Pleasant Canyon Trail Death Valley

Jammyauto · 03-26-2008, 12:13 PM

Anyone done this trail in a SMB? My backcountry trails book lists this trail as a level seven. Just curious if I should avoid it with my wife and children who can get pretty scared and that is no fun. Challenging stuff is fine but having to get very close to steep drop offs is the real issue here. Leaving friday am for a week in DV.

cellularSTEVE · 03-26-2008, 08:03 PM

Hi Jammyauto,
I have done this in my Jeep going up Pleasant Canyon (entering from Panamint Valley) and coming out via South Park. Since I did the whole loop I do not rememeber where it gets difficult. What I do know for sure is that on the South Park portion you have to traverse a narrow bridge that is rated at 6,000 lbs. I saw a Hummer turn around so for sure do not attempt this with your SMB. What is also scary is the sheer drop off and rock ledge on the passenger side as you head down. We spotted each other and it is still unnerving.

I know there are some other tight spots but again, do not recall if they are on the South Park side or Pleasant Canyon side.

BTW, are you located in Isla Vista and is your SMB tan? If so my sister (who now looks out for SMBs thanks to me) spotted a "tan really long van" (i.e. an EB) "with a winch and big bumper" this past weekend while in Santa Barbara.

steve

Jammyauto · 03-26-2008, 09:04 PM

Steve, Thanks for the info. I've gotten some conflicting info on the bridge. Two sources say 3 tons, which I'm under and many others say 6K lbs, whick I'm over. I guess I'll just try it up and back via Panamint Valley. Don't really want to go down in history as the guy who wrecked a van and the bridge! My van is a silver EB so that was not me. Thare are lots of SMB's in Santa Barbara. It's not unusual to see a couple a day out on the roads.

cellularSTEVE · 03-26-2008, 09:57 PM

Hi Seth,
I think your sources are both right. Because 3 tons is 6,000 lbs.

In any case I thought most SMB's are around 10,000 lbs. or thereabouts.

steve

Jammyauto · 03-26-2008, 10:00 PM

Duh! OF coarse you are right. I forgot my hight school math there for a moment. I am deffinatly overweight! Stupid stupid stupid (Chris Farley?)

cellularSTEVE · 03-26-2008, 10:05 PM

Apparently you forgot your elementary school spellling too, "my hight school"

I couldn't resist.

Have fun and take lots of photos. I am going back in November to Panamint as I do every year.

steve