Its Official. Death Valley 2008! Feb. 23-25th.

[xonetruthcrewx]

Its on like Donkey Kong! Its going to be a 3 day trip, Feb. 23rd, 24th, and 25th. Heres what we have come up with so far.

Campground:
Furnace Creek. Reservations can be made here, Furnace Creek Campground Reservations (http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Furnace_Creek/r/campgroundDetails.do?agency=NRSO&parkId=70978) If you plan on tent camping as i do, lets try and reserve campsites 10-42. These are walk in tent sites. Once you have clicked on the above link, on the left hand side under "Looking For" select Tent. Under "Loop" select Tent walk in. Go ahead and put in the number of nights staying plus the date. Hit search and it will pull up sites 10-42. A map of the tent campsites can be found HERE (http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/FCCG.pdf)

Itinerary:
Saturday (23rd) Meet up at the spot and then head out to the trails. Lets meet up at Ridgecrest Chevron 301 N China Lake Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555. Lets leave the spot no later than 0830. Its about 30 minutes to the trailhead from here. Order of trails for Saturday. Fish Canyon Escape Trail to Goler Wash/Mengal Pass to Butte Valley. This will take approx. 6 hours. It goes from one side of the 178 to the other. Once we are off the trail it will be about 40 minutes up 178 to Furnace Creek Campgrounds. Set up camp, call it a day.

Sunday (24th) Echo Pass/Inyo Mine. Take our time in the morning, hang out a bit. Head out for the trail no later than 0900. Trail should take 5-6 hours roundtrip. If there is time left in the day and we want to, we could run Cottonwood/Marble Canyon. Titus Canyon is also an option. We will just have to see as we go.

Monday (25th) Pack up camp. For those that want to, i will be running Pleasant Canyon/South Park on the way home. It will take approx. 1.5 hours to get from Furnace Creek to the trailhead. I would like to leave camp no later than 0800. This should give us enough time to get to the trail and finish it before the sun sets. The trail will take approx. 6-8 hours. After were done we throw some hi fives and depart ways.

A few things worth mentioning. It is Feburary and some of the trails climb a bit. Mengal Pass is 4326ft. Echo Pass reaches 4400ft. Pleasant Canyon/South park reaches 6800ft. So there is definitely the possibility of snow. This may make us change our plans. We'll just have to see. The average high temp for this time of year in Death Valley is mid 70's. Average lows are in the mid to upper 40's. All of the trail info was taken from Charles A. Wells's books. if you also have them, check things out for yourself.

If you guys have something you would like to throw out there, go for it. Always open for more ideas. Once you are locked in for this trip, make sure and post up. Post up the dates that you will be there and the number of people in your group. Also post up the campsite you have reserved.

General Death Valley Info can be found HERE (http://www.nps.gov/deva/)

~Attendees~

~xonetruthcrewx~
~JnJ~
~papa_smurf~

[xonetruthcrewx]

I am locked in. I have reserved campsite 41 for the nights of the 23rd and 24th. It will be Myself and a friend going. Cant wait. :thumbup:

[YotaGirl]

I couldn't find any info on it...can you park next to the walk in sites? It doesn't say anything about a driveway like the drive-in loop does. Since we will have Caity, I'm thinking we will choose a site that we can park next to. I'm going to call them in the morning to find out. I'll post up our site number as soon as I book it.

[xonetruthcrewx]

Your right, its hike in access. That sucks. At least i chose a site with only a 36ft hike in. Haha. I dont like that though. Looking just now, there are currently only 2 tent sites available for our dates that have drive in access. Thing are really booked up on that side of the campgrounds. Hmmmmmm. Drive in access with a crap ton of people around me or a 36ft hike to my site with no one around me? Yeah, i think i'll go with option 2. Haha.

I think the walk in tent sites work like this. You park on the edge of the pavement of the loop that circles this area. You then walk to your spot. No biggie. Just choose one with a short walking distance. It will tell you the distance in the details for each site.

[xonetruthcrewx]

So no one wants to go to Death Valley?

[reggie 00]

I am dieing to go but i have way to much stuff to get done before then. Its been a challenge juggling work,holidays, weather and special parts since i tore apart the front end. They way it looks I'll be lucky to have the front done by the end of the month. Then i still have to spool the rear, and route out the radiator.
Anyone have a rosebud tip they don't need???

[Good Times]

Reggie, I'm with ya!

[Seanz0rz]

sorry man, i got school.

[YotaGirl]

All booked! We have site #42

[papa_smurf]

we are also going camp # 40

[xonetruthcrewx]

sorry man, i got school.


Liar. Saturday and Sunday? Just come out for the two days if you cant take off the Monday. Some is better than none.

[xonetruthcrewx]

I have been asked by a few for more info on the trails. I went ahead and scanned the pages out of the book. This is all the info i have. Hopefully it answers some of the questions you may of had.

Echo Pass/Inyo Mine
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-1.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-2.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-3.jpg

Pleasant Canyon/South Park
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-4.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-5.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-6.jpg

Goler Wash/Mengal Pass
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-7.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-8.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-9.jpg

Butte Valley
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-10.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-13.jpg

Fish Canyon Escape Trail
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-12.jpg

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/xonetruthcrewx/Trails%20and%20Shit/Untitled-11.jpg

[elripster]

I'll have returned from our honeymoon the Tuesday prior but if there is any way I can talk the soon to be wife into we're on.

