Death Valley & Environs 11/24-27/06: Trip Report
- Thread starter kcowyo
- Start date
awalter
Expedition Portal Team, Overland Certified OC0003
Just to update our itinerary. We actually split into 2 groups in order to stay in compliance with the Death Valley National Park rules regarding backcountry travel.
Friday 11/24/06 - We departed the Lone Pine Visitor's Center before 9 AM on SH 136 eastbound, headed up the Swansea Grade to the Burgess Mine, across the crest to the Salt Tram Station for lunch & on to the old mining town of Cerro Gordo for a brief visit with Mike Patterson, checking out the Museum/Store, American Hotel & Bunkhouse. We headed down the east side of the Inyo's to San Lucas Canyon & camped near Conglomerate Mesa behind the Santa Rosa Hills.
Saturday 11/25/06 - We departed our campsite at 8:30 AM heading south thru Lee Flat to connect with Saline Valley Rd. northbound, down Grapevine Canyon, across the bajada to Lippencott Mine Rd. & up to the Race Track for a lunch stop. We continued to Teakettle Junction, Lost Burro Gap with a brief stop at the Lost Burro Mine, onto Hidden Valley, up over Hunter Mountain & back down to the Santa Rosa Hills campsite where most had a chilly night.
Sunday 11/26/06 - Departed the campsite at 8:45 AM heading south again to connect with Saline Valley Rd. & continued south to SH 190 heading east for refueling at Panamint Springs & the departure of Mark & Brooke. The rest of us continued south thru the Panamint Valley to a brief stop at Ballarat before heading south on Wingate Rd., up Goler Wash to the Newman Mine for a lunch stop. We continued up the wash & stopped at an old arastra before heading into the Barker Ranch. We continued up thru Mengel Pass & into Butte Valley, stopping at the Geology Cabin before heading down Warm Springs Rd. to the West Side Rd. & on to pavement where Michael & Amy, Vince & Heather, Chris & Sharon and Robb & Cat went into the night. The rest of us hit the dirt again at Ashford Junction taking the Harry Wade Rd. to the Little Dumont Dunes locale for our last night of camping (we actually beat Robb & Cat, who took pavement there).
Monday 11/27/07 - By 8:20 AM we were all headed for home or other destinations. Chuck, Uwe, Srisuda & I went thru the Mojave National Preserve stopping at the new Visitor's Center at Kelso.
T'was a great group to be out with.
I would like to put a DV trip together sometime in April or May with a totally different itinerary. PM me if there is any interest.
Friday 11/24/06 - We departed the Lone Pine Visitor's Center before 9 AM on SH 136 eastbound, headed up the Swansea Grade to the Burgess Mine, across the crest to the Salt Tram Station for lunch & on to the old mining town of Cerro Gordo for a brief visit with Mike Patterson, checking out the Museum/Store, American Hotel & Bunkhouse. We headed down the east side of the Inyo's to San Lucas Canyon & camped near Conglomerate Mesa behind the Santa Rosa Hills.
Saturday 11/25/06 - We departed our campsite at 8:30 AM heading south thru Lee Flat to connect with Saline Valley Rd. northbound, down Grapevine Canyon, across the bajada to Lippencott Mine Rd. & up to the Race Track for a lunch stop. We continued to Teakettle Junction, Lost Burro Gap with a brief stop at the Lost Burro Mine, onto Hidden Valley, up over Hunter Mountain & back down to the Santa Rosa Hills campsite where most had a chilly night.
