Death Valley

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3leggedturtle
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Death Valley

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Is it nice in the winter? "RV camping" close by? I wanna do a WARM south west winter trip next winter. Todd/3leg
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AmBraCol
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Re: Death Valley

Post by AmBraCol »

Well, here's a 10 day forecast. Right now (February 26, 2021) it looks fairly livable for the next week and a half. Can't answer as to RV sites and such. If you're going to visit, this is the time of year to do so. Don't forget to take PLENTY of water - even though it's relatively cool. Desert travel any time of the year can be a deadly experience if you don't have the requisite hydration available.

Death Valley, 10 Day Forecast
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earlmck
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Re: Death Valley

Post by earlmck »

Yep -- generally pretty nice. Good place to escape to in the winter. Good friend of mine likes to go through there on their way to Quartzite area in Arizona which becomes a city of RV's for several months through the late Fall through early Spring.
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Blaine
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Re: Death Valley

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The one time I drove thru it was EOM Sept....quite pleasant. There was snow in the high mtn east entrance to Yosemite...that was a little tricky to get thru.
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Re: Death Valley

Post by Griff »

March thru the 1st week in April is the optimum time to visit. Desert will be going into bloom, and the flora is fantastic! Still cool enough to be chilly at nite, but gets warm during the day... Also remember, the desert floor is BELOW sea level. Sun protection, even when cool is necessary! Several places for off-road adventures... at least back in the day. Scotty's Castle is worth a trip, plan to arrive when it opens and take all the tours.
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marlinman93
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Re: Death Valley

Post by marlinman93 »

Over 30 years ago my wife inherited 11 acres of land between 395 and Death Valley when her dad died. Never been there to even look at it, but always planned to go. I'd like to camp out on the property and make some day trips into Death Valley.
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Old Savage
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Re: Death Valley

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Supposed to be in the 70s. MM93 we will be going right through that area on to Beatty, NV then Amargosa Valley
then golf at the lowest course in the US. Already played up at Mt. Whitney, NJ, PA and Hawaii.
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Re: Death Valley

Post by JOG »

I was always afraid to go to the desert areas, what with my Irish and Scandinavian skin. I thought that I might spontaneously combust!
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Grizz
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Re: Death Valley

Post by Grizz »

i LOVE Death Valley. In the winter. I can't even stand the Owens Valley in summer. Killer heat.

But in the winter? My Oh My, it's spectacular. Very quiet. I camp in my car and try to spend as many days as I can when I am traveling through. Sometimes I go there on both ends of a road trip. It is legal to sleep on the shoulder of the road, and you can tell by tracks which wide out is wide enough. There are also camp grounds that are nice, if you like neighbors.

If you like isolation, you can find it there. You can download the USPS maps, there are two. One is the primitive roads. There are lots of abandoned mines and other sights and delights. The other is the paved park roads and the sightseeing spots.

I like november after the daytime temps moderate, and december and january. I like cold weather. I hate hot weather. This means I explore the park when the tourist load is smallest.
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Re: Death Valley

Post by shasta_steve »

When I used to live in the desert in Victorville. My parents would go to go to Tecopa, just outside of Death Valley, every winter. They have lots of RV places and they have hot springs and mineral baths everywhere. Was nice at the end of the day to go soak in the hot tubs. Was not too far to run over to Pahrump Nevada to pick up groceries or hit up a casino.
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Re: Death Valley

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Just don’t be there when the Yosemite volcano decides to blow...
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Old Savage
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Re: Death Valley

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Drove into Death Valley as the sun was setting, Drove out as the full moon was rising.
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Re: Death Valley

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Do not forget to shake out your shoes or boots in the desert before you put them on. Scorpions and centipedes can cause you some real pain.
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Re: Death Valley

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Old Savage wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 10:14 pm Drove into Death Valley as the sun was setting, Drove out as the full moon was rising.
couple of winters ago i was at the ubehebe crater for the supermoon moonrise. got some pictures of that, then in the morning caught the moon setting onto the sun redden rock ridge west of me. if i stumble on them i'll post. 2 times when i really regretted not having the right equipment to actually photograph it.
Last edited by Grizz on Sat Feb 27, 2021 12:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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jeepnik
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Re: Death Valley

Post by jeepnik »

earlmck wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 2:30 pm Yep -- generally pretty nice. Good place to escape to in the winter. Good friend of mine likes to go through there on their way to Quartzite area in Arizona which becomes a city of RV's for several months through the late Fall through early Spring.
Quartzite is much slower this year. Most of the big events and manufacturer events are canceled. There is one this week for some Grand Design folks, but it's unofficial with little or no retail or manufacturer presence. Still Quartzite is fun. DV is great this time of year, but it can get down right cold at night, it's a desert thing. Check with https://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm for the best info.
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Re: Death Valley

Post by jeepnik »

AJMD429 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:56 pm Just don’t be there when the Yosemite volcano decides to blow...
If it goes it won't really matter anywhere in that corner of the southwest. Heck, any part of the southwest. But why worry, Yellowstone will likely go first and kill everything on the planet.
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3leggedturtle
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Re: Death Valley

Post by 3leggedturtle »

I haven't been to the Grand Canyon either, YET! Spesking of scorpions and tarantulas, read about prospectors that would feed them so they wouldnt hide from them in shoes and ither stuff. Hoping to try that and see if its true.
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

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Malamute
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Re: Death Valley

Post by Malamute »

In the past I never had much interest in DV and the vastness of desert around it. I had seen the pavement pictures, the common stuff most people take pictures of on paved roads and the usual tourist stuff, it just didnt appeal to me, but then, most touristy places never have appealed to me for the most part, quiet backcountry and exploring dirt roads did. In the past few years Ive seen quite a few trip reports of people 4wheeling the DV backcountry, and some on motorcycles. I didnt know there were old cabins all over the backcountry, and endless miles of dirt roads and trails, jeep or 4wd territory. Its now on my list of places to see and spend some winter time in. The cabins are first come-first serve from what I understand, people mostly leave them clean and stocked with food stuff when they leave, you just need to hit it right to get possession of one to stay there. Still, as rough as some of the roads in are, they dont get as much traffic as more easily accessible places do.

