Another Trip Report to Death Valley

[charlie56]

Here is my first shot at a trip report.
http://web.mac.com/charliesikes

[Jammyauto]

Charlie, Nice website. Looks like you guys saw alot more of DV than I did. Goler gulch/Mengel pass took me 3 days almost! Sometimes I wish we could move a little faster but the trips are for the whole family to enjoy. My kids would much rather be stopped someware checking stuff out that in the van. We usualy can't leave camp until about 10 at the earliest and then by 3 or so it's time to find the next camp. Also we need like an hour lunch at least. Oh well I guess I'll just have to keep going back to DV!

[daveb]

Charlie you must have been runnin to get all that in with so short of trip! What or where was the worst section of your journey and did you end up with front and rear lockers? Thanks for the nice web site.
Dave Boyer

[EMrider]

Super website and pics. Thanks for sharing.
R

[charlie56]

Originally Posted by daveb

Charlie you must have been runnin to get all that in with so short of trip! What or where was the worst section of your journey and did you end up with front and rear lockers? Thanks for the nice web site.
Dave Boyer

This was our first trip to DV so we wanted to take the whirlwind approach and see as much as we possibly could. Its definitely on our list to go back (next year), slow down and concentrate in selected areas.

Worst? there was no "worst" we enjoyed every place we visited. The most "challenging" was Mengel Pass. (I only have front lockers). The photos in Seth's report are exactly at the toughest location. Between the Geologist Cabin and the Pass. The ranger at Furnace creek said there was no way a full size van would make it over the top. YEAH RIGHT!

Saline Valley Road "washboard" was the least enjoyable. We aired down to 28psi but could not find a comfortable speed range above 15mph.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by charlie56

The ranger at Furnace creek said there was no way a full size van would make it over the top. YEAH RIGHT!

Yes they said the same thing until they saw "VAN".
As far as the roads I was wondering how bad they got after the rains in January but they seemed OK in all the pics I'm looking at. I'm also planning USAL road are there many places to camp and would you take a SMB trailer on it. I don't know what kind of traffic but if there is a place to park a trailer (a camp to base out of) I would like to take it. Any thoughts?
Dave Boyer

[charlie56]

When I took Usal Road (March 1st) it wasn’t completely open. Its about 25 miles from Hwy 1 to 4 corners (the end). I got 23 miles into it and was stopped by a 36â€

[daveb]

Thanks Charlie, I really want to check it out. Sounds like you were a little early but that is what I look for. Trips like that are better when you team up for sure. I really like the remote feeling but 1 or 2 vehicles around is nice without the crowds. Thanks
Dave Boyer.