Death Valley Wander 2012

[aeon]

Thanks for the nice posts Martin! A main part of my job is doing product (knives, tools, guns) photography. The landscape and adventure photos are mainly a creative outlet/hobby of mine

I really like the idea of doing a DVNP picture book in the future, and will definitely ponder the possibility!

 

[teotwaki]

Knives! Tools! Guns! :sombrero:

We'll have to see some of those in another thread some day

 

[SoCalMonty]

Wow. Just...wow. Thank you so much for sharing!

I've got a PV/DV trip planned in January in the North America and CA/NV sections - would love to have you along! Maybe you could get some more photos for that coffee table book!

So...a couple Q's for you:

1) How many trip miles covered, and how much fuel used? Where/when did you refuel? I'm doing research trying to balance what we'll be able to see versus what our range will be based on fuel!

2) Anything that you felt like you missed and plan to go back to see more of? What were the real highlights for you?

Thanks so much for the photos. You either inspire me, or you make me want to throw my camera away and give up. I'm not sure which quite yet.

PS...are you on panamintvalley.com??

 

[peneumbra]

Unusual Aircraft Around Death Valley...

One day in about 1985, I happened to be driving on Saline Valley Rd, when I looked up and saw a very large dark-colored helicopter with an unfamiliar fuselage flying low over the White Mountains. It then proceeded to land just feet from the road. Of course, I drove over to where it had set down and saw that it was - a Hind (MI-24), the much-feared soviet attack helicopter. Right here in Inyo County, no less.

Well, it was flying from Edwards AFB to China Lake NWS, according to the (USAF) crew, who were very friendly, and they'd gotten a warning light of some kind and just set the thing down. The Hind had been "acquired," somehow, and was being checked out to see if there was anything of interest in its various systems. After about a half-hour, they took off and (I assume) made it to China Lake. They asked me not to take any pictures, but they did accept a 6-pack of Dr. Pepper.

Nowdays, you can probably buy those things on the Russian version of E-Bay...

 

[Martinjmpr]

One day in about 1985, I happened to be driving on Saline Valley Rd, when I looked up and saw a very large dark-colored helicopter with an unfamiliar fuselage flying low over the White Mountains. It then proceeded to land just feet from the road. Of course, I drove over to where it had set down and saw that it was - a Hind (MI-24), the much-feared soviet attack helicopter. Right here in Inyo County, no less.

Well, it was flying from Edwards AFB to China Lake NWS, according to the (USAF) crew, who were very friendly, and they'd gotten a warning light of some kind and just set the thing down. The Hind had been "acquired," somehow, and was being checked out to see if there was anything of interest in its various systems. After about a half-hour, they took off and (I assume) made it to China Lake. They asked me not to take any pictures, but they did accept a 6-pack of Dr. Pepper.

Nowdays, you can probably buy those things on the Russian version of E-Bay...

We "acquired" several Hinds during the later years of the Cold War. There were actually 2 or 3 of them based at Biggs Army Airfield at Fort Bliss, TX (home of the Army Air Defense school) in early 1993 when I was there for an exercise. I believe some of them were also used at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, which is adjacent to China Lake.

 

[spikemd]

Great pics. I love DV and will be going back for our third year in April. You sure covered a lot of ground. How many days was the trip?

Also, what happened to Goler Wash? Was it totally covered with rock/dirt? We hit that last year and it was a good gateway to keep out 'pedestrian' vehicles. I hope its not gone...

 

[aeon]

1) How many trip miles covered, and how much fuel used? Where/when did you refuel? I'm doing research trying to balance what we'll be able to see versus what our range will be based on fuel!

2) Anything that you felt like you missed and plan to go back to see more of? What were the real highlights for you?

PS...are you on panamintvalley.com??

I am really bad about keeping track of exact fuel used/mileage etc., sorry. We did around 700 miles inside the park, have a 20 (I think) gallon fuel tank, and carried 15 extra gallons. Never used the third fuel can. We get gas in only two places, outside of the park in Beatty and at Stove Pipe Wells, which is the only reasonable spot inside DV to get fuel. They are usually $1.00/gallon cheaper than Furnace Creek, Shoshone, and Panamint Springs.

This was our fourth time in DV, and I still feel like there is more to see. We visit a lot of the same spots, and it just doesn't get old...at least for us My favorite places are Saline Valley, Racetrack Playa, and the Eureka Dunes.

Not on panamintvalley.com, at least not yet




peneumbra, wow..that is a cool story, and I bet it was an amazing thing to see first hand!

How many days was the trip? Also, what happened to Goler Wash? Was it totally covered with rock/dirt? We hit that last year and it was a good gateway to keep out 'pedestrian' vehicles. I hope its not gone...

We left Vegas on September 2nd, and returned home on the 20th..so approximately 16 days inside DVNP. The dry falls in Goler were totally covered with rock/dirt...could easily drive in there with a 'pedestrian' vehicle now. Course they would have to turn around to get back out of there, Mengel and further was in much rougher shape.

 

[monkeytrick]

brilliant report, great pics...what RTT is that? :ylsmoke:

cheers,
monkeytrick

 

[aeon]

Thanks! RTT is an Eezi-Awn series 3 1200

 

[monkeytrick]

Thanks! RTT is an Eezi-Awn series 3 1200

thanks....how does it perform in high winds? what are your thoughts on it...pros/cons? i'm in the market for one and looking for actual real life testimony.

thx again.

 

[HighPlainsPhotographer]

Awesome photography! I thoroughly enjoyed looking through your thread. It looks like you had a blast. Thanks for sharing.

 

[aeon]

Thanks HighPlains!

thanks....how does it perform in high winds? what are your thoughts on it...pros/cons? i'm in the market for one and looking for actual real life testimony.thx again.

We've had our Eezi-Awn for about four years now, and we're very impressed with it's durability. Had one rivet shear off the ladder, but it hasn't affected the functionality, and that's about it. The tent can be a bit noisy and rock around a bit in strong winds, but taking the fly off helps with the noise. We were in 60+ mph wind gusts in DV this last February, so we took off the rain fly and ratchet strapped the ladder to the wheel..then all was well Have not had to deal with combined heavy rain/high wind event yet...

 

[ETAV8R]

Holy cow you were all over DV!
Wonderful photos and report. Thanks. It takes a lot of effort to get that stuff done.

 

[stioc]

I've always enjoyed your annual DV trip reports, thanks for sharing. As others have said your photography skills are amazing!

We're planning a 3-4 day trip to DV in March (CA/NV section of the board) and after rereading this report I can't wait for it to be March already :smiley_drive: