Desertcrawler Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 This trip would take place April 15th through 23rd. There is another trip that will be taking place the week before - April 8th through 15th. We are hoping to arrange a rendezvous point for the two trips which will allow both groups one night of socializing. Timing is fixed due to my daughters Easter break schedule - she is off the week of April 15th - 23rd. Wanted to post this up as a gauging interest thread. Trip will be in extremely remote parts of the Mojave desert - with a focus on discovering and enjoying both the historical and geological parts of the park. It is possible to join for only part of the trip - but rallying up with us after we've started will be challenging - it's best to choose to leave early. Your rig should be in good/excellent mechanical condition. It is a long, 1 day drive from the Bay Area to the trail head and again on the return. We will be in areas with no access to gas, tire repair, or flushies. We won't leave anyone behind - but you should make sure you are bringing needed spares and supplies your rig might need. Most of the trip will be suitable for stock vehicles, but there are places where lack of a lift or sliders might required you to be pulled/winched over obstacles. This is a good trip for both beginners and advanced and is family friendly. You will need to be prepared for lots of dust and lack of showers and facilities - ideal place for a road shower and a porta-biffy (neither of which I won at the raffle). Again - this is gauging interest thread only - will probably not be able to commit until after the new year. But I know some are being asked to book their vacation time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHappel Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 I've been wanting to get down there for several years. Add me to that penciled in list. After all, I've already got a road shower and a 'porta-biffy'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hinesdisco2 Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 sounds great. count me in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauroness Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 I shall keep an eye on this, it'll take some planning with work but am very interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauroness Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 The weather this year during the month of April averaged at 92* F with 3 consecutive days at triple digits. http://m.accuweather.com/en/us/death-valley-ca/92384/april-weather/2258469 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvRovr Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 The weather this year during the month of April averaged at 92* F with 3 consecutive days at triple digits. http://m.accuweather.com/en/us/death-valley-ca/92384/april-weather/2258469I'm interested, and will definitely make sure to fix my A/C before that. Need to check the kiddo's school schedules first though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertcrawler Posted October 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 April is a good time to go. Depending on weather conditions - the route I plan will vary. On one trip I led a number of years ago we started out in snow, camped that night in below freezing weather with winds of 50MPH+ and then on the back end of trip we hit 115'. Pleasant Canyon, South Park, Cerro Gordo are good destinations when its really hot on the valley floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHappel Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 April is a good time to go. Depending on weather conditions - the route I plan will vary. On one trip I led a number of years ago we started out in snow, camped that night in below freezing weather with winds of 50MPH+ and then on the back end of trip we hit 115'. Pleasant Canyon, South Park, Cerro Gordo are good destinations when its really hot on the valley floor.Yeah...a little hard to pack for that sort of weather spread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertcrawler Posted October 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 Layers. Lots of layers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanB Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 Please pencil me in sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gotrovr Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lithium1330 Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 Def interested! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauroness Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 At lot of interest, this could possibly be a really awesome trip! Let me rephrase that because it will be awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvRovr Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 Bummer. Just checked kids school calendar and they're not on break. I'll keep an eye on this, we may still go anyway. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauroness Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 Bummer. Just checked kids school calendar and they're not on break. I'll keep an eye on this, we may still go anyway. Sent from my XT1585 using TapatalkBring the school with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psykokid Posted October 17, 2016 Report Share Posted October 17, 2016 Weather in the spring in DV can be fickle.. We were out there last March with my son's Boy Scout troop. Arrived Friday night to beautiful weather, Cowboy camped instead of setting up my tent. Saturday weather was nice, mid 70's and slightly overcast. Hiked Golden Canyon and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Came back to camp after dark and the winds picked up, ended up blowing about 50 mph sideways laying down tents and making things pretty much miserable. It was a family camp with moms and siblings so we pulled up stakes at 9:00 PM and made the drive home. Fun drive home with the rover getting blown around like a sail.