Death Valley trip planning

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Archive 2010 · Death Valley trip planning

evosia
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p.2 #1 · Death Valley trip planning

Thanks for the info Greg and Steve

I'll rent the jeep. After a brief stop at the Racetrack, I'll take it to the top of MT Whitney. Woohoo!

- Joe Sixpack

Feb 09, 2010 at 06:53 PM

Steve Sieren
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p.2 #2 · Death Valley trip planning

Way to get the milage out of it! Better try that from the backside of Whitney

You better take a picture too or else we won't believe you! Crazy Joe.

SS

Feb 09, 2010 at 06:59 PM

SHVv
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p.2 #3 · Death Valley trip planning

evosia wrote:
I've been thinking about a trip to DV. Thanks for the great info.

Wondering how bad the road is driving out to Racetrack. I have a Honda Civic. Any worse than the road to Patriarch Grove in the Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest in the White Mountains? And if I do get in trouble (like get 2 flat tires), would AAA come get me out?

When I drove out there, I saw four other cars on the road and two were changing tires. The problem with having car trouble is you are unlikely to have cell service. However, when I was standing out on the Race Track, my cell phone rings and it's my girl friend call from 1,500 mile away. I then did a "find the service" walk about and that was the only place that had service..weird.

Steve

Feb 09, 2010 at 07:20 PM

Peter Sims
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p.2 #4 · Death Valley trip planning

Greg Campbell wrote:
Justin Huffman wrote:
try and get your hands on an IR body (or filter) for mid day shooting. DVNP comes to life in the Infrared spectrum

Indeed!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightchaser/1702781394/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_decell/4331276149/
etc.

Peter, I don't suppose you have an old, unloved film body laying about? You can buy some IR film and an opaque (72, 93) filter on Ebay for the cost of a tank of gas. Cheap fun!

I do (Canon FTQL with 28, 50, and 135 lenses) but the mirror is stuck up and it needs new seals and CLA before I start running film through it. Unfortunately that would come out to several tanks of gas.

Maybe next time. It's on my to do list and then I have an IR camera, huzzah!

Feb 09, 2010 at 07:50 PM

ragebot
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p.2 #5 · Death Valley trip planning

Just a quick comment about Beatty, it is in NV, not CA and the difference in the price of gas at Furnace Creek and Beatty is about $US1 or more per gallon. Beatty is about 3-4k feet elevation and there is a rest stop on the assent that offers a great view of DV. I also got some pix of burros just outside of Beatty, and it was worth a stop at Rhyolite (located about a mile from Beatty) which was the largest town in DV in the day. It is a ghost town now and is the location of several buildings in various states of ill repair as well as the glass bottle house which is built completely out of glass bottles. All paved roads and easy drives.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Feb 09, 2010 at 07:53 PM

gdanmitchell
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p.2 #6 · Death Valley trip planning

SHVv wrote:
My favorite location is the racetrack, but it's a few hours drive from Badwater.
**********
And the road is rough and hard on tires but well worth the drive.

Steve

And right now you should not go there. The road is apparently open again, though not in great shape. But, more important... THE PLAYA IS MUDDY.

DO NOT WALK ON THE MUDDY PLAYA!

Footprints left by inconsiderate people who did this in the past have lasted for years.

If you want to visit the Racetrack, wait until it dries thoroughly. Going now will mean that a) you miss the rocks, or b) you end up being one of those thoughtless jerks who wanders on the muddy playa. I know you aren't b) and you don't want to be a).

Save the Racetrack trip for later. Seriously.

Dan

Edited on Feb 09, 2010 at 09:55 PM · View previous versions

Feb 09, 2010 at 09:50 PM

gdanmitchell
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p.2 #7 · Death Valley trip planning

evosia wrote:
I've been thinking about a trip to DV. Thanks for the great info.

Wondering how bad the road is driving out to Racetrack. I have a Honda Civic. Any worse than the road to Patriarch Grove in the Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest in the White Mountains? And if I do get in trouble (like get 2 flat tires), would AAA come get me out?

If you have been to the highest grove in the BCP forest, you drove a road that was not quite as bad as the road to the Racetrack, and you drove fewer miles on dirt/gravel.

I have driven there a number of times and I recommend not going there in a Civic or similar vehicle. I don't think you necessarily need AWD or 4WD, but you do need more ground clearance. You can rent 4WD vehicles at Furnace Creek.

There is no cell service - or any other kind of service - on the Racetrack road. If you have a breakdown you are in for a long wait while the person you flag down drives out and (you hope) contacts a towing company. The cost of the tow will be astronomical.

