Death Valley - Mojave Desert DS Adventure

[Buck]

This is very late notice but we thought you should know.

A small group of us are trailering our bikes downby truck and camper for a week of desert riding and exploring in early April.

If another group is interested you are welcome to join up. You will need to provide your own transportation and lodging for the trip.

The plan is a hub & spoke ride with the camperpositioned as base camp. Another group of riders with a truck/camper unit would be ideal.

Thanks to Bomba and his old riding buddy Mike for suggesting this trip. Our group consists of Bomba, Submann and myself.

Any suggestions for riding in the area are appreciated.... Yeah, we know...bring lots of water!

Mike DR650

[skidmark43]

What dates?

The Odessa D/S event (eastern WA) is April 8th... Not to be missed; it could make for a nice 'first stop' on the way to Death Valley.

If you're interested in spending a couple of nights in a hotel, check this out.

http://www.primmvalleyresorts.com/pages/bb_home.asp

I stayed there in 04 for a week with Warren Thaxter's riding group. Cheap, clean, restaurants and you can ride from the parking lot straight into the desert. Jimmy Lewis holds his off road riding school from there too.

I did notice a couple of campers in the parking lot who were riding their atvs. Not sure if they had to pay the hotel for camping there or not.

This could be some help. Some links on the site may show other routes. I could give you Warren's email address but I think he's either down there right now or in Baja.

http://4wheeldrive.about.com/od/nevadatrails/

http://www.desertusa.com/Thingstodo/du_ttd_auto.html

[Buck]

Thanks for the links. I found this one on Death Valley in there. http://4wheeldrive.about.com/od/cadeathvalley/

Leaving Friday March 31. Returning April 10.

[islandswede]

You'll love it! We spent two weeks in the valley in November. The AAA map is excellent and you get it for free from BCAA if you're a member.

Hydration pack, fix a flat of any kind kit, a good camera and a GPS should see you through in a fun and safe way.

Unfortunately there is no "envy" emoticon or I would have put one in.......

[bomba]

Islandswede,

Thanks for the info. What did you do for accomodations? Did you ride out from the same location every day, camp or different motel every night ?

Bomba

[Buck]

Hottest, Driest, Lowest: Death Valley is a land of extremes. It is one of the hottest places on the surface of the Earth with summer temperatures averaging well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It encompasses the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below the level of the sea, and it is the driest place in North America with an average rainfall of only 1.96 inches a year.

This valley is also a land of subtle beauties: Morning light creeping across the eroded badlands of Zabriskie Point to strike Manly Beacon, the setting sun and lengthening shadows on the Sand Dunes at Stovepipe Wells, and the colors of myriad wildflowers on the golden hills above Harmony Borax on a warm spring day.
Death Valley is a treasure trove of scientific information about the ancient Earth and about the forces still working to shape our modern world. It is home to plants, animals, and human beings that have adapted themselves to take advantage of its rare and hard won bounty. It is a story of western expansion, wealth, greed, suffering and triumph. Death Valley is a land of extremes, and much more.

[malachi]

you're killing me Mike

[islandswede]

Furnace Creek turned out to be a great hub, we're going to go back there this fall.

We kept our trailer at Furnace Creek National Park, $18/night, beautiful but lots of inconsiderate genset running kind of spoiled the peace.

Texas Spring up the hill is only $12, conspicuous lack of shade though and therefore gets hot, but no gensets allowed.

Either way you can buy a shower pass at the ranch for a couple of bucks and they don't seem to mind if you use the pool!

[joker650]

00Buck wrote:

Hottest, Driest, Lowest: Death Valley is a land of extremes. It is one of the hottest places on the surface of the Earth with summer temperatures averaging well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It encompasses the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below the level of the sea, and it is the driest place in North America with an average rainfall of only 1.96 inches a year.

This valley is also a land of subtle beauties: Morning light creeping across the eroded badlands of Zabriskie Point to strike Manly Beacon, the setting sun and lengthening shadows on the Sand Dunes at Stovepipe Wells, and the colors of myriad wildflowers on the golden hills above Harmony Borax on a warm spring day.
Death Valley is a treasure trove of scientific information about the ancient Earth and about the forces still working to shape our modern world. It is home to plants, animals, and human beings that have adapted themselves to take advantage of its rare and hard won bounty. It is a story of western expansion, wealth, greed, suffering and triumph. Death Valley is a land of extremes, and much more.

Zabriskib Point





Unusial rocks in Death valley....how do they move?









Can't waite to hear bout the ride

How do the rocks move?

Area 51

[Buck]

Dirtybill wrote:

How do the rocks move?

Area 51

Only three more sleepsand we'll find out!

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=126036

[tomcycle]

Have fun on your adventure, I have ridden this area many times with a street bike (the street weenie days) May have to put a ride together for next year. Dont forget to take lots of pictures and document your trip, myself and others would like to read about it.

TT

[Buck]

Thanks Tom. For me, it's the first week off work since last May so I'm really looking forward to getting away.

Hope you are healing up ok...We'll try to avoid steep dunes on this ride!

[Buck]

We are back and in need of sleep...what a ride, wore new tires out in one week! We took over 1,200 pics!

[Buck]

Joshua tree forest in Saline Valley, about 5,000' elev.

[Buck]

Continuous storms blew through all week, very unusual weather for Death Valley. High temps only 85 degrees down to freezing, snow, rain, then high winds destroyed Ricks tent! Made for very slippery riding in sloppy desert muck, close to flash flood conditions. White knuckle riding at times! But for the most part was warm and sunny, perfect for off road riding.

[Buck]

Panamint Valley Resort.
Oasis brings development, few and far between.
We camped here one night. Diesel generator provides power.
Lots of animals (besides american rednecks in jeeps with guns) to be seen. Coyotes, road runners, rattlesnakes, lizards, huge jack rabbits, quail, grouse, hawks, buzzards...

[Buck]

Tea Kettle Junction, enroute to the Race Track & Hunter Mountain/Saline Valley. All pics from our first day, a 310 km loop from Furnace Creek in Death Valley.

[Buck]

We were warned by a park Ranger a big storm was on its way by evening. It hit early halfway into our ride with violent winds and freezing rain. Looking south from Shaw Pass at about 7,000' on Hunter Mountain. A clear window opened up revealing the Panamint Valley far belowwith a hundred miles distant clear view. You can almost touch the storm clouds flowing by overhead.

[Buck]

Earlier in the day at the 'Racetrack', where big rocks mysteriously move across the dry lake bed. (See a pic posted earlier in thread). The volcanic rock pile in the distance is a half mile away and about 100' high. Called the 'Grandstand'. Sure would be fun to race around it on the bike. Clay surface was as hard as paving stones, real sticky when dry! But wet it's slippery as bear grease as we found out later.

[malachi]

awesome pics Mike

[Buck]

We hadthe latestpark maps and bought a backroad travel guide ofDeath Valley but Keiths GPS with topo road maps kept us on track and out of trouble.

[bomba]

It was a great trip - sun, snow, rain & wind - we had it all. Thanks to Mike for keeping us entertained (documented with Pic's) & to Keith for his GPS & navigation.

This picture is Mike at the Racetrack with one of the moving rocks.

[bomba]

Keith on the 20 Mule Team Canyon Road - curves, smooth dirt, one way traffic - it was awesome.