 123
147.060 PL 100
147.210
442.300 PL 131.8
Mount Potosi 146.880 -100.0
Table Mtn 145.280 -131.8
Table Mtn 447.200 -94.8
145.3400 ? pl 100 "this covers most of panamint and high locations in the Inyos."
mazourka 146.7600 ? pl 100 "covers almost all of saline and the inyos."

Itinerary subject to large changes:
google earth file ---> 102
Overview picture below
100
DAY1
Pleasant Canyon 930ishAM start up to the closed bridge and back.
Camping at dusk possibly by a cabin if one is open.
Day 2
Start 8am
head down pleasent canyon
Stop in at Ballrat and say hi to the Rockie who looks over the place.
up Goler canyon and over Mengel pass
Camp at dusk possibly by cabin if one is open.
Day3
Start 8am
Harry Wade rd
Saratoga springs (pup fish and a historic mule team watering hole)
Ibex dunes (cant drive on them)
Ibex mine
lunch in Baker(Mad Greek? Sooo good!)


Travel times:
San Bernadino to Trona- 2.3 hours
Palmdale to Trona- 2 hours
Las Vegas to Trona- 4 hours

Requirements:
-Working reliable Truck. Recovery's out there can cost 1k in towing fee's easily.
-4x4 (This is bat country)
http://www.mgsrvr.com/26fd84f8b8a46594ccf811e9a4e6a067.jpeg
-32" tires
-AT or MT tires for rock protection. No exceptions
-Spare tire within 3" of other tires
-Tools
-Recovery points front and rear
-tow strap without hooks
-Clothing/food/water/fuel for Three days in DV. (remember the nights could be cold)
-first aid kit.
-ok with severe paint scratches and undercarriage rash at a minimum(very likely to scuff your puma's)

Recommended:
-33" tires
-Rear locker
-Flashlights for mines
-wood for cabin stoves or fire pits.
-cot for sleeping in Cabins. Hanta virus is possible though not likely.

Should be the worst part, but this was before the last rains. Overall it looks better then when we went down it last time.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/546124_435943693162957_1051337027_n.jpg

Fuel requirements:
Minimum fuel requirements ~210 miles from gas station to gas station
The availability of gas in DV is not 100% reliable and they charge 1-2 dollars more per gallon then normal. Figure in off-road mileage too. EX I get about 10-12 mpg off-road.
*Trona (on the way in Panimint valley)
*Shoshone (a little north of where we will be back on pavement sunday noon)

Camping requirements:
Primitive camping. Pack it in/Pack it out.



Weather info and conditions:
http://www.nps.gov/deva/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=439529
https://www.facebook.com/DeathValleyRoadConditions
http://www.nps.gov/deva/upload/Morning-Report.pdf
http://www.death.valley.national-park.com/weather.htm
Febuary will be mild to chilly during the day and down right cold at night. Expect a bit of snow in some higher elevations we may visit.

limit:
for camping purpose the limit is 4 vehicles (more planing available for larger numbers)
1. Troy
2. JD and Fam?
3. Mike UE
4. Dave UE
5. John possibly

[Jaydee914]

Cool, so far that's a good weekend for me. I'm very interested - the Panamint tour was a fun time and I'd like to explore more of DV.

[DHC6twinotter]

Not sure if I'll be around then, but sounds fun! DV is an awesome park.

Do you know what roads/trails you'll be taking?

[troyboy162]

Great JD!
Not really sure where I want to go yet. Theres enough in the Panimints to go there again, but I am hoping the bridge on the south park loop will be open again someday in the next couple years. People are fighting hard to re-open that trail to full sized vehicles.

I know it was a real bummer to drop down mengle pass and have to come back up. It looked like a whole journey was on the other side just waiting to start.

[Jaydee914]

I agree. Maybe we just head straight to Mengel and do the pass and beyond. There's an entire VALLEY (I think it's called Bad Idea, or Wound or.... DEATH Valley!) out there to explore!
But we've got some time till then to figure out options.

[troyboy162]

haha I know it JD way too much to see out there! I thre this together. It seems a bit optimistic on mileage but a jeep club covered more terrain per day on a 4 day trip. Sunday would be a early day since its a huge drive home.

possible route:
day 1 62.8 dirt 41 miles pavment
Ballarat start
gohler canyon
mengle pass
warm springs camp
pavment for 41 miles :(
badwater
devils golf course
Back on the dirt :)
echo canyon
eye of the needle
Inyo mine for camp

day2 51.8 dirt 39.4 pavment
Lee camp road
ryolite ghost town
red pass
leadfield
titus canyon
stove pipe wells
Camping in ghrotto canyon

day 3 14 dirt 61 pavement
panminit springs
darwin falls
Darwin "Ghost town"
out to 395

[Jaydee914]

3 days exploring anywhere in the dirt sounds awesome to me!

