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Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,680,939 times
Reputation: 2622
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That is jacket weather in DV!
I assume the op will be driving a car, as long as he sticks to pavement, he will be a happy camper. If he goes off onto the dirt, all bets are off. so, OP, stick to pavement, your undercarriage clearance and your tires will get you into trouble.
I vaguely remember hearing about it in the past. In late June, I met two Dutch guys who had spent about 10 days in California and Las Vegas, and they were going on and on about Death Valley. I couldn't understand why someone would come all the way from Europe to go there. Especially a first time visitor to the US?
I vaguely remember hearing about it in the past. In late June, I met two Dutch guys who had spent about 10 days in California and Las Vegas, and they were going on and on about Death Valley. I couldn't understand why someone would come all the way from Europe to go there. Especially a first time visitor to the US?
Enlighten me please.
I'd imagine that Death Valley would be especially fascinating to Europeans since it would be so different from what they'd normally experience. Deserts don't appeal to everyone, but a subset of humans are absolutely enthralled by them. I knew a Spaniard who really enjoyed experiencing the 120+ degree temps of the DV summer.
If your conception of DV is just baked nothingness, you're dead (heh) wrong. DV is vast and very diverse, with all kinds of weirdness and unexpected sites like a waterfall.
That famous rock formation at Zabriskie Point looks like a gigantic fossilized trilobite. The panoramic view of the valley from Dante's View gave me that same sense of hugeness that I got from the Grand Canyon. The hexagonal, dried out "plates" at Badwater and the spiky formations at Devil's Golf Course will make you question whether you're still on Earth.
DV is huge with long driving distances between the major sites. It's forbidding even in a modern, air-conditioned car. It really makes you appreciate the fact that pioneers crossed it in covered wagons.
I had a similar attitude to yours and was completely surprised by the place. Definitely a California gem.
p.s. I went around November (I think) so highs were only around 80 while there was some snow in the mountain passes while entering the park.
I'd imagine that Death Valley would be especially fascinating to Europeans since it would be so different from what they'd normally experience. Deserts don't appeal to everyone, but a subset of humans are absolutely enthralled by them. I knew a Spaniard who really enjoyed experiencing the 120+ degree temps of the DV summer.
If your conception of DV is just baked nothingness, you're dead (heh) wrong. DV is vast and very diverse, with all kinds of weirdness and unexpected sites like a waterfall.
That famous rock formation at Zabriskie Point looks like a gigantic fossilized trilobite. The panoramic view of the valley from Dante's View gave me that same sense of hugeness that I got from the Grand Canyon. The hexagonal, dried out "plates" at Badwater and the spiky formations at Devil's Golf Course will make you question whether you're still on Earth.
DV is huge with long driving distances between the major sites. It's forbidding even in a modern, air-conditioned car. It really makes you appreciate the fact that pioneers crossed it in covered wagons.
I had a similar attitude to yours and was completely surprised by the place. Definitely a California gem.
p.s. I went around November (I think) so highs were only around 80 while there was some snow in the mountain passes while entering the park.
Dead right! When we went a couple of years ago there were a group of Germans also visiting, who were quite fascinated with the place.
We went when it was really hot (May) and to get around the heat problems, we went out early in the morning and finished up by noon. Hid in our motel room in the afternoon and then ventured out in the evening to swim in the pool and eat.
I'd imagine that Death Valley would be especially fascinating to Europeans since it would be so different from what they'd normally experience. Deserts don't appeal to everyone, but a subset of humans are absolutely enthralled by them. I knew a Spaniard who really enjoyed experiencing the 120+ degree temps of the DV summer.
If your conception of DV is just baked nothingness, you're dead (heh) wrong. DV is vast and very diverse, with all kinds of weirdness and unexpected sites like a waterfall.
That famous rock formation at Zabriskie Point looks like a gigantic fossilized trilobite. The panoramic view of the valley from Dante's View gave me that same sense of hugeness that I got from the Grand Canyon. The hexagonal, dried out "plates" at Badwater and the spiky formations at Devil's Golf Course will make you question whether you're still on Earth.
