Four Days in Death Valley
- Thread starter Rallyroo
- Start date
Rallyroo
Expedition Leader
Cool looking expo rig. I ended up meeting the three folks: Brit, Aussie, and South African.
International Scout
Ooops, I'm still trying to climb up the rock before my camera's self timer went off.
Three of them I just met (Brit, Aussie, South African). I invited them and they joined in my Land Cruiser since their vehicle was 2WD and had low clearance.
A mountain sheep spotted me.
Rallyroo
Expedition Leader
The Argentinian couple has been on the road for over 820 days in their humble Citroen C2V (602 cc air cooled engine). Ushuaia, Argentina to Alaska
Another Argentinian couple who crossed paths with the couple in the Citroen C2V. They ended up caravanning for their epic trip.
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
Thank you for those! I can't wait to see the "moving rocks" on my own!
psychohawk
Observer
Great pics, what route did you take through DV? Was there an event? Or just a lot of travelers?
Carl
Carl
Rallyroo
Expedition Leader
Word of advice, if you drive to The Racetrack from the Ubehebe side (from the east) stop at the second parking area (southern parking area). It's worth the 1/2 mile hike to get toward the back (southeast end of the playa) where the mountain side and dry lake bed meets. That's where you will find many mysterious rocks. The north end of the playa is almost devoid of the moving rocks.
Rallyroo
Expedition Leader
I originally wanted to go: Big Pine -> Eureka Dunes -> Steele Pass -> Saline Valley -> Lippencott -> The Racetrack then out the southern end at Badwater.
But the timing didn't work out so I ended up setting up my first night at Stovepipe Wells. Then meeting the Brit, Aussie, South African, and the two Argentinian couples, I decided to make Stovepipe Wells my base camp and branching out from there. Then exiting the southern end at Badwater. Having international folks to chat around the fire was so worthwhile as we exchanged travel ideas, tips, and adventure stories.
As for all the international travelers in Death Valley the days I was there, I think it was just a coincidence.
I know there was an ExPo group there on the weekend, but unfortunately I didn't run into them.
Rallyroo
Expedition Leader
Oh, my trip was more of a spontaneous thing. I had worked 11 days straight on top of 10-14 hour days. So when I got back in town from work, I decided to go out of town for my four day weekend. I lost two weekends due to work and gained them back as four days off from work. Funny how that works, out of town for work and out of town for pleasure.
psychohawk
Observer
That's a great route, I did the reverse a couple years ago. Sorry it didn't work out this time.
Thanks for the report!
Carl
nfpgasmask
Adventurer
What was the weather like at the bottom? I was there in September 2 years ago and it was like 115-125F down there. Still Death Valley is AWESOME. I want to go back again soon.
Cool pics.
Bart
Cool pics.
Bart
Rallyroo
Expedition Leader
Nights were in the low to mid 40s. Highs were in the high 60s to mid 70s. When hiking, it's cool in the shade where a nice wind breaker is all one really needed. Dante's View, on the other hand, was a bit chilly and windy which required fleece and a beanie.
nfpgasmask
Adventurer
Awesome! I need to get down there in the winter as opposed to the dead summer heat. :costumed-smiley-007
Bart
Bart