Death Valley '07 Planning Thread

[slosurfer]

Count me in. Last half of march should work for me. Not sure if it will be the whole fam or just me. Will have to decide then what I will be bringing. As far as what to see, I like the idea if hangin' with TTORA, and then breakin' off and seeing whatever we didn't see with them. Really I am down with whatever, I haven't been there since I was a kid, so it is all going to be new.

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[salad_man]

I was in Death Valley in October and it actually rained there! I would love to go back, anyway, im gonna see if I can make the trip, gas money is really the only concern so we will see. Ill keep checking in to let you guys know.

[Tanto]

When we went there last year, there was still SNOW on top of the mountains and we got to go through a good bit of mud and a *little* snow on one of the trails at around 6000ft or so. It was pretty cold for what I thought it was going to be, especially up at 8000ft.

[Tanto]

Alright, it looks like anyone who's interested in going has already responded so I think there's only a couple more questions to ask everyone:

Would you mind doing some runs with TTORA while we're out there or does everyone just want to do our own thing?

I think it would be best if we only backcountry camped one night of the trip so that the rest of the time there will be showering facilities available so it should be a little easier getting your Missus to go with you. Sound good?

[slosurfer]

do you have a link to the ttora run?

[jsnby]

the ttora run hasn't officially started a thread yet. It's on the so-cal calendar and I spoke with Darren(rubberpants) and the trip is still on. Everyone in TTORA is concerned with making the calico cleanup a success to really plan for DV right now.

[Tanto]

Right on, jsnby

I've PM'd Darren to hopefully get some more info on their planned run. Hopefully he'll be able to shed some light on their plans.

[Scottiac]

I'm on the tentatively yes list as well. I'd like to see some of the more northern features, given a chance. Everything else sounds fine.

[Tanto]

If the NV/CA ghost town is going to be included then it would make sense to definitely explore the Northern side. The Eureka Dunes was one place we could pretty much always see last year but didn't get a chance to get out there and from what I remember, the Ubehebe Crater and the Racetrack were in the middle so the only place so far that is in the "deep south" would be the Manson place and a lot of mines.

[Photog]

I will be there from March 19-23, and staying at the Furnace Springs Ranch. Will you have a starting point for the days you are there?

[Tanto]

Yep. Lance and DealMaker did such a good job of organizing the run last year that I'm going to emulate their style and make it so that you can know where we're going to be at each day.

[Good Times]

Ryan, just a correction. Pierre did all of the preplanning last year so you're gonna have to give him all of the props there. I was just the messenger that made it look pretty but moving the post to the top

Feel free to look at the previous dv trips to get a good idea on where to go. A good option that'll be different would be starting way north and working your way down to the center. This is something none of us has done before so it should be rather interesting to check out. I'm not certain on how you'll manage the fuel but it is a good recommendation to bring extra in bins/cans if you guys plan to do the north to south route.

I should have some time this weekend to pull the dv books out so I'll try to help out on the planning.

[DrBeau]

Originally Posted by Good Times

...A good option that'll be different would be starting way north and working your way down to the center. ...

This actually doesn't seem like a bad idea (although it's a longer initial drive for anyone coming from the south). I know how to come in from Lone Pine. We go from the Owens Valley (395 on the way to Mammoth) over to the Eureka Valley where the road becomes dirt (and there's the Eureka Sand Dunes, although I don't know if you're allowed to drive on it), then into north Death Valley, down the Death Valley fault zone and right by Ubehebe Crater. We could then progressively move down until we end the trip in southern Death Valley near Baker, CA. Of course, this probably wouldn't be congruent to TTORA.

[Tanto]

That sounds good but I think that the first night should be in either Panamint Springs or Stovepipe Wells. Stovepipe wells is farther north, but Panamint is likely to be the first "town" you pass getting into DV.

I like the start from the North and work our way south but the gas issue could scrap that idea. 2 extra gas cans may turn out to be required if we decide to go that route.

Pierre may have done all the planning, but you were leading us around most of the time last year

[Tanto]

TTORA is probably going to stick around one of the three "towns" but I've gotta email MikeAWood on TTORA and try and get some more details. Darren is the prez but he's having Mike plan out the trip and it may turn out that TTORA joins us vice the other way around.

[Bob_98SR5]

i just want to see that hotel and the manson place. i will bring some holy water and exorcise it. and then tanto's head will turn 180 and then we'll know he is the anti-christ

[Tacoclimber]

Originally Posted by Bob_98SR5

i just want to see that hotel and the manson place. i will bring some holy water and exorcise it. and then tanto's head will turn 180 and then we'll know he is the anti-christ

If I do get to go, and that happens.... Well, we all know what I do for a living...

[Tanto]

Originally Posted by Bob_98SR5

i just want to see that hotel and the manson place. i will bring some holy water and exorcise it. and then tanto's head will turn 180 and then we'll know he is the anti-christ

[Tanto]

UPDATE

I talked to Mike on TTORA about their upcoming trip and like Darren said, they're swamped with the Calico cleanup for now but they are looking to do their trip in the southern area at this point. They are also looking to make it 2wd friendly so that works for us if we end up deciding to join them for a couple of days.

He's going to talk to the rest of the So-Cal staff about the trip but for now they are interested in doing some wheeling with us.

[MikeAWood]

Currently we haven't made a solid plan for the DV Run for TTORA just yet. Darrin and I have talked about it, but like it was mentioned earlier, we've been swamped with taking care of Calico Cleanup.

My preference is to run Goler through to Butte, camp in Butte Valley and then out through Warm Springs. This lets you stop and see the Manson place, but not really see much of DV.. The racetrack is on the northern end and is doable as well as warm springs. That is an option too. We are open to suggestions and look forward to seeing you guys out there.

[jsnby]

Originally Posted by MikeAWood

Currently we haven't made a solid plan for the DV Run for TTORA just yet. Darrin and I have talked about it, but like it was mentioned earlier, we've been swamped with taking care of Calico Cleanup.

My preference is to run Goler through to Butte, camp in Butte Valley and then out through Warm Springs. This lets you stop and see the Manson place, but not really see much of DV.. The racetrack is on the northern end and is doable as well as warm springs. That is an option too. We are open to suggestions and look forward to seeing you guys out there.

I've never been to DV, so the only things that I know of that I'd like to see are the manson place and the racetrack. But if there are old mines, geologists' cabins, etc. that would make for a better overall trip, I could skip the manson cabin and the racetrack.

[Tanto]

How about the first half in the South with TTORA and then the North after the TTORA run is over?

[slosurfer]

Sounds good!

[calrockx]

Originally Posted by sschaefer3

Hey you know what? I sold a System 1.5 lift kit to a park ranger up there. I'll shoot him a line and see of there is anything for the "slow" people.

He'll know. I heard Surprise Canyon is right there, but as everyone knows that is closed.

Last year Bruce led a small group to a little rock crawling trail on the first night....it was short, but "slow" enough to use the sliders at least. That was fun, but I don't think it was much an entire trail, more a side attraction. I'd love to hit up some more of the slow and steep stuff in DV. The expedition trails were fun though, and I'm glad I made it out last year.

[Photog]

It is only a few weeks away. Where/what are the loging arrangements? What will the CB channel be? North or South or both?

I will already be there, on a photography trip; but I would like to join in for at least one of the days, if I know where you will be. We will be based out of the Furnace Creek Ranch for the week.