Teds Posted October 18, 2016 Report Share Posted October 18, 2016 My children have Spring Break April 8th through the 17th and I am longing to head back to Death Valley. Chuck (Desertcrawler) has guided many awesome trips to the park and I was hooked after my first DV experience. There are so many cool sites to see: hot springs, dunes, mountains, desert, mines, lowest spot in north America, Scotty's castle, kilns, craters, mysterious moving rocks, outback cabins, ghost towns and the sheer beauty of the nation’s largest national park. The best way to see the park is on backcountry trails minimizing pavement travel. The park is also so large that a week is just not enough time to see everything. Trips are usually centered on the northern or southern half of the park. Due to logistics and park restrictions, the trip will be limited to around 12 vehicles and the dates are firm. I have put together a few tentative itineraries off the top of my head. We can’t see everything in one trip, the park is just too large. Based on other trips, its nice to have two nights in the same location halfway through the journey to give use a break. I will work in one or more gas stops along the way and at least one shower location. There will be exit points for people who can’t make the whole trip and need head home. Meeting up midweek may be possible, but itineraries can change on the trail due to slow progress, mechanical breakdowns and unforeseen circumstances. We will cover a lot of ground and varied terrain, but a stock land rover should be able to complete most of the routes and we can plan accordingly. All terrain tires, lift and skid plates are highly recommended along with full size spare, water, gas etc mandatory. One year, I was changing Kevin Suttle’s tire in 99 degree weather and three days later, we were having a snowball fight! Be prepared for all weather conditions. This is a family friendly trip and I am planning on bringing my three children (10, 8 and 7) More details to follow. Go beyond! Itinerary 1 - north/westStart in Big Pine - Eureka Dunes - Steele pass - hot springs - camp Lippincott grade - racetrack - tea kettle junction - hunter mountain - boxcar cabin - camp Darwin falls - Panamint springs - minnieta mine cabin - defense mine - camp(2 days here - day trip to charcoal kilns/ballarat/hiking or lookout city) barker ranch - Mengel pass - striped butte valley/cabin- camp warm springs - badwater – Bill and Wards Cabin – campDumont dunes – campHome thru Baker or up 95 Itinerary 2 – north/eastBig Pine - Eureka Dunes - Steele pass - hot springs - campLippincott grade - racetrack - tea kettle junction - hunter mountain - campTea kettle junction – Ubehebe crater – Scotty’s castle – Inyo canyon – campEcho canyon (tough 4x4 trail) – Rhyolite ghost town - Titus canyon – Wildrose campCharcoal kilns – possible hike to a peak – Thorndike/wildrose/mahogany flat – campBallarat – Mengel Pass – Barker Ranch – Striped Butte/cabins – campWarm Springs – Badwater – Bill and Wards cabin - campHome thru Baker or up 95 Itinerary 3 – south/eastBarstow to Badwater – Warm Springs – Striped Butte/cabin – campMengel pass – Barker ranch – Ballarat – Briggs cabin – campWildrose canyon – charcoal kilns – hike – throrndike/wildrose/mahogany flat – campDevils cornfield – furnace creek – 20 mule canyon – dante’s point – Inyo mine – campEcho canyon (tough 4x4 trail) – Rhyolite ghost town - Titus canyon – chloride cliff – campScotty’s castle- Ubehebe crater – Gold Point ghost town – campStay around gold point – crazy guys castle – campHome via 95 or 168 to 395 Itinerary 4 – north/eastBig Pine - Eureka Dunes - Steele pass - hot springs - campLippincott grade - racetrack - tea kettle junction - hunter mountain - campTea kettle junction – Ubehebe crater – Scotty’s castle – Gold Point– campStay around Gold Point – crazy guys castle – Gold Point – campRyholite ghost town – Titus canyon – Inyo Canyon - camp Dante’s View – Badwater – Warm springs – Striped Butte – campMengel Pass – home via Trona or Ballarat – Panamint Springs – home Itinerary 5n- south/eastTrona - Ballarat - Mengel Pass - Striped Butte/Cabins - campWarm springs - Badwater - 20 mule canyon - Inyo mine - campRyholite - Titus canyon - Chloride cliff - campScotty's castle - ubehebe crater - tea kettle junction - campRacetrack - Lippincott grade - hot springs - campSteel pass - Eureka Dunes - crankshaft junction - Gold Point - campGold Point - crazy guy castle - campHome Gold Point ghost town is run by Sheriff Stone with cabins available or we can camp in the same area. Showers and gas is available as well as a bar for nightly libations. We can request him to cook dinner and/or breakfast for our group for which we pay. A few years ago, we spent the last night at Gold Point and it was nice to not worry about cooking before heading home. Depends on how I work the itineraries and the number of trucks we have attending. I will talk to the Sheriff and make reservations with him once I decide on the itinerary. Scotty's castle in run by the park service. We will need to make reservations in advance for tours. Well worth a visit. I still need to do more research and calculate distances and drive times. Some of the itineraries above are ambitious and I want people to enjoy the park and not feel they are constantly driving. Let me know if you are interested! http://www.speichers.com/pictures/dv2012/dv12_d2_stella_ranch_rtt.