Death Valley: January 2013

[Dave Bennett]

We started out with a simple plan: Do as much of Death Valley and it's surroundings as possible in a 4 day weekend with ExPo regulars Trump, 4RunAmok and ExPoMike.

Day 1 was from home up the 15 to the 395 and on to Big Pine for lunch and fuel before heading into Saline Valley from the north over Waucoba/Death Valley/Saline Valley road.

From L to R: Lisa, Mike, Me, Mark, Heidi, Apryl and Mitch

Snow in the Sierras

Some snow and patches of ice going in but easy overall

Old mining operations

Saline Valley!

Bat Rock Road: Gateway to Saline Valley Hot Springs

Continued below...

 

[Dave Bennett]

Saline Valley Hot Springs

Or Saline Valley Warm Springs depending where you read it. Amazing place. Hippie culture. 100% off the grid and maintained by volunteers and good karma. We didn't want to leave here.

The feeding of the Burros at the springs has led them to raid food lockers and other rowdy behavior. They know how to open coolers... help keep them wild (and alive) by not feeding them.

Middle Springs. Lots of great camp spots here, a shaded grassy area, fire rings and two nice pit toilet bathrooms put in by NPS. And lots of hot water in the pools and a shower!

Joint Point. What's that in the distance?

Heading over to the Upper Springs

The Wizard Pool

Hot shower... priceless.

Dishwashing/laundry area

Volcano Pool aka Barnacle Pool

Volunteers keep these pools super clean, and there is a constant inflow of fresh hot water from deep in the earth

The "Source" at Upper Springs. Keep out!

Headed back down to Middle Springs on our way out towards Saline Valley Road and beyond. Inyo Mountains in the distance.

View of Middle Springs from Upper Springs. Note one of two NPS built vault toilets.

Leaving paradise behind...

 

[Dave Bennett]

Salt Tram to Lippincott and Beyond

Day 2 saw us pushing on to the next nights camp at Mesquite Spring.

Reluctantly leaving the Hot Springs behind, we passed the dunes enroute to the Salt Tram remains and the famous Saline Valley washboards... they will test your rig and it's hardware every time.

Sand!

Salt Tram over the Inyos

Me and the Missus

Lunch on the road

Mitch's meticulous organization

Headed south on Saline Valley road enroute to Lippincott aka Ubehebe road

Turn off onto Lippincott

Headed up into the Panamints

Looking to see if the Dodge could make this washout (one of many). No problem.

Looking back into Saline Valley towards the Inyos

Top of Lippincott and as far as you'll get in a rental car from the south...

 

[Dave Bennett]

Racetrack to Teakettle Junction, Ubehebe, Mesquite Spring, Scotty's and Striped Butte

After the climb up Lippincott it was faster going to the Racetrack and beyond.

The Playa

Magic rocks

Teakettle Junction

Ubehebe Crater... sun was low... We decided to air up and head for camp at Mesquite Spring and hit Scotty's Castle in the morning...

Spent the night at Mesquite Spring campground ($12). We were pretty tired and it was getting dark... cold and windy, no photos.

Day 3 we were up and at 'em and made the trip over to Scotty's Castle.

I couldn't get the chorus to "Hotel California" out of my head here... strange...

After Scotty's we hit Stovepipe Well's for some fuel and supplies and headed down Badwater towards Butte Valley

Made it to Striped Butte and the geologists cabin just before dark. It was occupied by some folks with a Wildernest so we made a brief stop and then went down and camped at the base of Striped Butte

To be continued...

 

[Zam15]

Sad I missed out on this trip, looks like a great time with good company. Just shows how much of DV I still have to explore! Thanks for the pics Dave.

 

[Willman]

Cool trip guys! Thanks for sharing Dave! Those magic rocks are mind blowing man...

:ylsmoke:

 

[1leglance]

those hot springs look very very nice for a stopover in the middle of a trip.
Thanks for the pics and write up, looking forward to some post trip thoughts on what someone like me who has never been there should bring & see.

thanks for posting!

 

[BorregoWrangler]

Awesome trip! My wife would definitely dig those hot springs.

 

[NM-Frontier]

Great shots I must have just missed you guys, I was there 10th-14th and did a lot of the same rout. Warm Springs is quite the Oasis. I guess I got to get my pics up now too.:sombrero:

 

[clcoyle]

Great photos and trip report. Thanks for posting.

 

[dlichterman]

Oh wow, looking at these shots is making me really anxious for our trip in March.

 

[Borrego60]

I find your posting of pictures most pleasing,nice shots guys.

 

[Sgt Grunt]

Nice trip! What kind of night time temperatures out there this time of year?

 

[Dave Bennett]

Striped Butte, Stella's, Mengel Pass, Barker Ranch, Goler Wash, Ballarat and home

Day 4: After a quiet, windless night we woke to clear blue morning skies in Butte Valley. Mark and Heidi and I got in our morning PT by climbing Striped Butte. At 4,744 feet (1,445.97 meters) above sea level so it was a good workout. When we came back down we gathered up the group and began the last day of our trip by heading for Mengel Pass.

View from atop Striped Butte. Can you spot Mengel Pass, the Geologist's Cabin and Stella's in the distance?

Stella's Cabin

Mengel Pass... in a full size Dodge 2500 w/Cummins diesel and FWC!

Trump Overland

Looking back down Mengel at the gatekeeper. The trail is actually in pretty good shape as of 22JAN13

Top of Mengel Pass

Death Valley Divas

Looking back into Butte Valley

Barker Ranch...

... or what's left of it.

Goler Wash Super Highway

Leaving Goler Wash behind

Ballarat

Manson's Power Wagon

After Ballarat we aired up and headed home... until next time!

 

[trump]

Nice write-up, Dave. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I will supplement more pictures hopefully tonight.