Sunday 11/26/06 - Departed the campsite at 8:45 AM heading south again to connect with Saline Valley Rd. & continued south to SH 190 heading east for refueling at Panamint Springs & the departure of Mark & Brooke. The rest of us continued south thru the Panamint Valley to a brief stop at Ballarat before heading south on Wingate Rd., up Goler Wash to the Newman Mine for a lunch stop. We continued up the wash & stopped at an old arastra before heading into the Barker Ranch. We continued up thru Mengel Pass & into Butte Valley, stopping at the Geology Cabin before heading down Warm Springs Rd. to the West Side Rd. & on to pavement where Michael & Amy, Vince & Heather, Chris & Sharon and Robb & Cat went into the night. The rest of us hit the dirt again at Ashford Junction taking the Harry Wade Rd. to the Little Dumont Dunes locale for our last night of camping (we actually beat Robb & Cat, who took pavement there).
Monday 11/27/07 - By 8:20 AM we were all headed for home or other destinations. Chuck, Uwe, Srisuda & I went thru the Mojave National Preserve stopping at the new Visitor's Center at Kelso.
T'was a great group to be out with.
I would like to put a DV trip together sometime in April or May with a totally different itinerary. PM me if there is any interest.
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whitethaiger
Adventurer
Great pictures everyone. With all the knitting going on while driving and the chatting while stopped, my team photographer did not take that many pictures this time, but she finished several scarfs and hats
. Here is the little gallery.
About the knitting circles forming at the stops; I heard them talking about getting their own radios and their own Chick-Channel
. Here is the little gallery.About the knitting circles forming at the stops; I heard them talking about getting their own radios and their own Chick-Channel
Ursidae69
Traveller
I like this photo of Mark where he got a little too far right on the uphill. I did the same thing as he did because I was digging in my bag of beef jerky, not paying full attention, and wondered right and dropped my right front off the road bed. Robb was behind me and walked up and helped me back down back into line (Thanks Robb). Sort of freaked me out when it happened to me. I paid more attention the rest of the trip. :yikes:
Desertdude
Expedition Leader
While we were heading up that same trail - pulling the M101 trailer with the 80 series - the trailer seemed to want to push the 80 over the edge :yikes:
kcowyo
ExPo Original
I was too far back to see Chuck's slide, but I saw Mark hung up at that spot.
I was outside my vehicle but I just thought he was posing for pics until Uwe said Mark was experiencing "technical difficulties."
Uwe learned from Mark's time on the edge and took the left side, I promptly followed. Good spotting from Robb and I enjoyed hassling Kristina to "take my picture!" She's great. :victory:
I was outside my vehicle but I just thought he was posing for pics until Uwe said Mark was experiencing "technical difficulties."
Uwe learned from Mark's time on the edge and took the left side, I promptly followed. Good spotting from Robb and I enjoyed hassling Kristina to "take my picture!" She's great. :victory:
articulate
Expedition Leader
Chuck, what an incriminating photo. My machismo can handle it though. A lesser spirit would blame it on equipment: "Well, uh, if I had lockerz that woodah been no problem." ......no fun, either.
:smiley_drive:
:smiley_drive:
articulate
Expedition Leader
I got some hate mail (again, what's new?) so here are some photos.
The Panamint Dunes really excited me and I'd really like to make that trek. Al said it was about 10 miles by foot; I wonder if that's round trip? From 190, the hike would be pretty dang straight.
The Panamint Dunes really excited me and I'd really like to make that trek. Al said it was about 10 miles by foot; I wonder if that's round trip? From 190, the hike would be pretty dang straight.
Desertdude
Expedition Leader
I dig that night time fire shot
kcowyo
ExPo Original
I remember watching you take this one BT - looks like an advertisement, but for what? Hornitos, Tacomas, AT KO's or safety flags? Turned out great!
This one is great Robb - Cat using her Jedi powers
Epitome of the west by desertgirl66
Is that a Diet Coke? by dg
And without a camera, Vince managed to capture the true spirit of the weekend with his Top 10 list. Too, too funny!
So did anyone get a pic of the NP sign at the Racetrack Playa? Thought I did but can't find it....?
Edited to remove an outdated link off my site -Ursidae69
This one is great Robb - Cat using her Jedi powers
Epitome of the west by desertgirl66
Is that a Diet Coke? by dg
And without a camera, Vince managed to capture the true spirit of the weekend with his Top 10 list. Too, too funny!
