Two 4runners and a Jeep Go to Death Valley

[djobike]

This past March myself, my wife and two friends of ours loaded up our trucks and headed south to Death Valley, California. Hope you enjoy the read and pictures.


-Dan


A longer video is in the works but for now here is a short preview of what is to come.


[video=youtube;VXfJ2KHfBh4]https://www.youtube/watch?v=VXfJ2KHfBh4[/video]

 

[djobike]

Getting There

Looking to escape winter and find some summer we decided on a March trip to Death Valley. Needing some warmth and snowless roads we all headed out from our places of living to meet up in Deer Lodge, Montana. Jenn and I having a long day ahead of us left Edmonton at 5:00am, the day consisted of bare roads, icy roads and snowy roads, arriving in Deer Lodge around 4:30pm; we had managed to make good time. Aaron and Cassidy (his pup) arrived next, coming in from Rossland. With Mark getting a late start out of Cranbrook he wouldn’t arrive until 11:00pm. With a thirst for some beer and hungry tummy’s the three of us headed to the Broken Arrow for some beers and some very large cuts of beef while we waited for Mark.







The next morning we headed back on the road south to find that elusive summer. I always enjoy driving in Montana; the amazing views just never stop. I do not enjoy the drive through eastern Idaho, the cross winds through there are not fun, either on a motorcycle or an SUV with a RTT. Our little caravan, Aaron and his 3rd Gen 4runner, Mark and is Jeep XJ and our 5th gen 4runner, made our way into Twin falls, Idaho.











We stopped and grabbed food supplies before heading to the town of Jackpot, Nevada for the night. Two days of driving and still haven’t found summer yet; we got rooms at the four Jacks Hotel and Casino. Some slots, foosball, plenty of drinks and catching up with friends made for an enjoyable evening.



Waking the next morning to find fresh snow had yet again covered the landscape.



Some breakfast.



And some more driving.







We decided Ely, Nevada was a good place for lunch.





It was later that afternoon we found ourselves standing on the side of the highway looking at a closed campground and hot springs in the middle of central Nevada. With the sun setting and private lands surrounding us we headed to Tonopah to figure out a place to stay. Over supper the waitress gave us some local intel on another hot spring we could camp at for free. Done! Setting up in the dark we crawled into our sleeping bags and called it a night.

 

[djobike]

Into Death Valley

The next morning was a little chilly but warmed up quickly; we were on the edge of finding summer. We made some coffee and Aaron and Mark broke out their drones for a few flights. We went down the road to the town of Goldfield in search of breakfast, pulling in at the Dinky Diner. After breakfast and few more miles south we turned west to Lida where we would find the start of our off-pavement route into the north part of Death Valley.









After airing down we started our trip in earnest. Leaving pavement and heading into the wilderness is one of the best feelings. We crested the top of the pass and headed down into a forest of Joshua trees, this was a first for all of us. It was absolutely stunning. With no set time schedule we stopped for a bit and got the drones out.











It is all about reflections on these trips.





A little further along a wrong turn turned into a great view.



Back on track the next corner brought us to our first mining ruins. We explored a little and Aaron got his drone out. This did not go very well and we spent the next three hours searching the desert floor for his drone. Once he had it in the air the wind came up and carried it out of range of the controller, the last image he had from the camera was it on the ground somewhere. We never did find it, sorry Aaron.


Back in the trucks it was hard to keep on the road while staring at all the magnificent views. It wasn’t long before we came upon a sign the told us that we were entering Death Valley National Park, we had found summer. Posing the trucks near the sign was a must. We set up camp that night in a little pull out at Crankshaft Junction. Finally a camp cooked meal!

 

[djobike]

Some Big Piles of Sand

Turning right the next morning we headed up and over and down to the Eureka dunes turn off. A few miles of washboard (go fast and you float over it right?) we arrived and the base of the dunes. It was early too, around noon, that doesn’t happen too often on these trips. Mark and I wanted to hike the dunes; Cassidy did too apparently, so we set off. Jenn and Aaron hung back at camp to keep the beers company. Back from the dunes and rehydrating (beers) a jeep pulled up and that’s when we met Tom. Tom is from northern California and for a retirement gift to himself bought a Jeep Rubicon and outfitted to explore, awesome! He decided to join us for the drive over Steel Pass the next day. That night we also met Marianna and her friend (if you’re reading this I apologise for not remembering your name), also in a Jeep Rubicon. Now the Jeepsters outnumbered the Toyotas, ug. With new friends we had some more beers around the campfire into the desert night.

























