Truck is getting fixed right now, I just ended up going with factory replacements. But I got a whole new front end now lol! I'll be picking it up next week(Just waiting on the sliders to come in)...Just let me know when the next trip is, if I ain't working I'm in for sure!

Dennis

 

Are you guys still planning the Saline Valley for the weekend of Nov 4th? I might be going, but wanted to know how fast you guys go through the desert? I like to just take it easy on my truck since it's my DD... no desert racing for me. Some of the group sI've gone with in the past go a little fast for my liking. Since I don't know the area and don't want to get lost or left behind, I have no choice but to keep up. Thus going faster than I would like to. Also, do you guys use CB or walkies to keep in touch? Where do you camp out at? Are fires allowed?

 

We leave no one behind nor do we blast through the desert, save that for racing.

Here's some pic's

 

Cool, what about the walkies vs. CB's? Also, where do you end up camping and are fires allowed? Do you have an itinerary for that trip yet?

 

Where still on for Death Valley Nov 4-6. We camp just outside the parks boundry so we can camp off the road and have campfires.

This Mine is a crack in the earth.

 

Damn! Well I won't make the November 4th trip, the first two weekends I have two big window installs.

Dennis

 

Ericjeanna I can second what Scott has already said, there is no bombing across the desert other then the normal short burst to "break it up a little". I certainly don't have any special suspension and had no problem keeping up. Our line spread out a little at times but that was usually because one of us was stopping to take pictures, it was never a problem trhough.

Dennis

 

Cool... I'm pretty sure we'll be joining the group that weekend. What is the itinerary? When do you guys run? We're trying to decide if we should come out late Friday night (traffic) or early Saturday morning. Also, do you pack up camp each night or leave your stuff? Wanna know how much to pack so it all fits in the runner. Thanks. Oh, my friend and I have 2wd... he has a stock '04 Tacoma and I have a '98 4Runner with plenty of clearance. Will be be OK as far as 2wd goes?

 

EricJeanna, Some of us are leaving Friday afternoon (before Traffic) and a few are leaving later friday evening. If you decide to come on Sat. we can meet up in the morning. We pack up camp each time so plan on off roading with your gear, tied down off course. 2X is no problem since alot of the roads are graded and there are a few technical roads for 2X, and half the trucks going are 2X. 2 meter HAM radio with freq. range from 145.100 VHF to 153.900 VHF would be ideal to have.

 

More Pic's.

pic1 Some of the cleanest bathrooms in the Mojave

 

What if I don't have a HAM radio? I only have a CB and a couple of walkie talkies (5 actually)

 

Okay on no Ham radio, we carry a few hand helds and we can swap so all groups can stay in contact. But off road lights are a must have if the moon's not out. PM me sometime this week if you can make it and I'll give you all the info and cell# so we can hook up. Scott

 

How did the trip go? Sorry I couldn't make it. My buddy had to go to a wedding on Saturday. Did you get any new photos?

 

The trip was great, but seemed to short. We came across an unmarked mine at the southern part of Death Valley. It was CRAZY inside it, and I have to say it felt spooky, There was a shaft that you good drive a Bus into. It may have been a natural cave or somthing like it and someone started digging tunnels around it. Pointing are lights down it showed no signs of it ending. It went down at a 60o angle or so, so it may be possible to come back and explore This mine agian.(more people and a lot of flash lights would help)
We also learned that long trips into these larger mines reqiure a lot more batteries. Had a close call when I found my lights where going dim and we where about 800 or 900 feet into a mine that had intersections everywhere, Not a problem when there's other's with you, But a few minutes later there light's also started dimming. The light that came to the rescue came from the video camera I had just started bring into the mines with us. Yep that's right I got some great video of what it's like in these mines and when I'm done editing the video I will make it avalible to you guy's on Yotatech. That's what I've been doing and when I get it done I will get some Pic's up ASAP. Of course any of the guy's that went on this trip may post some pic's.

 

We are looking at doing another trip at the begining of December and then we will take a break through the Holiday's and get back on the trail in late Jan.

We are also planing another trip to the Eagle Mining area (April/May) and this time we will stay and camp at one spot for the whole weekend. I'm taking the motorhome and a few toy's along on that one. If any of you guy's outta state want to make it, this place will be worth the trip and I will give plenty of notice for the dates.

 

Sounds like a blast. I always carry several flashlights AND extra batteries. I also have this 3 million candle power spotlight I use that's rechargeable via a 12v plug! Glad you guys had fun and made it out OK. Where is the Eagle Mining Area? I would like to go. My buddy's baby will be roughly 5 months old by the time you go... so that trip could be a possibility. We both wanted to go so badly to this one, but he just couldn't make it. Keep us all informed as I'm looking forward to hooking up with this grooup one of these days!

 

Sounds like you had a good DV trip! I hope to make one of these trips soon.

It's always good to think about safety. I don't have much experience in cave exploration. I was all set to take a course in cave diving but my wedding conflicted with the class. I've done enough enclosed environment dive training to be aware of many of the risks including light failure. We (every person in the team) dive with an HID primary and two incandescent back ups. Have you checked out the NSS website? Here's their safety page: http://www.caves.org/safety/ in case anybody's interested.

 

Yeah that's a good site, The problem we suffered from was that 3 day's going into these mines and the lack of moonlight at night maxed us out, and the batteries chargers couldn't keep up with the constant use. And one thing I forgot to mention is we did have some little LED lights that throw out just enogh light to see by. These things are great and last for weeks when left on but hardly enough light to continue exploring. But like I was saying you can never bring to many lights or to much stuff. We won't let that happen again.

Somebody needs to make a flash light that has a battery meter.

One of the guy's had a good idea for our April/may trip. Bring our generator and a few hundred feet of ex.cords and light up some of these larger rooms (genny outside of course). I think we will do that one.

 

What about a hand crank flashlight... never runs out of juice (unless you're armless?!)
http://www.asiachi.com/flashlight.html

 

What about those shake n go flash lights anyone ever check these out. seems like a good back up. if they work.
Anybody ever tried any battery-less flash lights? shake n go or wind ups. Please post info.