Death Valley Snow & Road Report 2012/2013

[christian]

Originally Posted by Lost Rider

As of today no ice on south pass, or over hunter mountain, and Cerro gordo is passable with minimal ice thats easily avoidable. Perfect weather around DV now. (:


This was a Mobile posting using Tapatalk App

Excellent ! going there in 10 days. I hope it stays that way - I'd like to do hunter, never been there.

[ShadyRascal]

Originally Posted by christian

Excellent ! going there in 10 days. I hope it stays that way - I'd like to do hunter, never been there.

Same here. 7 of us trailering down on the 15th for a couple days riding.

[traveltoad]

'Tis the season! We'll be there in a couple weeks as well.

[2on2off]

Wow.......this is all great news about the current conditions. Might be out there this weekend.

Just remember that conditions change with each storm that comes through so check the weather report.

One winter, about 5 years ago, while coming down to the intersection of Lippencott Mine Road and Saline Valley Road, I talked with some college students in an Acura (they had already had one flat and one rear quarter panel has been ripped off by some rocks). They wanted directions to the Hot Springs so we helped them out. The weather was great that day but later that night it snowed on north and south pass so they were probably stuck at the hot springs for I don't know how long.

In a situation like that, you can only ride out Lippencott or Steele Pass so be prepared to do that or wait it out at the Hot Springs if the weather suddenly changes because a snow storm can close both North and South Pass.

The weather forecast for this weekend looks good with a chance of rain on Friday.

The BMW Airhead Rally will be at Furnace Creek Feb 15-18 for those interested.

[Lost Rider]

Swansea Cerro gordo is also passable, though there is some snow left @9000 feet. Luckily a jeep had been through there and busted many of the big drifts. According to the tram cabin logbook nobody but me and 1 jeep been through there in a long time. No packed ice with no traffic, just snow. Was warm mid day up there, snow was melting and supported the bike weight where deep for the most part. Played on some snowy single track up in there mountains too, been a good solo exploring trip with no loops needed, camped where I felt. Almost connected to salt tram from saline without going on Cerro gordo... Needed a partner to get any further.
Hunter and hidden valley, cerro godro to salt tram are good to go.
More road info to follow along with some photos.

Swansea Cerro gordo, 9200'


This was a Mobile posting using Tapatalk App

[LeDakaR!]

[2on2off]

This crew will be at the Airhead Rally Feb 15 at Furnace Creek on a couple of their own Airheads.

I posted this with the Tapatalk App just to see how it works. I like that you can take a pic with a smartphone while on the trail and then upload it when you have a cell signal. I plan to do this on my next trip to the desert so I can post "real time" pics and updates like Lost Rider has been doing. Now I have to figure out if I can upload video as well. Looks like a great app especially since I mainly take pics and video with my iPhone these days and don't carry a camera very often.

[2on2off]

I finally talked my wife into riding with me to Death Valley on the street bike so I want to make sure she has a good time.

We will be riding over highway 155 through Shirley Meadows and into Lake Isabella and then on highway 178 to Ridgecrest.

Then we will ride in Death Valley on Saturday and Sunday.

Has anyone recently been on highway 155 through Shirley Meadows? I'd like to know what condition the road is in and how much snow is on the side of the road. We will be riding through that area this Friday about 5:00 p.m. and I don't think there will be any ice on the road but would like to hear from anyone who has ridden it lately.

My wife decided recently to start riding with me again so I made a deal with her that if she would really ride with me, I would let her pick out the bike that is most comfortable for her while sitting behind me. We tested four street bikes, including the new BMW K1600LT, and after selling my BMW R1200GSA, which wasn't that comfortable for her, this is what she picked out. She wanted to know why I never bought one before. Now she loves to go riding with me and this will be our 4th trip. She is very comfortable and going longer distances is no problem for her now.

[IMG][/IMG]

P.S. We will be dressed warmer than in the picture. A happy wife = a happy life.........and I get to ride more.

[C5INC]

Originally Posted by ShadyRascal

Same here. 7 of us trailering down on the 15th for a couple days riding.

Watch for fellow Montana'ians! Blue Dodge pulling a white trailer from Helena to Mesquite, NV tomorrow. Tiger XC, Wee-strom, GSA. Day riding from Mesquite for a week. Have fun!

[christian]

Your wife need to talk to my wife....
I'd buy that to have her ride with me..

Originally Posted by 2on2off

I finally talked my wife into riding with me to Death Valley on the street bike so I want to make sure she has a good time.

We will be riding over highway 155 through Shirley Meadows and into Lake Isabella and then on highway 178 to Ridgecrest.

Then we will ride in Death Valley on Saturday and Sunday.

Has anyone recently been on highway 155 through Shirley Meadows? I'd like to know what condition the road is in and how much snow is on the side of the road. We will be riding through that area this Friday about 5:00 p.m. and I don't think there will be any ice on the road but would like to hear from anyone who has ridden it lately.

My wife decided recently to start riding with me again so I made a deal with her that if she would really ride with me, I would let her pick out the bike that is most comfortable for her while sitting behind me. We tested four street bikes, including the new BMW K1600LT, and after selling my BMW R1200GSA, which wasn't that comfortable for her, this is what she picked out. She wanted to know why I never bought one before. Now she loves to go riding with me and this will be our 4th trip. She is very comfortable and going longer distances is no problem for her now.

[IMG][/IMG]

P.S. We will be dressed warmer than in the picture. A happy wife = a happy life.........and I get to ride more.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by 2on2off

I finally talked my wife into riding with me to Death Valley on the street bike so I want to make sure she has a good time.

We will be riding over highway 155 through Shirley Meadows and into Lake Isabella and then on highway 178 to Ridgecrest.

Then we will ride in Death Valley on Saturday and Sunday.

Has anyone recently been on highway 155 through Shirley Meadows?

I gave up at 2,000 feet last Friday, no way in hell I was gonna make the 6k summit with snow that low already.




The shaded section near the cabins on the west side is always icy this time of year, skip the stress and ice, take 178 and keep her happy.

[2on2off]

Originally Posted by larryboy

I gave up at 2,000 feet last Friday, no way in hell I was gonna make the 6k summit with snow that low already.




The shaded section near the cabins on the west side is always icy this time of year, skip the stress and ice, take 178 and keep her happy.

Rob:

Thanks for the update. You never know what to expect this time of year.

[northleftcoast]

Anyone know if the Pleasant Cyn/South Park loop is relatively snow and ice free?

We'll be camping at Panamint Springs and riding Sunday-Thursday Morning. Looks like a little moisture possible Tuesday/Wednesday, but otherwise dry the next few days.

Thanks

[2on2off]

Decided to chance it today and ride highway 155 through Shirley Meadows.

The sigh was out that said "Extremely Icy Conditions next 10 miles". It was a warm day and no storms so we went for it.

There was no ice or snow on the road today but there was a lot of sand on this road, with some wet spots.

It dropped from from 60 degrees at the bottom of the hill to 40 degrees at the summit where the pass reaches 6,100 ft

We reached the Alta Sierra Ski area at 6:00 pm and rode to Lake Isabella and then into Ridgecrest.

Larryboy was right in that we should have taken 178 instead of 155. The sand made it a very slow ride and any lite rain with freezing temps would have made this road unrideable.

[LeDakaR!]

Yeah larryboy!