TBA Spring Death Valley Exploration

[Good Times]

With the recent rain we've gotten to date, there are big hopes that the flowers in Death Valley will be blooming just like it did many years ago.

[Edit - March 12, 2009 - Latest intel from DVNP states that the wildflower bloom will be very spotty The peak blooming is still expected around the time we go.]

The dates for the event are March 27-31, 2009.

If you have not explored Death Valley, this is one of your best opportunities to check out the amazing beauty Death Valley has to offer. The weather will be nice and cool (none of that 100+ heat) and the benefit of the blooming flowers will make a memorable adventure.

Tentative itinerary: (will change depending on who attends)

Friday (Optional)
9am Ridgecrest (meet and head out)
Trona Pinnacles
Snow Canyon (Argus Mountain) - Unknown location - Still searching for GPS Coordinates
Lookout City (Argus Mountain) - Unknown location - Still searching for GPS Coordinates
Defense Mine 36°14'40"N , 117°28'40"W (Near Darwin)
Big Four Mine - just north of Lake Hill off hwy 190 east of Panamint Valley Road - Have a rough location on paper but nothing on GPS. Will need to find it before the trip!

Saturday
Ballarat (say hello to the old guy that's always there. I wonder if the dog is still around)
Charles Manson Ranch (bring your holy water!)
Check out Mengel Pass / Striped Butte
Camp somewhere in the middle of nowhere! (Geologist Cabin or the other two cabins nearby)

Sunday
Badwater (lowest elevation -282ft) via highway 190 OR West Side Road (dirt / wash)
Head to Furnace Creek and head home if you're done w/ this hell hole!

Sunday (optional 1)
Echo Canyon
Fuel at Furnace Creek
Keane Wonder Mine / Mill (CLOSED due to mine-safety hazards)
Chloride Cliff / City
Rhyolite (Ghost Town)

Sunday (optional 2)
9am depart for Rhyolite
Titus Canyon (Open as of 3/18/2009)
Leadfield (Ghost Town on Titus Canyon trail)
Ubehebe Crater
Teakettle Juntion
Camp in Panamint Valley

Monday (optional)
Racetrack
Lippincott
South Pass
Saline Valley Dunes
Steel Pass
Camp in Panamint Valley (Saline Range area)

Tuesday (optional)
Eureka Dunes
Last Chance Mountain
Home

We'll try to do a lot of stuff on foot and not just sit in the truck cuz that gets old and boring. I've tried to find stuff like exploring mines and what not so hopefully it'll be an exciting expedition!

Roads outside of Death Valley as of March 18, 2009
Hwy 120 - Tioga Pass (CLOSED)
Hwy 108 - Sonora Pass (CLOSED)
Hwy 4 - Ebbetts Pass (CLOSED)

Comments:
If you can locate any of the above sites with an accurate GPS coordinate, please shoot me an email/pm so I can update this thread. Thank you.

[Seanz0rz]

trying my best to make it to this. i need an expedition run to cleanse my soul! ahaha.

[DHC6twinotter]

Sounds fun!

[paddlenbike]

I am interested. I will likely stay an extra few days to make it worth the 9 hour drive (each way).

[slosurfer]

Fo shizzle!

[Bob98SR5]

i am tentative unless we go to manson's hideout which i have not seen in the 2 times ive been there. i will bring some holy water and exorcise the place...and then run like hell b/f the evil spirits catch up with me.

[slosurfer]

Cool, we'll lock you in the little cupboard they found him in.

[Scuba]

Hmm, Hopefully Ill have my locker by then Im down fa sho..

[Good Times]

locker? man that ish is not required there! just lots of water and some sanity to want to be out in the middle of nowhere

btw, what does the sample itinerary look for ya guys? those that are stayin longer, I really wanted to hit the northern end of the park so hopefully we can try to get that into the mix.

[Scuba]

Well still lance, I need one, (see shakedown thread). Umm, not to mention I have no clue what all those names and stuff mean, it just sounds like some hardcore wheeling. So I figured it would be nice to have it by then. PS. Itinerary looks good