Death Valley Raptor Run?

[bstoner59]

I'm down for whenever!!!

 

[MagicMtnDan]

OK, Jason, here's the expert's feedback on your proposed DV trip. He states what I was thinking about Day 1 being a big day.


Regarding Day 1:

THIS IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY BIG DAY. YOU CAN EASILY SPEND HALF DAY GOING OUT TO CHLORIDE AND BACK. FOR JEEPERS, IT’D BE TOO MUCH, WHAT WITH AIRING DOWN FOR DIRT, AIRING UP FOR PAVEMENT, ETC. TOO MUCH ON AND OFF, ON AND OFF. ETC. HOWEVER, IF THE RAPTOR CROWD DOESN’T AIR DOWN, AND HUSTLES ON THE PAVEMENT SECTIONS, THIS MIGHT BE DOABLE. NOTE THAT THE DIRT ROAD SOUTH FROM UBEHEBE PAST TEAKETTLE TO THE RACETRACK IS THE WORST WASHBOARD IN THE PARK.

(Dan's note: Washboard can sometimes be less painful if the right and steady speed can be found for the suspension to "float" over it. Some washboard is so irregular or just so bad that the painful washboard affect can't be avoided.)

ALSO, IF CAMPING AT HOMESTAKE, ITS WORTH TAKING THE SIDETRIP JUST A MILE FURTHER SOUTH (KINDA UPHILL AND TO THE RIGHT [WEST]) TO LIPPENCOTT MINE. THERE IS AN OLD TRUCK, SOME OTHER DETRITUS. ALSO, AT THE VERY END OF THE ROAD (UPPER ROAD, WHERE IT ENDS IN CLIFF ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SOUTH CANYON WALL) THERE ARE SOME TUNNELS YOU CAN EXPLORE—THE LOWER TUNNEL…RIGHT AT THE END OF THE DRIVABLE ROAD, IS THE BEST…YOU CAN GET IN IT IF YOU KNOW THAT THE WIRE MESH COVERING THE TUNNEL ENTRANCE IS CUT…LOOK CAREFULLY <WINK>



Day 2:


14. Break camp and back north on Racetrack Valley Road 10mi to Teakettle Junction, turning SE onto an unnamed dirt road (dirt)

[I DON’T KNOW WHICH UNNAMED ROAD HE’S TALKING ABOUT. THE ROAD TO LOST BURRO GAP/HIDDEN VALLEY? IF SO, THIS ROAD IS THE NORTHERN TERMINUS OF THE ROAD AROUND HUNTER MOUNTAIN. JUST MENTION THIS AS A GENERAL FYI BECAUSE THIS ISN’T RELEVANT TO THE ROUTE JASON DESCRIBES HERE AND, AS WELL, THE ROAD AROUND HUNTER GOES PRETTY HIGH SO IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A WINTER RUN, IT MAY BE PASSABLE. BUT, SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU TAKE THIS ROAD AND CONTINUE SOUTH IT WILL GO ALL THE WAY AROUND THE NORTH SIDE OF HUNTER MOUNTAIN AND EVENTUALLY INTERSECT WITH SOUTHBOUND SALINE VALLEY ROAD, JUST SOUTH OF THE HIGH POINT OF SOUTH PASS (IE, WHERE YOU EXIT AFTER THE LONG CLIMB UP GRAPEVINE CANYON)].

15. At or around Salt Flat, turn around and head back out. Round trip without Lost Burro Mine stop is around 30mi. With the Lost Burro Mine stop, around 32mi total. **We may not be able to do this part since its prone to flooding in the winter.
NOT FAMILIAR WITH SALT FLAT, BUT THIS SOUNDS LIKE INTO HIDDEN VALLEY AND BACK OUT AGAIN. A STOP AT LOST BURRO MINE IS WORTH MAKING.

