BajaNomad

TWs 2012 New Years Trip

TMW - 1-4-2012 at 12:27 PM

Over the new years weekend we went to the Panamint Mtns and over to Death Valley for some exploring. At the town of Ballarat we did the Pleasant Canyon loop to South Park. At 18 miles into the drive we reached the bridge and it was closed to all but motorcycles and ATVs. We back tracked to Ballarat where it was getting dark so we setup camp.

After a hearty breakfast of cup a soup we take off for South Park Canyon and on to the bridge. I wanted to inspect it and take pictures of the underside of the bridge. It does look a little shaky. On the west side from the bridge are a couple of cabins that are open to the public on a first come basis. If a U.S. flag is flying it means the cabin is taken. The flags are in the cabins for that reason. We met two guys there that were hunting and they told us about the cabins.

Next up was Goler Wash and Barker Ranch where Charlie Manson was caught. Near the mouth of the wash was a father and daughter and they said there was a bad rocky place about a mile up the wash that was giving people problems and they decided not to do it. When we arrived at the bad spot there was two vehicles across it and a jeep airing down his tires. They waved me around and I attempt it. It's about a two to three foot riser of rocks with water running over it. When my front wheels get over the rears start spinning on the wet rocks. I did three attempts and called NO MAS. The Toyota Tacoma was giving up. I did watch as the jeep slowly went up and over. Oh Well.

Now we're off to Titus Canyon but first a stop in Beatty for gas. It was $3.29 a gallon. We wanted to do Titus Canyon before dark. We get to the turn off about 2:45pm. It is a good graded road and 4x4 is not needed. The canyon is everything people say about it. A beautiful place. The plants seem greener and the rock formations and colors are just amazing.

After the canyon we drive down to Furnace Creek for a hot meal. After an OK and pricey meal at the steak house we stop by the hotel and at $220 for a room we decided to head back to Beatty. By the way gas at Furnace Creek was $4.96 a gallon for regular. In Beatty the Motel 6 was just fine and at $50 a lot cheaper.

After breakfast we go back to Furnace Creek to talk to the Rangers about some of the trails etc. We head south and pick up the West Side Road. It's a good graded road. On the way we stop at Shorty's well and his grave. We meet hwy 178 and then opt to take the Harry Wade dirt road to hwy 127 near the Dumont Dunes north of Baker. At baker we meet the traffic coming back from Las Wages. It is sometimes 20mph into Barstow but from there it's OK to Mojave and Bakersfield.

Overall a good adventure.

[Edited on 1-6-2012 by TW]

TMW - 1-4-2012 at 12:43 PM

I believe this is Rita's cabin as shown on Google Earth








[Edited on 1-4-2012 by TW]

TMW - 1-4-2012 at 12:48 PM



A cabin


Panamint Valley


TMW - 1-4-2012 at 12:52 PM

Titus Canyon


Death Valley Floor


West Side Road

TMW - 1-4-2012 at 12:56 PM

In memory of Shorty and his friend


The graves


Leaving Death Valley

wessongroup - 1-4-2012 at 03:01 PM

Thanks much ... nice look see at the area ... and thanks for all the info...

TMW - 1-4-2012 at 03:52 PM

More Titus Canyon pictures. I want to go back and do the run again during the morning sun.




There is Indian paintings is this area a couple miles from the exit.

Good stuff Tom

John M - 1-4-2012 at 04:18 PM

Was the bridge open previously to full size vehicles, could you determine that?

Goler Wash/Mengal Pass is often very difficult west to east; how would the obstacles be if you had been going the opposite direction?

The price of rooms is astounding for Furnace Creek Ranch and I can't imagine what they were getting at Furnace Creek Inn - rated 4 star, meal prices to match just a mile further down the road.

John M

tripledigitken - 1-4-2012 at 04:50 PM

Good report. Titus Canyon is one of our favorite day trips. (This is from the east side taken just before noon.)

We like to stay at Stovepipe Wells, standard rooms with two beds $105.00-$130.00.