DV is huge with long driving distances between the major sites. It's forbidding even in a modern, air-conditioned car. It really makes you appreciate the fact that pioneers crossed it in covered wagons.
I had a similar attitude to yours and was completely surprised by the place. Definitely a California gem.
p.s. I went around November (I think) so highs were only around 80 while there was some snow in the mountain passes while entering the park.
I will check it out. Promise But NEVER in summer because I am not a heat lover. Gotta be cool for me.
By the way, how do you see all the different areas? Driving through? Walking? How big is the area???
Thanks for your perspective. It's way better than checking google
Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,680,939 times
Reputation: 2622
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsIzzy
I will check it out. Promise But NEVER in summer because I am not a heat lover. Gotta be cool for me.
By the way, how do you see all the different areas? Driving through? Walking? How big is the area???
Thanks for your perspective. It's way better than checking google
I have spent forty years visiting DV, I have come to know the place well.
The Park is hugh, 5262 square miles (13630 km2) 3,336,000 acres. the basic geography is horst and graben.. What that means is; on the west is a graben, a large flat valley, Panamint Valley, Then a horst, the Panamint Range, then another Graben, Death Valley, and another horst, the Funeral mountains.
Each of these areas are full of things to see and experience. What one can see by sedan type car is limited to the paved roads and some mild dirt. What one can see from a Jeep! I have spent great amounts of time over the years in DV and I have not seen everything on my list.
There are high peaks, ghost towns, jeep trails that can curl your hair, back country cabins to stay in.
Here, some photos
Scotty's Castle
An upland valley, hours up a dirt road.
Me, at the infamous Chicken Rock.
Old Compadres at one of those back country cabins, this one just happens to be Charlie Manson's old digs.
I have spent forty years visiting DV, I have come to know the place well.
The Park is hugh, 5262 square miles (13630 km2) 3,336,000 acres. the basic geography is horst and graben.. What that means is; on the west is a graben, a large flat valley, Panamint Valley, Then a horst, the Panamint Range, then another Graben, Death Valley, and another horst, the Funeral mountains.
Each of these areas are full of things to see and experience. What one can see by sedan type car is limited to the paved roads and some mild dirt. What one can see from a Jeep! I have spent great amounts of time over the years in DV and I have not seen everything on my list.
There are high peaks, ghost towns, jeep trails that can curl your hair, back country cabins to stay in.
Here, some photos
Scotty's Castle
An upland valley, hours up a dirt road.
Me, at the infamous Chicken Rock.
Old Compadres at one of those back country cabins, this one just happens to be Charlie Manson's old digs.
OMG Those photos are amazing! I had no idea how large the area is. So definitely rent a jeep for a trip there, huh?
And is that the horrible Charles Manson you're talking about? The scumbag, low life, maggot that is still alive?
See, I'm so impressed already I did a search for a link with photos. How long a drive from Bakers?
You can rent a Jeep at Furnace Creek Inn, pay attention to what the rental people tell you about where to go, and where not to go.
People do drive out, get stuck and die.
Don't let that scare you though, the rental people will be able to tell you safe but fun places to drive to.
Ubehebe Crater and Scotty's Castle are great, the Race Track is a great place and a fun and safe drive, don't go down Lippincott.
The Inyo Mine road is fun and the Inyo Mine is great to explore.
Chloride Cliff is a bit thrilling, and you can see the lowest spot and highest spot in the 48 states Badwater and Mt Whitney from the same spot.
The West Side road is a good drive with lots of history to see.
A side trip up Trail Canyon to some cabins is a good one.
Manson is alive, but locked up. His place was very cool, but spooky, my friends staying there did so inspite of the obvious creepy feeling there. There are reputed to be a number of bodies buried in the area. Charlie would send his girls out to the road to pick up rides from guys in VW, invite them back to the ranch, where Charlie would kill them, bury them and keep the VW.