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerDan Posted October 18, 2016 Report Share Posted October 18, 2016 Several years ago on this trip we started with daytime temps in the high 70s in our first campsite, then moved and saw a balmy 103º, our next site was high 80s and then we moved again and the rain set in, we traveled quite a bit with temps in the 50s for the day and then on our last night (in heated cabins, fortunately!) we got 2" of snow. So be prepared for any and everything! Oh, and I'm in! Haven't been for the last three years or so, tired of missing out on my favorite trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertcrawler Posted October 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 All right Dan - good to have the co trip leader back again! It sounds like we may have the opportunity to rendezvous up with another group from NCLR who is doing a trip there the week before. Don't worry if you want to go for 2 solid weeks you certainly can/could - more than likely there will not be a lot of overlap between the two trips. Potential Rally Points I could see where we could do a large group camp would be: a)Sheriff Stones (but that time of year it could be cold) - and we'd need to pay for campsiteb)Butte Valley (but would need to spread out the group since it is in National Park Lands)c)Bob and Wards cabin (but there may be competition for our spot requiring finding a camp site some place else - and there aren't a lot of options)d)Panamint Springs Resort (but that would require reservations - and be a bit too civilized)e)Cerro Gordo (reservations needed - and could be cold)f)Some other remote spot in the Panamint Valley (ideally near one of the cabins) - but we'd be competing for spotsg)Saline Springs - (but we would have to deal with the "bares" and it can get windy there) Part of the decision will be weather dependent - the North Part of the valley (or any place high like Cerro Gordo) could still have snow. Please weigh in with your thoughts if you have a favorite - but we will need to defer to what Teds group decides for the final part of their trip. I would like to limit the trip to 8 vehicles - any larger than that and things start to slow down too much and it limits our camping opportunities. For my trips, I try to focus on finding historical places that are off the beaten path, with an emphasis on cabins and mines. Each trip, I always add a leg to an area of the park I've not been to yet. And since I've been back there 12 times or more - you should realize that means there is a lot to see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teds Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Glad to hear you are going back again Chuck. Sorry, I didn't see the post before I posted mine in the other forum. My dates are also dictated by spring break which unfortunately is the week prior and I just confirmed I can get it off work. With two trips, we should definitely be able to accommodate a lot of folks from the club. I haven't been to Cerro Gordo but met the buy who runs it in Big Pine. As you mentioned, it could be cold up there depending on this winter. Gold Point camping was cheap, if I remember, and we could probably have the sheriff cook up a dinner and/or breakfast for the groups depending. Butte valley is spectacular and I could definitely spend a few days there. Minnietta mine cabin where we were 6? years ago was a nice spot with day trips to Defense mine, lookout city and Ballarat available. It is an hour or so from Panamint Springs resort and gas. No restrictions since it is BLM. Would definitely like to take to you on the phone as we get closer and talk about destinations. You do such an awesome job planning, researching and guiding your trips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertcrawler Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 Glad to hear you are going back again Chuck. Sorry, I didn't see the post before I posted mine in the other forum. My dates are also dictated by spring break which unfortunately is the week prior and I just confirmed I can get it off work. With two trips, we should definitely be able to accommodate a lot of folks from the club. I haven't been to Cerro Gordo but met the buy who runs it in Big Pine. As you mentioned, it could be cold up there depending on this winter. Gold Point camping was cheap, if I remember, and we could probably have the sheriff cook up a dinner and/or breakfast for the groups depending. Butte valley is spectacular and I could definitely spend a few days there. Minnietta mine cabin where we were 6? years ago was a nice spot with day trips to Defense mine, lookout city and Ballarat available. It is an hour or so from Panamint Springs resort and gas. No restrictions since it is BLM. Would definitely like to take to you on the phone as we get closer and talk about destinations. You do such an awesome job planning, researching and guiding your trips.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161025/cef26134ca1fcf05d59656cfec5da775.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161025/85e76c9cb05a3548e58868d054efdf16.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161025/9b06a60f369830e77a56cb6c99b098aa.jpg Some Death Valley photos pre club Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertcrawler Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161025/11f0e4987566ff35293811a20e3e9bea.jpg Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanB Posted October 29, 2016 Report Share Posted October 29, 2016 Chuck sir, Moving to the other DV group as it lines up with my daughters school break. Cheers thanks. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertcrawler Posted October 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 No problem Alan. Hopefully we can figure out a way to meet up the two groups over the weekend in between...I need Marla on this trip - Linda may not go - and her schedule is based on the CCS vacation schedule that doesn't always jive with San Jose.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulD Posted November 2, 2016 Report Share Posted November 2, 2016 Wow! Please put me down as super-interested. Would be a great opportunity to see the DV with the "Masters of DV Reality." Thanks! --Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraemeWare Posted November 3, 2016 Report Share Posted November 3, 2016 ...I need Marla on this trip - Linda may not go - and her schedule is based on the CCS vacation schedule that doesn't always jive with San Jose.. Chuck, Just for clarification, will Marla be driving on this trip? Graeme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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