[OpenTrackRacer]

I'm in. With a fearless leader like Troy, what could go wrong?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8222357847_c8e9b7e579.jpg

[troyboy162]

lol great night! I bet we will have similar winds this time too. The more I read, the more I hear about the east side of the panimints and crazy dusk winds. The top post is being edited with more info

[OpenTrackRacer]

I like the outline of the second itinerary.

Getting a cabin on the weekend is unlikely but if we tried to stay in one Thursday night we'd probably be successful.

[troyboy162]

Im up for suggestions. I just think its going to take 10 more days to see it all so i want to start biting off chunks. The other itinerary has a pretty fast pace unless we never get out of the trucks. Mengel pass messes up things too since i dont know if all the trucks could go east to west on whatever it looks likenow. Pleasant canyon could be tied to another trip... UE open trip?? :-)

[troyboy162]

Potential itinerary change to have a better chance at a cabin

DAY1
Pleasant Canyon (http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forums/trail-report-photo-section-gps-coordinates/44226-pleasant-south-park-canyons-death-valley-california.html) 930ishAM start up to the closed bridge (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/eastern-sierra-great-basin/977388-closure-south-park-canyon-bridge.html) and back.
Camping at dusk possibly by a cabin if one is open.
Day 2
Start 8am
head down pleasent canyon
Stop in at Ballrat (http://youtu.be/Y6zvXY1uwX0) and say hi to the Rockie who looks over the place.
up Goler canyon (http://oldtrailmaster.wordpress.com/2009/06/20/goler-canyon/) and over Mengel pass (http://oldtrailmaster.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/mengel-pass/)
Camp at dusk possibly by cabin if one is open.
Day3
Start 8am
Harry Wade rd (http://oldtrailmaster.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/harry-wade-exit-route/)
Saratoga springs (http://www.backroadswest.com/MonthTrips/Saratoga.htm) (pup fish and a historic mule team watering hole)
Ibex dunes (cant drive on them)
Ibex mine
lunch in Baker(Mad Greek? Sooo good!)

The changes are to day1. There is alot to see in pleasant canyon so a earlier start up there is optimal. Also the change allows the "torch party" (thurday night group) to have a very good chance of securing a cabin for thur and friday night that everyone can enjoy. Fish canyon is a interesting drive for historical value and getting off the pavement quicker, but it was an easy cut against a better chance at a cabin and more time in pleasant canyon. This poses some issue for both thursday night people, and friday morning people so more directions and info will be worked out.

[davantalus]

Fourth spot still open? I'm interested. :)

[troyboy162]

davantalus from Mojave underground?

[OpenTrackRacer]

Davantalus from Underground Explorers! Two Jeeps versus two 4Runners...

[troyboy162]

haha OHH perfect! Dave's good to go! Should be a great time out there. The only problem is its so friggen far away from now.

[DHC6twinotter]

When I was in DV a few months ago, no fuel was available at Scotty's Castle. Stovepipe Wells was cash only (temp. I think). Furnace Creek was the only place I could get gas and use a credit card.

[troyboy162]

damn that must have been a little scary for anyone running low.

[davantalus]

haha OHH perfect! Dave's good to go! Should be a great time out there. The only problem is its so friggen far away from now.
Woot! Excited.

(Not so excited about deep pinstripes on the new rig, but I'll live.)

[Jaydee914]

Sweet. Sounds killer and I can't wait! I'm down for pretty much any type of terrain as long as there's a winch in front of me (see: "The Whole 'Bernardino). Ideally, I'll plan to make Thursday a super late night of driving after work to meet up with you guys.

[troyboy162]

that would be perfect. That way we can all sleep in as much as needed lol.

[Jaydee914]

Holy crap, has it seriously been 4 months since we've discussed this trip???? Please tell me it's still on! I just came here to post that we're exactly 2 weeks out, but now I'm not so sure anymore!

[troyboy162]

Hells yeah this thing is on. I'm planning my whole upgrade around it. Truck goes into rock testing tomorrow and will be daily driven for the next two weeks. Death valley is going to be fun. All the roads we need are open and I'm working 1st shift. Mike and I will be leaving Thursday afternoon to try and get a cabin.

[Jaydee914]

SWEEEET! I'm working on an upgrade for the trip this weekend as well. I cannot wait!

[troyboy162]

Whatcha working on?

[Jaydee914]

Oh, you'll see...

