Is a desert supposed to be dry? (warning: heavy in pictures)

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 04:15 PM

I missed Death Valley Daze last month and in a way I thought it was for the best considering the rain they had. Now, for President's day weekend I was sure it would be better: it's a desert after all, it's not supposed to rain like crazy for weeks, right?

And so cRAsH and me planned our traditional visit to Salines Valley. Hey, the forecast looks really bad, don't you think? Yeah, but they may be wrong and we still have a few days, it might improve. Not. Well, I think I saw a small clear spot on the radar map and I'm pretty sure it was just above DV. OK, it's going to rain. Let's give it a try anyway

.

I'm pleased to tell you: it didn't rain the whole time...

... sometimes, it snowed instead

This is on Saturday morning at Greenhorn summit on the 155, west of Lake Isabella. cRAsH on the left and Jean-Emmanuel on the right who was an incredible trooper and kept his smile and composure the whole time. His BMW is a beauty but we were amazed it could ride that well in such conditions

The day before, after a few hours of decent weather we hit some diluviens conditions especially in the 33 where we crossed some 20 yards long flooded area with a real stream running accross the road. We even saw 2 cars off the road (stuck in the mud) that had certainly try to cross one of those too quickly. It was already night when we arrived close to Bakersfield and so we decided to call it a day and crashed in a motel.

After the pass, the snow became rain and soon after Lake Isabella we were wondering if it was really worth it to continue... Then we saw a small patch of blue sky and our incorrigible optimism prevailed and off we went!

Packing wood and food at Ridgecrest...

dirtrider · 02-22-2005, 04:22 PM

traveltoad · 02-22-2005, 04:24 PM

Oh yeah... another epic J-L cRAsH ride report!!!

richard cabesa · 02-22-2005, 04:25 PM

this ought to be good

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 04:30 PM

Jean-Emmanuel was joining the Airheads group in Furnace creek and so we separated after Wildrose canyon. I'm not sure his 60/5 would have appreciate Salines road anyway

. We found a great blue sky and warm sun in Panamint Valley and could barely believe our luck. The temptation was great to just camp there, in Panamint Springs, because clouds were dark and heavy in the direction of Salines. But no, we had to go!

Here is cRAsH braving the elements...

Somehow, I think they made us pay for that bravada

THAT is for you miserable humans!

Salines south pass at 6,200 feet (1900m) was brutal: we couldn't see a thing, it was foggy, snowy, muddy, and everything in between!

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 04:44 PM

And then... we saw the light

... Yes, it was worth it, the paradise was lying in front of our eyes...

Leaving the threatening elements with the fog now above us

The joy is palpable

And the riding pace increases

Yes, life is good after all

. We arrived at sunset in the Springs and enjoyed a wonderful warm soak with the stars above our heads. Granted, the sandwiches were not on par with Tiny and Whammo banquets but it felt very good anyway.

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 04:55 PM

The early morning in the Springs often offers stunning views. Nowhere else I'm as impatient to check it when I wake up in the morning. Although there was no reddish tones this time it was still beautiful...

There were clouds all around us, but the mountains were containing them. So far.

ARRRGGGHHNUT · 02-22-2005, 05:01 PM

Cool,
Which day did you guys get there? how long did you stay? how was the weather, I guess I should just shut up and wait for the rest of the report...

You did exactly what me and Sarah planned for the weekend, other than that we were boingggg to truck it and stay there for 4-5 days...

instead we just did crap around the house...

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 05:17 PM

"OK... time to go!"

We had decided to do "the loop": going up Steel Pass, gas up at Scotty's castle and come back via Lipincott. Better be ready for everything: First-aid kit...

Slime and other repair kits

Don't forget to eat well (?)

And drink a lot

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ARRRGGGHHNUT

You did exactly what me and Sarah planned for the weekend, other than that we were boingggg to truck it and stay there for 4-5 days...

instead we just did crap around the house...

Too bad! We knew about your project and were really hoping to see you there...

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 05:37 PM

Could he look any happier?

I tried to refrain myself to take too many pictures of the rocks... but I couldn't

The graveled river bed/trail that goes up to Steel Pass. I'm not sure if it's because of the previous rain, but it seemed more "packed" and much easier to negociate than other times.

Oh, no! One of my straps failed I suppose and the bag, still held by the second one, managed to get caught by the wheel... An abrupt stop made me realize the situation

.

cRAsH found the 1st Aid Kit and the slime on the way but my rain jacket was half destroyed. Tough luck considering what was ahead of us!

The beautiful scenery helped us forget about it...

But the higher we went the more threatening were the clouds, waiting for us at the summit...

Gummee! · 02-22-2005, 05:43 PM

M

G.Kennedy · 02-22-2005, 05:47 PM

NICE !!!

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 05:53 PM

Other beautiful rock formations

And we finally reach the summit which is in fact a large plateau. No rain so far and no trouble besides the bag. Too bad for the lurkers here

.

But we are definitely happy about it

Jean-Luc · 02-22-2005, 06:11 PM

Time to start going down

And down...

And down again

We finally reach the canyon exiting the plateau, surrounded by multicolor rocks.

Some are almost surnatural...