The ranch burn't a couple of years ago when some other people staying in the house tipped over their cook stove and the place went up.
The road in from Baker is scenic, take 127 to Death Valley Junction.
The usual route from the Los Angeles area is to take 14 or 395, cutting off at Johannesburg to Trona, Trona to Panamint Valley, stop for a beer and sit on the porch at Panamint Springs Resort and you may well see navy fighters at 500 knts through the valley below you... Then cross over Townes pass on Hiway 190 into Death Valley proper.
You can rent a Jeep at Furnace Creek Inn, pay attention to what the rental people tell you about where to go, and where not to go.
People do drive out, get stuck and die.
Don't let that scare you though, the rental people will be able to tell you safe but fun places to drive to.
Ubehebe Crater and Scotty's Castle are great, the Race Track is a great place and a fun and safe drive, don't go down Lippincott.
The Inyo Mine road is fun and the Inyo Mine is great to explore.
Chloride Cliff is a bit thrilling, and you can see the lowest spot and highest spot in the 48 states Badwater and Mt Whitney from the same spot.
The West Side road is a good drive with lots of history to see.
A side trip up Trail Canyon to some cabins is a good one.
Manson is alive, but locked up. His place was very cool, but spooky, my friends staying there did so inspite of the obvious creepy feeling there. There are reputed to be a number of bodies buried in the area. Charlie would send his girls out to the road to pick up rides from guys in VW, invite them back to the ranch, where Charlie would kill them, bury them and keep the VW.
The ranch burn't a couple of years ago when some other people staying in the house tipped over their cook stove and the place went up.
The road in from Baker is scenic, take 127 to Death Valley Junction.
The usual route from the Los Angeles area is to take 14 or 395, cutting off at Johannesburg to Trona, Trona to Panamint Valley, stop for a beer and sit on the porch at Panamint Springs Resort and you may well see navy fighters at 500 knts through the valley below you... Then cross over Townes pass on Hiway 190 into Death Valley proper.
Anything to do with Manson gives me shivers.
Who knew about all these wonderful sights in that area. Just goes to show. I travel all over Europe and miss out on some amazing stuff right here in the good USA Never too late though.
DV is now on my bucket list
Thanks for the tips. Can't believe people would be so dumb to go out there, get stuck and die. I'll be super careful, GPS and the whole nine yards. I would want to research such a trip ahead of time and have a good, safe, plan so we come back from an enjoyable adventure alive!
Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,680,939 times
Reputation: 2622
GPS is how one woman killed her kid and her dog. DON'T USE GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, EXCEPT ON ASPHALT IN THE PARK
She was a nurse from Las Vegas, she was trying to get to Ballarat, her navigation system took her up a dirt road, the road ended but her system showed a road, she drove further following the directions, hit a hole, got stuck, her boy 10 years old and dog died of thirst a week later.
The Park Service has been trying to get Garmin and the other companies to delete roads that never existed or no longer exist, but show on the systems, they are flat dangerous.
There are rangers, the chance of seeing one out side of the developed areas is slim to none. There are two marked trails that I know of in 3,000,000 acres.
There is little distance hiking done by the average visitor, You either hike on the flats, or up canyons in the hills.
For instance, there is a canyon with a use trail, not a maintained trail, 6 miles long, climbs 6,000 feet, the first three miles you are walking in water through a very nice creek. At the end of the hike at 7,000 feet is a fine ghost town with usable cabins.
I did not identify it, the Death Valley back country is best learned slow and careful. Saves on Search and Rescue costs.
By the way are you familiar with SPOT? I never go out into the woods, Mountains or deserts without it. http://findmespot.com/en/
It saved my life, it could save yours.
Just use the AAA Map and the Park Service map. If it has been an hour since you last saw someone, you are in the wrong place, turn around and go back. And just incase take two full gallons of drinking water, plus your daily water bottle or Camelback.
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. I couldn't understand why someone would come all the way from Europe to go there.
But NEVER in summer because I am not a heat lover. Gotta be cool for me. 
Never too late though.
