Last Desert Trip of 2011
12-27-2011, 01:46 PM
#1
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Last Desert Trip of 2011
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.
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.
12-27-2011, 01:57 PM
#2
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
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!
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!
Last edited by Buck87; 12-27-2011 at 02:22 PM.
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01-02-2012, 05:45 PM
#8
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Thread Starter
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? ^^^
Can you see the hikers at the bottom of the crater? ^^^
Last edited by Buck87; 01-02-2012 at 07:44 PM.
01-02-2012, 07:56 PM
#9
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
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
Crater Mine mine shaft Death Valley
Crater Mine equipment
Crator Mine dug out shed
Last edited by Buck87; 01-02-2012 at 07:58 PM.
01-02-2012, 08:10 PM
#10
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Thread Starter
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
The Eastern Sierra has two kinds of terrain... streight up and streight down
01-02-2012, 09:08 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
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.
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.
01-10-2012, 09:35 PM
#14
Registered User
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.
..... next time, I suppose..... You'd have LOVED IT!
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