[Seanz0rz]

I'm going with an "in-dash espresso machine" based on previous conversations and encounters with JD.

I will also accept "bumper mounted french press" and "center console drip". "Overhead K-cup" is a distinct possibility too.

[Jaydee914]

Hahaha! Holy crap that's funny Sean.
But yeah, it's an in-dash espresso machine.

[Seanz0rz]

Since I won't be on this trip, you'll have to post it up. I'm curious what you're doing.

[Jaydee914]

Posting up...

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/01/20/2uzeseja.jpg

I'm going to get the actual locker installed this week at a local gear shop, but I spent the day mounting the compressor, running the air line and wiring it up to the custom switches.
I found the switches at aironboard.com. They fit and match the factory dash perfectly and are available for compressors, lockers and every type of light you could think of mounting to your Toyota.

[Seanz0rz]

Awesome!

[troyboy162]

Yes!!! Man you're gonna have fun!

[Jaydee914]

Yeah, I'm pretty stoked! I can't wait to try it out on the trail!

[troyboy162]

http://mylovenotesfromgod.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/easy.jpg

[Jaydee914]

Haha! I guess I don't need to be quite as selective with my lines anymore.

[troyboy162]

brand new lines and all up on your sliders now lol.

[Jaydee914]

I noticed that the Pinnacle Inn is closed. Were you planning to stay in a cabin somewhere Thursday night?

[troyboy162]

I will try to get the main post updated but as of right now the plan is to head out thursday night and hope to get a cabin for thurday and friday night.

[Jaydee914]

Ok. I'm going to be getting up there seriously late, since I don't think I'll be able to leave Irvine before 3:30 at the very earliest. I'll try to stay in touch via text or Ham, but I might need to set up an alternative Friday morning meetup location in case I can't get to where you are solo in the middle of the night on Thursday.

[OpenTrackRacer]

So the Pinnacle Inn finally bit the dust eh? I'm not surprised but it's a bummer. It was a good place to crash in a pinch.

Detailed trip info and coordinates coming via e-mail shortly!

[troyboy162]

So the Pinnacle Inn finally bit the dust eh? I'm not surprised but it's a bummer. It was a good place to crash in a pinch.

Detailed trip info and coordinates coming via e-mail shortly!

Crap dont have JD's email. This was the most updated itinerary. Its a slow pace with anticipated side excussions. We can nail something down this week.



DAY1
Pleasant Canyon 930ishAM start up to the closed bridge and back.
Camping at dusk possibly by a cabin if one is open.
Day 2
Start 8am
head down pleasent canyon
Stop in at Ballrat and say hi to the Rockie who looks over the place.
up Goler canyon and over Mengel pass
Camp at dusk possibly by cabin if one is open.
Day3
Start 8am
Harry Wade rd
Saratoga springs (pup fish and a historic mule team watering hole)
Ibex dunes (cant drive on them)
Ibex mine
lunch in Baker(Mad Greek? Sooo good!)

The changes are to day1. There is alot to see in pleasant canyon so a earlier start up there is optimal. Also the change allows the "torch party" (thurday night group) to have a very good chance of securing a cabin for thur and friday night that everyone can enjoy. Fish canyon is a interesting drive for historical value and getting off the pavement quicker, but it was an easy cut against a better chance at a cabin and more time in pleasant canyon. This poses some issue for both thursday night people, and friday morning people so more directions and info will be worked out.

[Jaydee914]

Cool. I assume the cabin we're heading to Thursday night is at the top of Pleasant Canyon? If that's the case, I might not attempt it that night, depending on what time I get there. I have a big meeting at 3 on Thursday, which got pushed back to 4 last time, so I don't see myself getting on the road (starting to sit in traffic) until 4:30 at the earliest, which will put me there around 9, I estimate.

[OpenTrackRacer]

The drive up Pleasant Canyon is not bad at all, especially if you use the bypass road. It's pretty much a smooth road the whole way. There are a number of structures in the canyon so we need to make sure everyone is meeting at the right one and also establish a clear backup site. Can you send your e-mail address to me or Troy so we can get the details out (and also to Dav who I'm guessing is not monitoring this thread)?

[Jaydee914]

Gti_jaydee@yahoo.com

[troyboy162]

Gti_jaydee@yahoo.com

email sent out. Ill get some gps courd in there soon.

[troyboy162]

First post updated. Secondary meeting spot coming soon.

[OpenTrackRacer]

It is? It still shows us meeting at the Pinnacle Inn in Trona.


First post updated. Secondary meeting spot coming soon.

[troyboy162]

Haha I was testing you. I'll get a free moment on a real computer soon