Frank

[xonetruthcrewx]

Haha. Think of it as just extending the honeymoon. :clap:

[elripster]

Ooh, that's a good one, I'm gonna try that.

Frank

[cooldry]

Okay guys, looks like I'm in. I have campsite 39. :clap: Looking forward to the trip. Unfortunately, I can only stay until Sunday, but better than nothing. I'll be arriving Friday night. :thumbup:

[Good Times]

david, how in the world you gettin to dv cuz last I checked bob's not going ;) o snap you got that ghost lc80 right? hehehehehe

[cooldry]

Hey, my 80 is more real than that... um... whatever it is you have. You should go, I'll tow you where ever we go. :rofl:

[xonetruthcrewx]

Okay guys, looks like I'm in. I have campsite 39. :clap: Looking forward to the trip. Unfortunately, I can only stay until Sunday, but better than nothing. I'll be arriving Friday night. :thumbup:


Good deal. I assume that youre staying at Furnace Creek friday night also? So will you be going on the runs for Saturday? Just asking because Furnace creek is a little ways from the trailhead for Saturday.

[cooldry]

Apparently that part didn't register in my brain when I read it. I'll have to re-think that part and get back to you. Bob said he may go with me. (HA HA HA Lance)

[xonetruthcrewx]

Only 3 weeks away. Trip will be here soon. Also, this i most likely going to be my last run. I am starting on my rear bumper today and as soon as its done the truck is going up for sale. Thats right, the rig will be up for sale real soon. So come out and wheel with me one last time.

[YotaGirl]

WTF? Last run forever? or until you get another rig?

[xonetruthcrewx]

Last run for a while. I will most likely get another rig someday, it will be a while though. Ive had the truck 14 months, time for something else. Haha.

[xonetruthcrewx]

2 weeks ladies. Weather is going to be great. Stop screwing around and come with me to the Valley of Death. :flipoff:

[xonetruthcrewx]

This trip was kind of up in the air for me due to the possible sale of my truck. I have decided to keep it, so its all good. Less than a week away. Really looking forward to this trip. The 10 day forecast is showing the chance of showers on Sunday and Monday. That will probably change though so who knows. Temps are supposed to be the low to mid 70's. Perfect. Night time temps should be in the mid to upper 40's. Gonna be a good time. Any one else in?

[xonetruthcrewx]

Low to mid 70's during the day and right around 50 at night. Should be great weather. No precipitation in the forecast either. My friend thats going with me got punked for Monday and has to work, so unfortunately im going to have to cut it short and skip Monday. One other thing that might screw me for the trip, our Touareg is in the shop still due to an incident with a cat in the engine 2 weeks ago. VW cant seem to pull their heads out of their asses and order the right part for the car. If the car isnt done by friday, im not going to be able to make it. Just cant leave the Wife and Daughter here alone without a car. I should get an update today and hopefully everything works out.

[slosurfer]

Take your wife and daughter. :D I wish I could make this trip, I'm itching for another DV trip, but can't swing this one. Sounds like it is going to be good weather, have fun guys. :thumbup:

[cooldry]

Is everybody else in for sure? I don't want to be the only one waiting at the gas station. I figured I'll be joining you guys Saturday morning instead of heading out there Friday night.

[YotaGirl]

I'm still in. Anyone else? :D

[xonetruthcrewx]

Gabe is going for sure. I will be there also. If i need to rent the wife a car for the weekend, so be it. I have been looking forward to this for a while now, not gonna miss it. Suck i have to cut it short and skip Monday, but better than nothing. Just means that I/we are going to have to hit the trails hard Sunday.

[cooldry]

I'm still in. Anyone else? :D


I knew I could count on you Jenn :thumbup:

[YotaGirl]

Awesome! Looking forward to wheeling again this weekend.

(Oh and Colin...I'm glad you decided to keep your truck. I was sad when you put it up for sale.) :D

[cooldry]

I was wondering which CB channel we're using.

[xonetruthcrewx]

Let just go for channel 16. Also, if anyone needs it, heres my number. 661-972-0610.

I will be eating a Denny's Saturday morning before heading over to the meet spot. If anyone else wants to meet up there heres the address, 104 N CHINA LAKE BLVD.RIDGECREST,CA 93555. I will be there around 0715.

[YotaGirl]

Mmm Denny's. I'll see if I can talk Justin into stopping there.

Here is my number (562) 505-2651

[xonetruthcrewx]

No one gonna jump in last minute?

[YotaGirl]

Looks like we'll be meeting up with you for breakfast at Denny's. We're leaving at 5am, so we should be there around 7am. See ya there!

[xonetruthcrewx]

Good deal. I will be leaving here around 0600. I should be there around 0715. Gabe is meeting us at Dennys also.

[cooldry]

You guys wake up too early for me. I'll meet you guys at the gas station.

[xonetruthcrewx]

Too early? Damn, i get to sleep in tomorrow til 0530. Usually i wake up a 0300. I'm pretty stoked. Ha!

[Seanz0rz]

hope yall are having lots of fun and a very safe trip! im sure its much better than my homework.