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jethro Posted October 18, 2016 Report Share Posted October 18, 2016 Definitely interested! Our spring break lines up! Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertcrawler Posted October 18, 2016 Report Share Posted October 18, 2016 Hmm.. we will have a slight overlap... We should plan on rallying up someplace when we start our trip and you end yours... Good spots where we could have a large group camp would be either in Striped Butte Valley, Sherrif Stones place, or Cerro Gordo if it isn't too cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psykokid Posted October 18, 2016 Report Share Posted October 18, 2016 Just a heads up, Scotty's Castle is still closed by the NPS due to the flood damage sustained in the torrential rains that hit the DV area at the beginning of October 2015. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHappel Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Well now I'm torn....Go with Chuck or go with Ted? How's a guy to decide? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gotrovr Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 I'm definately in on this or with Chuck's group depending on where the dates of my Son's spring break line up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hinesdisco2 Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 nice list of possible sites to see .... spread the dates out so I can go twice!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauroness Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 We decide by fight to the death with light sabers. Joking. Man this also looks like fun I'm with Jason spread the days out!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHappel Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 The kids and their spring breaks are dictating the timing I'm afraid. I do like the idea of overlapping the two events for one day though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauroness Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 The kids and their spring breaks are dictating the timing I'm afraid. I do like the idea of overlapping the two events for one day though.I Agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teds Posted October 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 Glad to hear you are running a trip as well Chuck. We will definitely coordinate our final weekend for overlap with you. With the kids getting older, its harder to pull them out of school now. Ella as just 4 when we went on our first DV trip! She will be celebrating her 11th birthday this year on the trail. Gold Point is easy due to road access and people can arrive Friday night or Saturday morning. We may adjust the date slightly to leave on Sunday depending on what your itinerary is. Striped Butte is beautiful and we could definitely stay a few days in the area exploring/hiking and hanging out at the cabins there until you arrive. Don, be a true DV aficionado and stay 2 weeks! http://www.speichers.com/pictures/dv2011/dv2011_ella_dune.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertcrawler Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 I'll let u make call. I do agree Gold Point might be easier as a rally point. I also think some of us anyway might be able to leave Bay on Thursday .. would give us Friday and Saturday. My only hesitation is if he'll be open for visitors and what the weather will be ( could be cold) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volkov Posted October 23, 2016 Report Share Posted October 23, 2016 Very tempted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanB Posted October 29, 2016 Report Share Posted October 29, 2016 Please put the Browne family down. Alan, Jill and Maeve 11yrs old. I penciled myself in for Chucks DV trip but my daughters spring break is the decider. That we have two trips is outstanding. Thanks a million Alan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gotrovr Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 My son's spring break is April 1st thru 9th so I'm out on this trip. Looks like I'll tag along with Chuck's group if dates coincide?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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