So here I am visiting the in-laws in Las Vegas. In a few days I am going to head North to Donner Pass and then West back home to San Jose.
On day one we headed South on highway 5 through California. Since my wife Lauren is very excited about seeing her family including a couple of new editions we are basically grinding out the first 500 miles From San Jose to Las Vegas.
I did manage a short side excursion out into the desert in which I had to put my truck into 4 low to be able to get up a hill, but since we are alone I do not plan on doing any real heavy wheeling and risk breaking equipment. I also used up a few rounds of 22 and 38 ammo, then as the sun started to set we got back on the road, got into Vegas and got some sleep so that we can spend a few days with relatives before heading North for the real adventure.
In the mean time I hope some of you can send some suggestions on good places to go check out off road along the Eastern side of the Sierra.
Sorry that I do not have pictures yet but I left the USB cable to my camera at home so I will start taking pictures with my Phone from here on.

 

ChefYota4x4 has already given me a few suggestions on another thread, so I am going to copy them onto this post.

1. I'm not sure how far out of the way it is... but I LOVE KEOUGH HOT SPRINGS and Mammoth Hot Creek as well. Probably a bit north of ya.... but if you cut through Bishop after Keough, maybe that'd get you close enough on an eastern path?

Drive safe, man!

2. http://keoughshotsprings.com/ ........ That picture of my rig in the Calendar this year, that 'Pond' as Paul put it? It's actually moving water, Keough Hot Spring-POND and there's almost NO algae. The resort is up the road from the pond I'm in... but the owners of the property allow people all day long until 10pm to use that. Just south of it is Baker Creek Road off the 395-HWY, which heads into the hills and is a BEAUTIFUL campground at the base of the Mt. Whitney Range. It's really the mountains just behind Big Pine, CA. They have plenty of Motels around there, too, most likely pretty reasonable, depending on if you go around a holiday, ya know?

The ponds are in stages, going up the hill toward the resort, and they get hotter as you go up the hill, wheeling up to them as you head toward the resort/up hill. STRONGLY recommend that place to anyone going anywhere near the High Sierras/Bishop, Via Death Valley or otherwise coming over from the eastern sierras(just off Death Valley, etc.).

Best wishes, and hope you had a great Christmas.... Hope you have a great New Year!

 

Perfect Mark,
Thanks! Looks like I'll be heading up through Death Valley.

 

Vegas Baby

 

Still in Las Vegas

 

4Wheeling vs Mountain Biking

 

Tailgate kitchen

Camp at Texas Spring

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Ubehebe Crater was created by a hydro vocanic eruption, is a mile wide and 777 Ft deep.

Can you see the hikers at the bottom of the crater? ^^^

 

Crankshaft Junction on Big Pine - Death Valley Road. Seemed like a good place to give the old girl a quart of oil and check the coolant.

Crater Mine mine shaft Death Valley

Crater Mine equipment

Crator Mine dug out shed

 

We exited Death Valley via Big Pine Road to the Town of Big Pine on CA Hwy 395

The Eastern Sierra has two kinds of terrain... streight up and streight down

 

Looks like fun

 

Traveling North on Hwy 395 near Walker CA we came upon hallowed ground.

 

Spent the night in Bishop CA. If you get down that way I recommend the cinnamon roll at Jack's Diner and Bakery. Drove home to San Jose the next day.

I think that was my fourth Trip to Death Valley and I have barely scratched the surface. I am looking foreward to another trip when I can spend more than just a day or two.

 

That sign and the t-shirts on the fence is awesome, huh? Every once in awhile, when the shirts are too torn up and faded from the elements, they take em down...it never takes long to get another collection going.

 

nice pics matt , i hope to get out there one of these days , maybe this year ..

 

looks like you had a great time, thanks for posting the cool pictures

 

Thanks Guys.
Robert, If you go, try to go from October to May. Tons of history, both natural and human.

 

GREAT pics, man! Thanks for inviting me over here, lol. Didn't stop at Keough, eh? ..... next time, I suppose..... You'd have LOVED IT!