Had a friend get married at Death Valley's famed Furnace Creek Inn, so I decided to take a few days and run around a bit. Met some new people, ran into a wind/sand storm and enjoyed a little solitude and "me" time.
Trip ran seven days and a bit over 800 miles. Covered the lowest point in the continental U.S. (Badwater at 282 ft. below sea level) and headed out to the highest (Mt. Whitney at 14,505'), but was stopped by closures in the Eastern Sierra. Overall temps ranged from 90+ to the low30s. The X ran and did great, but I would caution anyone making solo runs in remote places to make sure their vehicles are in as good a shape as possible. Breaking down and getting help in some areas is a tough deal, so I spent a little extra time going over everything and making sure the gear is in good shape.
Didn't get to break out the large format camera (too much sand and wind) but got a few snaps. After spending three days at Furnace Creek and a fourth night to resupply at Stovepipe Wells, I headed for the Racetrack Playa. Was surprised to find that much of the paths across the valleys have been recently graded and I found I saved much gas by traveling slower across the washboard tracks in 4 low, fourth gear, instead of lugging along in 2 high and second gear.
First camp at the end of the race track, by the Lippencott Mine.
Death Valley runabout
Here's my campmate -- Bub.
Death Valley runabout
Next morning I dropped down the Lippencott Mine trail into the Saline Valley and too the South Pass north, heading for the springs. Winds were picking up, as was the dust. Had hoped to photograph the salt tram and marsh, but sand was getting too much. Turned in to "Batrock Road" toward the oasis.
Death Valley runabout
Random sculpture along side the road.
Death Valley runabout
Once I hit the springs, the winds got stronger and the sand started flying. Relaxed at the springs for a bit, but was then forced to retire to the back of the X for a while. Got a small break in the winds where I could pitch the tent and strap it to the roof, but winds got back up to 40+, meaning no cooking. Stayed hunkered down overall for about 14 hours.
Death Valley runabout
Next morning I decided to head out via Steel Pass toward Eureka Dunes. A storm was expected to drop new rain and snow that could make travel in the passes difficult to impassible. Ran into one couple coming the other way who said it was already raining in the canyon, but I pushed on to beat as much of the weather as possible.
The path out.
Death Valley runabout
Some geology.
Death Valley runabout
Heading toward the canyon pass where the clouds began darkening. Lots of Joshua Trees in this area.
Death Valley runabout
Steel Pass has three mild stair steps in its midst. Lots of coloring on the rocks and, if you poke about, ancient petroglyphs. With the threat of bad weather, I kept moving. It would take some hiking and climbing to see the good stuff and while I wanted to poke around more, I figured I'll come back another time. Weather was holding, though.
Death Valley runabout
Death Valley runabout
Death Valley runabout
First sight of dunes with the Eastern Sierra looming.
Death Valley runabout
At Eureka Dunes. Normally a very nice place to stay, but was starting to get rain on the windshield at this point
Death Valley runabout
Bypassed the dunes in favor of heading to my next stop, Whitney Portal of I-395 at the town of Lone Pine. On the road out, a quick at-speed shot while driving of the Eastern Sierra overlooking the White Mountains. Though you could open up a trophy truck on this road, with only 20 psi in the tires I kept it to a more leisurely 50-mph pace.
Death Valley runabout
Pulled out on the highway at Big Pine, passing through the part of the Inyo forest that is home to the oldest living things on Earth, the ancient Bristlecone Pines living above 10,000 feet. Found a campsite below the snow line by a creek and enjoyed a big ol' double cheeseburger.
The storm had slammed into the Eastern Sierra and stayed there, making the weather really nice the next few days. The next morning I headed up to Mt. Whitney to play and found this. Doh!
Death Valley runabout
Tried a few other, double-top secret ways across the pass (that everyone else knows about too, apparently) but no luck. Decided to play around in the Alabama Hills, where all kinds of movies have been filmed, from old 20s westerns and Gunga Din to Iron Man. Lots of places to explore and travel in this area that continues almost all the way up to the Manzanar Internment Camp from the 40s.
Death Valley runabout
Climb up to size up the gap.
Death Valley runabout
Snug fit; rode the sidewalls this and the next spot out.
Death Valley runabout
End of the road. Aimed out to the highway, picked up some beef jerky and a coke and headed home.
Death Valley runabout
All in all a good trip. The whole time I kept thinking that it was the first time I ever headed out into the back-country with a suit in my gear.