One thing we had no idea of was that fighter jets from a nearby base do low fly overs through the valley. It was mind blowing seeing these guys and gals fly that low and fast. The sound of the jets was awesome. Definitely need to get back there!

 

[Superduty]

Awesome trip. Death Valley is a great place to explore. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[djobike]

Awesome trip. Death Valley is a great place to explore. Thanks for sharing with us.

Thanks. More to come over the next few days.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

 

[mtnbike28]

Thanks for sharing - I love trip reports!

 

[djobike]

Some Steps

The caravan was now four for the day. The red Jeep only went as far as the first step as they were staying another day at the dunes. Getting through the steps was fun and a good introduction to driving on rock and sand. The three of us are more used to mud and dirt; there is not much of this type of terrain up north. Once through the steps it was a pleasant drive over the pass with no shortage of stunning views. Down through the wash and into the nights camping spot.

 

[djobike]

Some Washboard, an Incredible Pass and More Washboard

Another incredible night under the desert stars we said our good buys to Tom, he was going to hang out here a few more days. We were plenty tempted to do the same. We turned south down Saline Valley road and proceeded to drive on some of the worst washboard in the entire world! And going fast was an effort this stuff just wanted to slow you down. Making it to the Lippincott Pass turn off was a harrowing effort by all. Lippincott was fun; there was even a little section of side hill that gave the wife a bird’s eye view straight down. Posed for some pictures at the top and headed down to Racetrack Playa. After that it was more washboard, ****** no one mentioned that in the brochure! Ubehebe Crater was next and then out to Beatty for gas and supplies.

 

[djobike]

A Closed Road Turns into an Amazing Detour

We spent the night just outside Beatty at a hot spring campground, had a soak and some beers. The next morning the plan was to head up Titus Canyon road but a mile down the road it was gated, closed due to road damage. Deciding on Amargosa Pass as an alternate we headed back through Beatty and south to the turn off. Prior to that we had stopped at Rhyolite ghost town and explored a little. The best part was the little museum at the entrance of town.



















The road into Titus Canyon was closed. After some discussion around the map we headed to Armagosa Pass.



Amargosa Pass was amazing, starting in the flat desert it climbs up through some low hills, then into a slot canyon with a couple of somewhat technical sections. We camped near the top on a ridge, taking a chance on the wind not coming up it paid off with 360deg views and no wind. The moon and stars where in their glory.

 

[pluton]

Very nice trip and report. Thank you for posting it. Please visit anytime...though you picked a good time of the year for DV.

 

[Bane Harper]

Amazing scenery thanks for sharing...

 

[djobike]

Very nice trip and report. Thank you for posting it. Please visit anytime...though you picked a good time of the year for DV.

Thank-you. Still a few more days to get posted.
You live in the area?

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[umpqua]

Thanks for the trip report. I was there around Jan 1 and did the trip in the opposite direction on "the steps." Ran into a couple of guys in a "brand new" 4runner that were stuck in the middle of the first step. They had nothing. No Hi-Lift, shovel, max trax....nothing. Eventually got them unstuck....they turned around and I proceeded to the dunes. What an incredible place.

I too encountered a closed road outside of stovepipe wells. Wanted to go to cottonwood canyon (as I recall). This is a National Park and the Park Service needs to protect us from whatever might happen. Maybe they say it's for the environment. Regardless, National Parks aren't for me.

Thanks again for the trip report.

 

[djobike]

Below Sea Level and Up a Big Hill

Back down the other side and into the park we negotiated a couple of steps through a slot canyon. We all made it through with a little adrenalin and no damage. Near the bottom we visited Inyo Mine. Shortly thereafter we were back on pavement and heading to Furnace creek for lunch.

























We decided to head over to Panamint Valley to camp for the night. On the way we witnessed a road side arrest by the park rangers, closing the road for a bit. It was odd seeing a ranger make an arrest; up in Canada I don’t think our national park rangers even carry a gun. The climb from Stovepipe Wells had the Jeep thinking it was over heating, Mark figures it was a faulty sending unit as the engine never lost power or showed signs of overheating. To be on the cautious side he stopped whenever the gauge went into the red. Panamint Springs resort was the nights camping spot. The bar there has an awesome selection of craft beers if you are in the area and thirsty.