Dan

Feb 09, 2010 at 09:53 PM

evosia
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p.2 #8 · Death Valley trip planning

Thanks Dan. Sounds like the $175/day for the Jeep rental is well worth it. Drive out there mid day, shoot the sunset, spend the night doing some time lapse, wake up to shoot sunrise, and then return the jeep.

I'll probably head out there for a weekend in late march/early april. Now this definitely not a good time. Been raining here in SoCal the last few weeks so it must be muddy/wet over there right now.

Feb 09, 2010 at 10:05 PM

gdanmitchell
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p.2 #9 · Death Valley trip planning

evosia wrote:
Thanks Dan. Sounds like the $175/day for the Jeep rental is well worth it. Drive out there mid day, shoot the sunset, spend the night doing some time lapse, wake up to shoot sunrise, and then return the jeep.

I'll probably head out there for a weekend in late march/early april. Now this definitely not a good time. Been raining here in SoCal the last few weeks so it must be muddy/wet over there right now.

It is reportedly quite a mess right now. (http://www.maturango.org/DeathV.html) The official work is don't go on the playa at all right now even though the road is passable. Many other roads in the park are reportedly closed.

I've rescheduled my visit for the end of March. That time through the first week of April or so will probably be better this year, and there is a chance that the wildflowers will be special then, too.

Feb 09, 2010 at 10:29 PM

PaulS
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p.2 #10 · Death Valley trip planning

evosia wrote:
I'll probably head out there for a weekend in late march/early april. Now this definitely not a good time. Been raining here in SoCal the last few weeks so it must be muddy/wet over there right now.

I will also be out there about the same time. I missed the wildflowers back in 2005... and the washed out roads

Also looking forward to seeing Badwater when it it hopefully more than a puddle.

Paul

Feb 09, 2010 at 10:33 PM

dennismock
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p.2 #11 · Death Valley trip planning

How is the ride from 395 to stovepipe? Will I run across any snowy roads or anything I should be aware of? Thanks

Feb 09, 2010 at 10:48 PM

Peter Sims
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p.2 #12 · Death Valley trip planning

Hmmm, maybe I'll go in March. Sounds like it's going to be pretty muddy for a little while.

Feb 10, 2010 at 12:17 AM

Rags Hef
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p.2 #13 · Death Valley trip planning

I would recommend considering Dumont Dunes. Southern part of DV, but is a CA park. The dunes are clean and not well walked on.

Darwin Falls is also nice if it's sunny

I'm going in 2nd week in March

Rags

Feb 10, 2010 at 12:41 AM

evosia
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p.2 #14 · Death Valley trip planning

Just got my camp site reservations at Stovepipe for this coming weekend! Took a few days of checking for last minute cancellations and one finally came through.

Anyone else planning to be there this weekend?

Looking forward to doing some timelapse/night photography out in the Racetrack!

Henry

Mar 16, 2010 at 11:10 PM

Ben Horne
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p.2 #15 · Death Valley trip planning

dennismock wrote:
How is the ride from 395 to stovepipe? Will I run across any snowy roads or anything I should be aware of? Thanks

Whenever there is snow up there, they are quick to plow it. When I was leaving there last month, it snowed several inches overnight. It was already plowed when I left early that morning.

Mar 16, 2010 at 11:55 PM

floris
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p.2 #16 · Death Valley trip planning

evosia wrote:
would AAA come get me out?

For $170/hr, if you can reach them with a satellite phone...

Mar 17, 2010 at 02:03 AM

evosia
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p.2 #17 · Death Valley trip planning

I'm planning to rent a jeep for racetrack. The rental comes with a satellite phone in case I run into trouble!

Mar 17, 2010 at 02:07 AM

gdanmitchell
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p.2 #18 · Death Valley trip planning

I'll be there starting around the 26th. Will wing it as far as camping goes and plan to get out to the Racetrack on at least one night.

Dan

Mar 17, 2010 at 02:16 AM

Justin Huffman
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p.2 #19 · Death Valley trip planning

gdanmitchell wrote:
I'll be there starting around the 26th. Will wing it as far as camping goes and plan to get out to the Racetrack on at least one night.

Dan

Dan - probably miss you by a day... ill be there 24-27.

Mar 17, 2010 at 02:24 AM

David Leask
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p.2 #20 · Death Valley trip planning

Peter - if it was me (and I wish it was) I would make sure I hit Zabriskie Point and Stovepipe Wells Sand Dunes on the two mornings you are there. During the day on Saturday you might want to go to Badwater or maybe even Scotty's Castle. I think the Racetrack is a step too far for such a short trip (but don't miss it next time!). Evening locations for me would include Artists Palette and Golden Canyon.
David

Mar 17, 2010 at 04:26 AM

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