16. Back at Teakettle Junction, head NE on Racetrak Valley Road 20mi to Ubehebe Crater (dirt).

17. Continue east now on Ubehebe Crater Road for 3mi to Death Valley Road. (pavement)

18. Turn left and head north on Death Valley Road for 35mi to Hanging Rock Canyon (dirt)

19. Turn left and head south on S Eureka Rd for 10mi to Eureka Dunes (dirt)

20. Play in the dunes? Camp for the night at Eureka Dunes Dry Camp (primitive camping)

CANNOT PLAY IN DUNES. CLOSED TO VEHICLES. YOU CERTAINLY KNOW THE CAMPING AREA HE’S TALKING ABOUT…WE’VE LUNCHED THERE SEVERAL TIMES. THIS SPOT IS NICE, HAS PICNIC TABLES AND ROOM FOR A BUNCH OF TRUCKS, BUT IS FREQUENTLY WINDY. MY SUGGESTION, DON’T CAMP RIGHT THERE ADJACENT TO THE DUNES PARKING AREA…HEAD A MILE OR SO EAST IN TOWARDS THE RIDGELINE TO THE EAST. THERE IS THE ROAD WINDING AROUND DUE SOUTH, EVENTUALLY TO GO TO STEEL PASS, BUT WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT IS JUST OFF THE LEFT, WHERE THE STEEL PASS ROAD TURNS TO HEAD SOUTH. SHOULD BE LESS WINDY OVER THERE, KINDA MORE IN THE CROOK OF THE RIDGELINE.

 

[Xjrguy]

I'm down for whenever!!!

Same here.

Dan, you mentioned you are going sometime in October......

 

[BigJ]

Thanks very much Dan. Please thank your expert for me as well. Very valuable info.

I think I'll cut down day 1 based on the advise given. I prefer a milder pace that allows for some flex time on a trip like this. I assume you guys are amenable to that?

I'll also check into the areas he suggested and see if I can find them on google earth or something a little more detailed than the NPS map I used above.

Details to come later!

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Hold on BigJ - I have some other suggestions you can consider. I'll email them to you.

Also, I can suggest a more relaxed and probably enjoyable trip if we add a 3rd day to the trip. I don't know if folks will be up for a 2-plus day trip (e.g. arrive anytime Friday night in DV at the meeting point, drive Saturday, Sunday and about 1/2 day Monday and depart so you're home Monday some time).

 

[BigJ]

Ok after lots of digging and looking at stuff (and a ton of help from Dan's friend. Thanks Dan's friend!!) here's what I've come up with for a complete 3 day'er DV trip. You're gonna need Google Earth to view it. I'll fill out the details a little later, but this covers the proposed route from start to finish.

http://db.tt/dbd4vAmv

The first number is the day, the second number is the waypoint within that day.

In the case of "2.9, 3.1" that's indicating we have the option to camp at either 2.9 for the night, or carry on until 2.10 and camp there.

The only part that has me concerned for the Raptor is 3.4 - 3.12. But there looks to be an alternative route to the west that might be more Raptor friendly? Not sure since I haven't done either. I believe Dan has done that section before and that might be where he ended up with the crushed pipe and bumper damage?

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Thanks for the links to GE. Can you post the route in text for those who want to read it?

If you're referring to Dedeckera Canyon, that's not where I un-rounded my tail pipes or scratched my bumper end cap

So, when are you suggesting we do this expedition?

 

[BigJ]

Glad to hear that's not the spot

Try this link: DV3DayRev1 - Google Maps You should be able to export the list from there as you see fit.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

How did you do that? Now all we need to do is type some text into those pushbuttons

 

[BigJ]

I created the map using Google Earth, then uploaded the KMZ to "My Places" in Google Maps. I think there's a way I can let you "Collaborate" so that you can edit/add text to each point if ya want. I'll check into it.

Here's Rev 2. Take a look and please feel free to share this/comment/critique. You'll notice that from point 3.4 forward is totally different; Rev 1 had us going over Lippincott Road and after reviewing some YouTube vids and other sources (thanks again Dan for all the input) I think we're better off avoiding it. It looks awful narrow in some spots and I aint into finishing this trip via a high stress route. Rev 2 follows Saline Dunes and then out thru the Inyo Mountains, finishing in Big Pine where 168 and 395 intersect (central location offering full services for the ride home).

DV3DayRev2 - Google Maps

I've had a change of plans and 4 days have opened up Oct 21 thru 24th (Fri thru Monday). What do ya think? Wanna do it then?