We just got back from our annual guy's trip - this year to Death Valley, like last year, but different trails. Target for day 1 was to cross from Trona Road over the mountains via Mengel Pass and check out Manson's hideout at Barker Ranch (in a side canyon to the trail) on the way, and eventually come out to Badwater Road (at the south end of Death Valley). For second day I had planned and mapped out off-road from Ubehebe Crater Road (at the north end of Death Valley) to Eureka Dunes, over Steel Pass, to the Saline Valley Warm Springs, and take Saline Valley Road out to pavement. Day 1 would be just over 65 miles of dirt trails, and day 2 would be around 100 miles of dirt trails.
Thursday night we drove up to Trona Pinnacles and camped out for the night (I slept in car, my friend had a new roof top tent - so envious...)
Friday we headed up Trona Road and took Balarat Rd, and then up a narrow canyon road towards Barker Ranch.
Of course, the obligatory picture of the wild donkeys that thrive in the area, originally left by miners.
The view from Mengel Pass.
The most technically challenging part on day 1 came on the descent shortly after Mengel Pass. Not long after the next picture we did spot each other in order to get down safely, without bumps and bruises
Picture was taken by buddy who rode shot-gun in the second car, Fran.
We had planned to camp at Mesquite Campground at the north end of the park, just before the (closed) turn-off for Scotty's Castle, but the campground was closed
and we backtracked 40 miles (on boring pavement) to Stovepipe Wells where we camped for the night - I set up my little cozy backpacking tent.
The second day we set out heading north in the direction of Ubehebe Crater - was very windy with sand/dirt drifting on the road
We exited pavement from Ubehebe Crater Rd, and headed off for Eureka Dunes
and made our way up and over Steel Pass and down to Saline Valley Warm Springs - got a picture near the turn-off down by Saline Valley Road.
The ascent from Eureka Dunes up towards Steel Pass on Steel Pass Rd has some technical spots early on, but is otherwise straightforward. We did spot at one location where it was really tight. Don't have any pictures myself of that, unfortunately.
After we hit Saline Valley Road we headed north towards pavement. We had originally planned one more night of camping, but Fran's flight was just after mid-day Sunday, and we decided to put the pedal to the metal and head for home. The drive north on Saline Valley Road was fun - great gravel road where you can make quick ground, and it had pretty sections as well, climbing to about 7400', I think it was. We reached pavement on Death Valley Rd some 30-40 miles later, headed west towards 395, and south towards home. Grabbed dinner in Lone Pine with Mountain Whitney towering in the background.
We are already contemplating our next destination...