02-22-2005, 04:15 PM	#1
Jean-Luc ^OP Throttle committed Joined: Jul 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA Oddometer: 2,215	Is a desert supposed to be dry? (warning: heavy on pictures) I missed Death Valley Daze last month and in a way I thought it was for the best considering the rain they had. Now, for President's day weekend I was sure it would be better: it's a desert after all, it's not supposed to rain like crazy for weeks, right? And so cRAsH and me planned our traditional visit to Salines Valley. Hey, the forecast looks really bad, don't you think? Yeah, but they may be wrong and we still have a few days, it might improve. Not. Well, I think I saw a small clear spot on the radar map and I'm pretty sure it was just above DV. OK, it's going to rain. Let's give it a try anyway . I'm pleased to tell you: it didn't rain the whole time... ... sometimes, it snowed instead This is on Saturday morning at Greenhorn summit on the 155, west of Lake Isabella. cRAsH on the left and Jean-Emmanuel on the right who was an incredible trooper and kept his smile and composure the whole time. His BMW is a beauty but we were amazed it could ride that well in such conditions The day before, after a few hours of decent weather we hit some diluviens conditions especially in the 33 where we crossed some 20 yards long flooded area with a real stream running accross the road. We even saw 2 cars off the road (stuck in the mud) that had certainly try to cross one of those too quickly. It was already night when we arrived close to Bakersfield and so we decided to call it a day and crashed in a motel. After the pass, the snow became rain and soon after Lake Isabella we were wondering if it was really worth it to continue... Then we saw a small patch of blue sky and our incorrigible optimism prevailed and off we went! Packing wood and food at Ridgecrest... Jean-Luc screwed with this post 02-22-2005 at 06:13 PM

02-22-2005, 04:22 PM	#2
dirtrider Dusty Adventurer Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Kalispell, Montana Oddometer: 3,298	__________________ 2013 Husky TE511 2012 KTM 350 XC-F 2001 KTM 640 LC4 Sold 2009 KTM 300 XCW Sold I only like two kinds of women, foreign and domestic

02-22-2005, 04:25 PM	#4
richard cabesa The Mayor Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Santa Cabesa Oddometer: 9,004	this ought to be good __________________ F800GS R1200RT Ca Stew says "You can't teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig."

02-22-2005, 05:37 PM	#11
Jean-Luc ^OP Throttle committed Joined: Jul 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA Oddometer: 2,215	Could he look any happier? I tried to refrain myself to take too many pictures of the rocks... but I couldn't The graveled river bed/trail that goes up to Steel Pass. I'm not sure if it's because of the previous rain, but it seemed more "packed" and much easier to negociate than other times. Oh, no! One of my straps failed I suppose and the bag, still held by the second one, managed to get caught by the wheel... An abrupt stop made me realize the situation . cRAsH found the 1st Aid Kit and the slime on the way but my rain jacket was half destroyed. Tough luck considering what was ahead of us! The beautiful scenery helped us forget about it... But the higher we went the more threatening were the clouds, waiting for us at the summit... Jean-Luc screwed with this post 02-22-2005 at 06:56 PM

02-22-2005, 05:43 PM	#12
Gummee! That's MR. Toothless Joined: May 2004 Location: NoVA for now... Oddometer: 25,895	M __________________ There. I've moved back to VA. Can you PLEASE change the weather?!

02-22-2005, 04:24 PM	#3
traveltoad Aaron S Joined: May 2002 Location: SoCal Oddometer: 6,152	Oh yeah... another epic J-L cRAsH ride report!!!

02-22-2005, 04:30 PM	#5
Jean-Luc ^OP Throttle committed Joined: Jul 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA Oddometer: 2,215	Jean-Emmanuel was joining the Airheads group in Furnace creek and so we separated after Wildrose canyon. I'm not sure his 60/5 would have appreciate Salines road anyway . We found a great blue sky and warm sun in Panamint Valley and could barely believe our luck. The temptation was great to just camp there, in Panamint Springs, because clouds were dark and heavy in the direction of Salines. But no, we had to go! Here is cRAsH braving the elements... Somehow, I think they made us pay for that bravada THAT is for you miserable humans! Salines south pass at 6,200 feet (1900m) was brutal: we couldn't see a thing, it was foggy, snowy, muddy, and everything in between!

02-22-2005, 04:44 PM	#6
Jean-Luc ^OP Throttle committed Joined: Jul 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA Oddometer: 2,215	And then... we saw the light ... Yes, it was worth it, the paradise was lying in front of our eyes... Leaving the threatening elements with the fog now above us The joy is palpable And the riding pace increases Yes, life is good after all . We arrived at sunset in the Springs and enjoyed a wonderful warm soak with the stars above our heads. Granted, the sandwiches were not on par with Tiny and Whammo banquets but it felt very good anyway.

02-22-2005, 04:55 PM	#7
Jean-Luc ^OP Throttle committed Joined: Jul 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA Oddometer: 2,215	The early morning in the Springs often offers stunning views. Nowhere else I'm as impatient to check it when I wake up in the morning. Although there was no reddish tones this time it was still beautiful... There were clouds all around us, but the mountains were containing them. So far.

02-22-2005, 05:17 PM	#9
Jean-Luc ^OP Throttle committed Joined: Jul 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA Oddometer: 2,215	"OK... time to go!" We had decided to do "the loop": going up Steel Pass, gas up at Scotty's castle and come back via Lipincott. Better be ready for everything: First-aid kit... Slime and other repair kits Don't forget to eat well (?) And drink a lot

02-22-2005, 05:47 PM	#13
G.Kennedy ... Joined: Oct 2002 Location: Venice, CA Oddometer: 1,848	NICE !!! __________________ '85 K100RS '05 525EXC '08 Hypermotard

02-22-2005, 05:53 PM	#14
Jean-Luc ^OP Throttle committed Joined: Jul 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA Oddometer: 2,215	Other beautiful rock formations And we finally reach the summit which is in fact a large plateau. No rain so far and no trouble besides the bag. Too bad for the lurkers here . But we are definitely happy about it

02-22-2005, 06:11 PM	#15
Jean-Luc ^OP Throttle committed Joined: Jul 2001 Location: San Francisco, USA Oddometer: 2,215	Time to start going down And down... And down again We finally reach the canyon exiting the plateau, surrounded by multicolor rocks. Some are almost surnatural...

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