Five SoCal trucks in Death Valley

[dlichterman]

The next morning we headed to Scotty's Castle for a quick visit before heading to Ubehebe crater.

Then, it was on to the racetrack, via teakettle junction.

It really is strange seeing the tracks the rocks leave.

Then it was time to pucker up and head into the Saline Valley via Lippencott. It wasn't too bad, but I'd hate to be without 4WD engine braking. There are a few tight turns and washouts that were a bit trickier for us longer wheelbase trucks.

We eventually made it to the springs and set up at the second set - palm spring as the main warm springs seemed a bit busy and we wanted chill. We set up camp not knowing the wind was getting ready to blast us all night.

 

[dlichterman]

The final day leaves us to make the trek through steel pass to the Eureka dunes. It was quite rocky on the trail and there were also some very tight turns.

Just before the crest of the hill is a sharp turn - this is where the marble bath is located.

After some fun driving through steel pass we made it to the "waterfall" or "gatekeeper". It was a really fun part of the trail - making full lock turns to set up for each step.

Once we turned the corner after the waterfall section we were greeted with this magnificent view.

With the dunes in the background I set my camera up on a tripod and ran back to my truck just in time for the group shot.

We continued around the dunes to the parking lot where some of us talked with a family that was thinking of attempting steel pass alone, uphill,and with street tires so we advised against it. We made our way back to the pavement creating a wall of dust and aired back up.

You can see our approximate route here: https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=62b55150bd8c09b9a&p=pass4DV

For all of my pictures and the full resolutions here is the flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlichterman/sets/72157633145863384/with/8612192586/

 

[stioc]

Really nice pics dude! thanks.

Except for the one where I look like an idiot spotting wolverine350's Chevy haha!

 

[ETAV8R]

Great pics!
There are so many of those moments in DV where you turn a corner and then greeted with spectacular views. I still haven't seen a bighorn.

 

[wolverine350r]

Excellent posts and pics guys, hopefully I can get mine done by this weekend.

 

[Captm]

Great pic's! Molly is going thru ours and will post up soon. Thank's for a fun time, looking forward to many more.
Cheers

 

[lonekazoo]

Hey, I recognize that truck!

Thanks for taking the pictures of the four of us on touring bikes at the DV sign at the west entrance. One member of our group couldn't stop talking over the intercom about how much he liked your truck. Like you, we had a great time, the weather was perfect. After looking at your pictures, we obviously brought the wrong vehicles...

 

[stioc]

Glad to see you here lonekazoo, thank you for the compliments on the truck. It was great to meet you all- that F16 fly-over was nuts...both the gf and I jumped when they flew by and then the supersonic effect kicked in. BTW I was salivating over your sport-tourers...especially because I'm thinking of selling my ST1300 as I haven't been using it much

Here're some action shots of the truck (thanks lbrito for these pics!):

Hey Dave (adventureduo), how do you like my $10 Trashareeee! :elkgrin: Seriously, you should think about a smaller version that hangs from the rear door for those of us without a rear spare tire:

 

[Larry]

Nice report stoic! You know, I think I might remember seeing the Tundra out there last week but not the Pathfinder or other rigs. If you saw a big blue old Chevy with a camper on the back along with two Dodge Rams that was us. We did Echo Canyon, Scotty’s Castle, Crater thing, Race Track, Lippincott then followed Saline Valley Rd up through Grapevine Canyon towards Panamint. We even stumped upon a dude on a broken down dual sport bike in Grapevine Canyon and tossed it into the back of one of our trucks and gave him a ride to the Panamint camp.

Great times! My trip report isn’t complete yet

Wish we would have had time for Titus and several other things but we had already spent a few days on the Mojave Rd. Just not enough time to do it all in one trip.

Looks like you all had a great time.

 

[dlichterman]

Nice report stoic! You know, I think I might remember seeing the Tundra out there last week but not the Pathfinder or other rigs. If you saw a big blue old Chevy with a camper on the back along with two Dodge Rams that was us. We did Echo Canyon, Scotty's Castle, Crater thing, Race Track, Lippincott then followed Saline Valley Rd up through Grapevine Canyon towards Panamint. We even stumped upon a dude on a broken down dual sport bike in Grapevine Canyon and tossed it into the back of one of our trucks and gave him a ride to the Panamint camp.

Great times! My trip report isn't complete yet

Wish we would have had time for Titus and several other things but we had already spent a few days on the Mojave Rd. Just not enough time to do it all in one trip.

Looks like you all had a great time.

Looks like you did so far as well! On the 27th I was by myself roaming the valley floor so you might have seen me then but you haven't posted that part yet

 

[Larry]

Looks like you did so far as well! On the 27th I was by myself roaming the valley floor so you might have seen me then but you haven't posted that part yet

Exactly. You may have even camped right around the corner from the top of Lippincott. If memory serves me correct, I think I saw you as we made a wrong turn through the campsite on our way to Lippincott after leaving the Race Track.

 

[dlichterman]

Exactly. You may have even camped right around the corner from the top of Lippincott. If memory serves me correct, I think I saw you as we made a wrong turn through the campsite on our way to Lippincott after leaving the Race Track.

We didn't camp Lippincott, only Mesquite Springs and then Palm Spring.

 

[stioc]

Larry, I've read your previous reports and have always been a huge fan of your truck! If I saw it in DV I would've flagged you down so most likely you saw dlichterman on the 27th.

 

[Larry]

Larry, I've read your previous reports and have always been a huge fan of your truck! If I saw it in DV I would've flagged you down so most likely you saw dlichterman on the 27th.

Bummer we missed each other. It would have been fun to run into fellow Expo'ers! Yeah, I saw him someplace, just can't remember where it was. Maybe Mighty Dodge Ram may remember.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

I can't recall...unless, of course, you were camped near Lake Hill/Panamint Valley Springs and howling at the moon. :sombrero: