Death Valley Snow & Road Report 2012/2013

[cjbiker]

The wifi at Panamint must be significantly better now than it was last February when I was there. I could barely send one text-only email. Forget about getting on ADVRider or uploading any pictures!

[sopascat]

Originally Posted by cjbiker

The wifi at Panamint must be significantly better now than it was last February when I was there. I could barely send one text-only email. Forget about getting on ADVRider or uploading any pictures!

The wifi at Panamint varies a lot! I was there one time pretty recently and didn't get any wifi all weekend. Another time I could get on ADV but nothing else.

[2on2off]

Originally Posted by Lost Rider

A quick DV update from panamint while nancy takes a shower.....

Big pine / DV road is under construction near crankshaft crossing with about 5 miles freshly grated and very loose deep gravel. I'd imagine it will get packed down with time.

Mobile ADV Fix Complete

Thanks for the update. Very well done.

Is the road closed sign still up on Death Valley road between Eureka Dunes and Ubehebe Crater? There were road closed signs on DV road near Eureka Dunes and another one at Ubehebe Crater the last time I was out there.

[Low594]

Anyone else planning on being in DV the weekend before Noobs Rally?! We got a small crew 4-8 and will be based out of Furnace Creek March 23-26th!

[Lost Rider]

No sign by ubahebe or eureka, road has been opened, see my earlier post. sign still here on saline along with a couple new ones too trying to deter the less motivated or prepared.
Snowed last night at boxcar cabin. 5200 feet, not 4000 like I posted.
Just ran into a couple on Inyo county sheriff in a side by side on OHV patrol. Don't think you can ride a green sticker bike out here, big brother is keeping a mindful eye.
Good 4G service at this intersection. (;

Moving camp into panamint valley, more road updates to follow.










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[Rob.G]

I've never made it to Steel Pass or Eureka Dunes while in DV... that's definitely on my list.

Rob

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by Lost Rider

Just ran into a couple on Inyo county sheriff in a side by side on OHV patrol. Don't think you can ride a green sticker bike out here, big brother is keeping a mindful eye.

A side by side IS a green sticker bike. You CAN ride a green sticker bike up to the DVNP boundary and on BLM land surrounding DV.

[Lost Rider]

Originally Posted by larryboy

A side by side IS a green sticker bike. You CAN ride a green sticker bike up to the DVNP boundary and on BLM land surrounding DV.

Sure, but where we saw them they were close to/on their way into the Park.

I guess cops can ride green sticker vehicles in DV.

Funny thing was, right after I snapped that photo of their trailer a DV Park Ranger came by and was also taking photos of the trailer. Must have been exciting they were there.

Originally Posted by Rob.G

I've never made it to Steel Pass or Eureka Dunes while in DV... that's definitely on my list.

Rob

It's a beautiful sight to see and worth the efforts to get out there for sure. I'd imagine Big Pine/DV Rd will get packed down, making it accessible to just about anyone on any bike if you go that route. The Steel Pass route is much rougher, but still fun and has it's own beauty.


















Here's a few more photos of some DV roads so you can decide for yourself if it looks like fun for whatever bike you're riding. I was the pack mule on a loaded up G650GS with 90/10 DS-street tires, Nancy on a pretty lightly loaded CRF250L for this ride.




Big Pine/DV road









Saline Valley Road














Lippencott Pass













Cerro Gordo @ 6200' is where it iced up and I couldn't get any further on the GS, scouted ahead on the Honda though. It was about 20º mid day up there so I don't see the ice melting anytime soon.










Steel Pass, the easier and more scenic part near the top.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by Lost Rider

Sure, but where we saw them they were close to/on their way into the Park.

I guess cops can ride green sticker vehicles in DV.

Funny thing was, right after I snapped that photo of their trailer a DV Park Ranger came by and was also taking photos of the trailer. Must have been exciting they were there.

Inyo Co. and DVNP don't exactly get along, I bet it was a funny conversation.

[2on2off]

Lost:

You are riding to all the good spots and getting some great pictures.

I rarely drop my bike while in DV but I did it twice on South Pass a few years ago riding south up the two sections of ice.

Looks like they are grading Death Valley Road to Ubehebe Crater. That's great because it usually has lots of washboard.

Keep the updates coming. Wish I could be there.

[jrsride2002]

Originally Posted by Low594

Anyone else planning on being in DV the weekend before Noobs Rally?! We got a small crew 4-8 and will be based out of Furnace Creek March 23-26th!

I'd like to get in on that action if it is cool with you guys

~Junior

[Low594]

Originally Posted by Low594

Anyone else planning on being in DV the weekend before Noobs Rally?! We got a small crew 4-8 and will be based out of Furnace Creek March 23-26th!

Originally Posted by jrsride2002

I'd like to get in on that action if it is cool with you guys

~Junior

You and others are more than welcome! Still putting plans together, but we ran into a hitch, Furnace Creek is full and we only got 1 site instead of the 2 as planned! We currently have all 8 spots filled with 6 on our wait list. Anyone interested in more details can PM me, especially if anyone has less than 8 people in their camp and want some money to offset costs!

[cbig]

but you can usually get space across the street at Sunrise. Just a big parking lot, but works fine. Only seen that full once.

Good luck

cbig

[joefromsf]

Originally Posted by cbig

but you can usually get space across the street at Sunrise. Just a big parking lot, but works fine. Only seen that full once.

Good luck

cbig

Even better, go past Sunrise up to Texas Spring CG. No generators allowed up there.

[2on2off]

Any pics out there of the current conditions of the first 10 miles of Steele Pass just north of the hot springs?

I'm wondering if enough 4x4's have driven over this section of the trail to actually create some sort of road for the first 10 miles north of the springs.

The last time I rode it a few months ago, there was no trail at all. Just a few red flags every now and then but it was very easy to loose the trail anywhere along that first 10 mile section. It was difficult to navigate when I rode it and I was on a very light dual sport bike.

It would be great if a grader could go through or even a few 4x4's dragging a sled.