I think ld like to try it with the bike and sidecar, at least the moderately challenging roads. Ara and his dog Spirit traveled all over the west adventuring, including DV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTxAjM9JaX4

Another good one of them in Valley of the Gods Utah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov170xSx0L4
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Re: Death Valley

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The entire Desert Southwest has had folks wandering it for as long as people have been on this Continent. Mining has been done in that area. Lots of history to be found.
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Old Savage
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Re: Death Valley

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Four door Jeeps very popular out here. View from the Longstreet Inn
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Buck Elliott
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Re: Death Valley

Post by Buck Elliott »

The biggest problem you'll find in Death Valley is that it's still located in the hostile, 3rd World nation of Kalipornica...
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Blaine
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Re: Death Valley

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3leggedturtle wrote: Sat Feb 27, 2021 11:07 am I haven't been to the Grand Canyon either, YET! Spesking of scorpions and tarantulas, read about prospectors that would feed them so they wouldnt hide from them in shoes and ither stuff. Hoping to try that and see if its true.
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3leggedturtle
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Re: Death Valley

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Buck Elliott wrote: Sun Feb 28, 2021 12:55 pm The biggest problem you'll find in Death Valley is that it's still located in the hostile, 3rd World nation of Kalipornica...
Thats a bummer, forgot it was. Thanks fir the reminder, i wont be going there.
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

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Blaine
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Re: Death Valley

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3leggedturtle wrote: Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:29 pm
Buck Elliott wrote: Sun Feb 28, 2021 12:55 pm The biggest problem you'll find in Death Valley is that it's still located in the hostile, 3rd World nation of Kalipornica...
Thats a bummer, forgot it was. Thanks fir the reminder, i wont be going there.
Stick to the east side of the mtns, head up 395, then bail out at Susanville....The only horrible thing would be the price of gas. It's too scenic to pass up.
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Re: Death Valley

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Blaine I already seen and been thru and around Susanville.
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
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Blaine
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Re: Death Valley

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3leggedturtle wrote: Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:54 pm Blaine I already seen and been thru and around Susanville.
8) 8)
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Re: Death Valley

Post by Griff »

One of the most awesome events in CA is the Mule Days Celebration in Bishop, CA. If you're an equestrian or rodeo fan, this is just different enough to entertain! My wife and I went several years before we started our family, camped in the nearby campgrounds, visited the exhibits, watched the rodeo and genuinely enjoyed this celebration of the mule and facet of rural/farm/ranch life!

Actually, well worth foraying into the land of nuts, fruits and flakes... You'll see REAL AMERICANS, enjoying their unique lifestyle and hear very unpopular opinions about the "other side of the mountain!"
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Grizz
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Re: Death Valley

Post by Grizz »

it'll be hotter than blazes by the end of may, keeps me in the AC, literally, to survive. OooofDa

but if it's in Jan next year, I could make that. would love to meet some mules.

that whole DV 20 Mule Team history is mind boggling and huge. the wagon train is almost unbelievable, considering the distance, the HEAT, and the trail. HUGE.



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Re: Death Valley

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3leggedturtle wrote: Sun Feb 28, 2021 2:54 pm Blaine I already seen and been thru and around Susanville.
The road from Mount Shasta to Susanville is well worthwhile.

395 is one of my all time favorite drives, but it's more crowded every time.

the roads that cross the sierras west from 395 are ALL worth cruising.
one winter, coming back from SoCal in December, all four of them were open!!!!
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Re: Death Valley

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I used to be opposed to going to Cal, but after seeing enough trip reports and seeing humans living there, I got over it. Dont take guns they dont approve of (not too difficult for me as I dont regularly have stuff like that with me when on the road), play by their rules for the time youre there, and act respectable, and most survive going there to visit. Its worth it to me at least to be able to see some spectacular country.

Many that live there continue to claim that all of the state cant be judged by the heavily populated areas as regards firearms and outdoors related things. I eventually realized they may be telling the truth, so Im willing to try it.
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Re: Death Valley

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Sunset over Telescope Mt. from Dante's View.
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Blaine
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Re: Death Valley

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Old Savage wrote: Mon Mar 01, 2021 12:44 pm Sunset over Telescope Mt. from Dante's View.
Your camera no doubt has a light meter. Take the reading on the ground, not the sun. 8)
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Re: Death Valley

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I married a California girl. She is from Davis in Northern California. The whole State is pretty. The people in some of the more populated areas are not the sort I prefer, but that actually goes for most of the population centers in most States. Old Savage must have a high tolerance for the idiots. Either that or he just charges them more. :lol:
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3leggedturtle
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Re: Death Valley

Post by 3leggedturtle »

Piller does she know where McKinleyville is? I spent a few summers visiting there?
30/30 Winchester: Not accurate enough fer varmints, barely adequate for small deer; BUT In a 10" to 14" barrelled pistol; is good for moose/elk to 200 yards; ground squirrels to 300 metres

250 Savage... its what the 223 wishes it could be...!
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Re: Death Valley

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3leggedturtle wrote: Mon Mar 01, 2021 10:04 pm Piller does she know where McKinleyville is? I spent a few summers visiting there?
She is at work right now, but I will ask her when she gets home.
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Advanced is being able to do the basics while your leg is on fire---Bill Jeans
Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up---Robert Frost
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