So did anyone get a pic of the NP sign at the Racetrack Playa? Thought I did but can't find it....?
Edited to remove an outdated link off my site -Ursidae69
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BajaTaco
Swashbuckler
Oh man, I have really enjoyed looking at everyones photos. Awesome! It is a way to keep enjoying the trip, long after it is over. Thanks to all of you for posting those up. I love seeing through others eyes, if just for a moment. KC, thanks for the compliments I didn't get a pic of a sign at the racetrack. Maybe someone else did?
BX asked to have a photo of he and Amy at the Barker Ranch. Here is one I got. I thought it looked cool as a sepia image, and I also cropped it for a close-up version. Just playing around. BX, if you want the original or the "modded" versions, just let me know and I can email.
I didn't get a pic of a sign at the racetrack. Maybe someone else did?BX asked to have a photo of he and Amy at the Barker Ranch. Here is one I got. I thought it looked cool as a sepia image, and I also cropped it for a close-up version. Just playing around. BX, if you want the original or the "modded" versions, just let me know and I can email.
BajaTaco
Swashbuckler
I did get a shot of Chuck when he had slid off of the roadbed. (jerky is so worth it!) I also have some other pics of people...
1. Chuck's slide
2. Amy n' Uwe atop the hill behind Barker ranch
3. Robb and his famous hat
4. Heather n' BX chatting
5. Randy n' Linda on the racetrack
6. Srisuda getting a shot (great slideshow by the way - thanks WhiteThaiGer for posting that - tell Srisuda I enjoyed it)
1. Chuck's slide
2. Amy n' Uwe atop the hill behind Barker ranch
3. Robb and his famous hat
4. Heather n' BX chatting
5. Randy n' Linda on the racetrack
6. Srisuda getting a shot (great slideshow by the way - thanks WhiteThaiGer for posting that - tell Srisuda I enjoyed it)
BajaTaco
Swashbuckler
Some more...
1. Old hinge at the Burgess mining cabin
2. "self portrait" at the Burgess mining cabin, with Heather in the shot too. It was cool to see that Chuck did this shot too, without either of us seeing the other do it.
3. Robb n' Cat
4. KC climbing the trail
5. Mike Patterson telling us a story in Cerro Gordo
6. Uwe n' Mark chatting roadside
7. My view of the road going over Hunter mountain in the late afternoon headed west
8. Cool pic of Chuck going up and over a steep section of trail in the Butte Valley
9. The long road ahead
10. The Dude tosses firewood like he's shootin' hoops
1. Old hinge at the Burgess mining cabin
2. "self portrait" at the Burgess mining cabin, with Heather in the shot too. It was cool to see that Chuck did this shot too, without either of us seeing the other do it.
3. Robb n' Cat
4. KC climbing the trail
5. Mike Patterson telling us a story in Cerro Gordo
6. Uwe n' Mark chatting roadside
7. My view of the road going over Hunter mountain in the late afternoon headed west
8. Cool pic of Chuck going up and over a steep section of trail in the Butte Valley
9. The long road ahead
10. The Dude tosses firewood like he's shootin' hoops
kcowyo
ExPo Original
Begging for a caption!
BT, I noticed you were shooting with a new camera but I never got around to asking you what it was. It's definitely working for you.
So.....what'd ya get?eepwall:
I think that drive over Hunter Mountain may have done permanent damage to my retinas. Twice I barely caught myself before driving off the edge. To me, that may have been the most challenging 10 miles of the whole trip!
BT, I noticed you were shooting with a new camera but I never got around to asking you what it was. It's definitely working for you.
So.....what'd ya get?
eepwall: I think that drive over Hunter Mountain may have done permanent damage to my retinas. Twice I barely caught myself before driving off the edge. To me, that may have been the most challenging 10 miles of the whole trip!