drafdog

Unfortunately due to some recent events, I won't have the ability to plan a larger trip. so it will likely be 1-4 days in the valley, liking camping at camp sites rather than dry camping and won't be as far overlanding mileage wise. If anyone is still interested I would need to know by Wednesday the 8th. If not I will still likely do a modified trip somewhere (not snow will definity need more vehicles to support that kind of trip) easier or just a basic Hollister run. Agreed. I have a lot of friends coming home for the week and several are busy till that Tuesday. Still trying to get in touch with a friend who has a Tahoe with 4x4. Everything is still up in the air unfortunately but I think if things don't work out, the dunes would be a great alternative. I should know by Wednesday if we will for sure do this or scrap it for the time being. Do all of the UC's have the same week off?

Unfortunately due to some recent events, I won't have the ability to plan a larger trip. so it will likely be 1-4 days in the valley, liking camping at camp sites rather than dry camping and won't be as far overlanding mileage wise. If anyone is still interested I would need to know by Wednesday the 8th. If not I will still likely do a modified trip somewhere (not snow will definity need more vehicles to support that kind of trip) easier or just a basic Hollister run.

Also what is the rough estimated mileage? I do have make sure I can save up for this trip as well as start looking for typical problems now, so I can fix them before they fail last minute.

Definity interested and itching to go. Just depends on my summer work schedule! Lets see if I can successfully drag a few friends along this time. Does anyone have any photos from the last BDR trip?? I remember going on one when I was super young but I don't recall the exact year.

Knock on wood no! Did push the steering a bit too much and have a slight leak when turning hard. But its been a problem before, just flared up now. After a bad hit years ago the compressor tucked itself higher up so hasn't been hit much since.

Was a fun one! Good time to practice winching skills.

So my roommate has been feeling sick so I will be a bit distance and wear a mask. But I do plan on arriving very late tonight. If I or he starts to feel worse I may have to leave early.

+1 for the pile. I may not be able to leave till 7pm tonight, or at worst 1am. If I can't make those deadlines I will have to be out for the trip. I do have a site, so Gabriel and another person a can stay there if I do go, if not someone can take my spot there.

Absolutely! One word of advise is to bring an extension cord and a heater if you want to be a little warmer than a sleeping bag. Also I will be leaving tomorrow from Merced and hopefully be there by sundown.

Here's a few photos from a 2021 Death Valley trip me (Oliver) and Matthew planned. These are things we would likely see again following the first idea of a route.

Hey all, UC Merced's spring break is between the 3/25 to 4/2. I was looking at going to Death Valley for about 4-5 days starting that Sunday(3/26), but its early in the plans so if others have ideas or constraints I'm open to them. I'm planning on running a northern route going from Stovepipe Wells, to Eureka Dunes in day 1. Day 2 we would head towards the race track, stopping at the hot springs for a few hours. After a night at the race track we would either head to Panamint Springs or towards the south end of the park depending on if people need to leave early or to pick up those who would like to go on the second half. For the proposed second half we would head past furnace creek and spend time in the lower part of the park. I have only been in the northern half and run what I've mentioned before. I would like to cross the mountains through Mengel Pass(IMG 2) heading back towards Trona as our exit, but between Panamint and that I'm open for options. There is also 2 ghost towns nearby the pass we can stop at. Everything mentioned here is extremely flexible minus the date range (3/25 to 4/2)s. If anyone has any good places to stop or camp let me know! I want to try and make it as accessible for people to come as of now I don't have enough to make this trip safely or comfortably.

Definitely Interested, but midterms are around that time. I will have to see closer to the time how things are looking.

So far no one has claimed the extra 2 spots in my site so your welcome to join me. I only have a site from Saturday to Monday.

I will be, but Mark is a no. Our campsite is a medium so I believe we can accommodate 2 more vehicles. I'm planning to bring a 1-3 friends in a roof top tent.

I was just north of Shaver Lake last weekend and we got 16" of snow in 1 day, with 5" of snow on the car in only 6 hours. If anyone remembers the 2 Tacoma trucks from last year, we had a trip 2 weeks ago but a rat chewed through some wires making me miss the trip. They got about as far as we did in 2019, and with the amount of new snow, its looking like Stuckfest 2023! One of my floormates will be going up to China Peak this weekend, so hopefully I'll have better update soon! - Oliver Photo from Badger Pass last sunday at 7,200ft.

I would be very much so interested in a DV trip. I was already planning on going over spring break, but needed more people to go! My spring break is 3/25, to 4/2. A weekend trip unfortunately wouldn't be possible due to the length and cost of the drive for one day. Seeing as that is early compared to proposed dates, I can do anytime after May 12 (out of school for the summer so any dates will work) -Oliver

I'm grabbing 247, hopefully my dad and sisters can join on the campsite, but I will be coming up with an LR3. Trying to convince one of my coworkers with an LR3 to join us.

I'm in! just had a failed attempt there to go there today (P0118 and U2023 practically disabling the car), with the Toyota guys. They report good conditions similar to last years, with a few LRs and 4Runners there today. I do have a group of friends who will likely join, and as long as the car runs we will be there.

I would definitely be interested in it, do you have an idea when the possible dates would be? -Oliver

I was thinking of running Bald Mountain the 3rd weekend of January (Jan 21st trail run but likely camping the entire weekend depending on snow conditions and interest). If we do end up camping we would likely camp at Camp Edison or dry camp just off Dinkey Creek Rd. I'm hoping to get some of the offroaders and overlanders from UCM to join and I've got Reid (silver TRD truck from 2022 Annual Snow Run), and some other UCM people interested. It will be a more beginner trip as I've got to learn how to snow wheel the LR3. Anyone interested in coming or camping that weekend? -Oliver

Up in Shaver Lake they have snow parks along the roads with cheap parking and usually pre made sled runs from local kids

Well, hate to join the bandwagon of those not attending but we will not be joining you all this weekend. Hopefully soon Oliver and I can run our LR3's together on a trail. Mark

Soooo this is my first time at Oceano Dunes (crazy I know!) but have camped at and traversed Ocotillo Wells down south. Some questions: -Do we need to bring firewood or is this disallowed? -I have ordered flags for our vehicles, what is the best way to mount them on an LR3? -Can we set up camp with awnings and tables and leave them for the day or do we need to pack up while we explore? -Anything extra we need to bring since rain is forecasted for the weekend? Much thanks.

Both! Put the LR3 in the bed of the army truck. This way you have the mothership and the light attack vehicle!

I'm planning on leaving from Merced mid day on Friday (if all goes well) and hope to be at camp a little before sunset if anyone would like to caravan from the central valley (I'm open to leaving at any time on Friday and can meet anywhere along 99). Unfortunately the D2 is gone and so ill be taking an LR3 down -Oliver