[Edited on 1-4-2012 by tripledigitken]

Mexitron - 1-4-2012 at 08:16 PM

Always wanted to explore the Panamints---thanks for the nice pics!

BAJACAT - 1-4-2012 at 11:41 PM

you have to much fun,

TMW - 1-5-2012 at 10:11 AM

John they had just closed the bridge maybe a month or so ago according to the guy running the store at Ballarat. Appears the BLM or whoever is in control doesn't want the liability if it collapses with a SUV or truck on it. I was told they had it inspected and were advised to put the sign up.

In Goler Wash I think I could have made it if I had lowered my tire pressure like the jeep. Going east to west as you suggested would not have been a problem.

Ken I want do Titus Canyon again when there is better day light. As your picture shows it is really beautiful.

tripledigitken - 1-5-2012 at 10:14 AM

TW,

Did you have time to explore the old mining town of Leadfield in Titus Canyon? It's worth the stop next time if you didn't.

Ken

[Edited on 1-5-2012 by tripledigitken]

Bob H - 1-5-2012 at 10:18 AM

Great stuff TW... was just through Panamint Valley on Christmas Day... but didn't have the time to see all that you did. But I will add all of this to the bucket list I received from 3digitKen just recently.

Beautiful and stunning views all over that place!

Ken Cooke - 1-5-2012 at 10:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW

Next up was Goler Wash and Barker Ranch where Charlie Manson was caught. Near the mouth of the wash was a father and daughter and they said there was a bad rocky place about a mile up the wash that was giving people problems and they decided not to do it.


I'm planning on visiting Death Valley in April. This section will be on my list of things to do!:bounce:

durrelllrobert - 1-5-2012 at 12:28 PM

I lived in Ridgecrest during the time that manson was captured and have been many of the same places.
________________________________________________
In Beatty the Motel 6 was just fine and at $50 a lot cheaper.
________________________________________________
Used to pay abut the same price at Beatty's famous Vicky Star Ranch in the 70's:lol::lol::lol:

TMW - 1-5-2012 at 02:36 PM

Ken we stopped at Leadfield and took several pictures but we didn't check out any buildings etc. except this one.


[Edited on 1-5-2012 by TW]

TMW - 1-5-2012 at 02:38 PM

Mr. Cooke there are some good trails for your jeep awaiting you.

Ken Cooke - 1-6-2012 at 05:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Mr. Cooke there are some good trails for your jeep awaiting you.


I have purchased several books that focus on this area. I met Roger Mitchell (and his wife) at the Off Road Expo and purchased my very own signed copy of his latest book (at the time). I also own all of his published works from La Siesta Press:



I also have this great resource that has many of the places you mentioned in your trip report - Backcountry Adventure Series: Southern Califoria by Wilson and Massey



In early April, my Rubicon friends plan on visiting this area with me, and with your recent report, we can get the discussion started about where the most interesting camping, hiking and 4WD trails are located. Thanks!

TMW - 1-6-2012 at 11:23 AM

I have both of the books you have. The adventures book has the coordinates which are nice. I found some milage readings in the Death Valley SUV Trails book to be wrong. Like on page 239 it says South Park Canyon is 6.7 miles from Ballarat when it is 3.9 miles. We spent a lot of time in the dark looking for it about 3 miles too far past it. I like this book as the trails are better laid out and the trail ratings are on the trail map.



Books I plan to re-read before I go to DV

Ken Cooke - 1-6-2012 at 12:39 PM

TW- Here is the list of books I have at home that I plan to read before going back to Death Valley:

Mojave Desert OHV Trails - Florine Lawlor
Inyo Mono Jeep Trails - Roger Mitchell
Mines of the Mojave - Ron & Peggy Miller
Death Valley Jeep Trails - Roger Mitchell
Mines of Death Valley - L. Burr Belden
Northern California Backroads & 4WD Trails - Charles Wells
Southern California Backroads & 4WD Trails - Charles Wells

Any more I should look into purchasing?

TMW - 1-6-2012 at 01:17 PM

Looks like you got a nice set that will keep you busy. I suggest getting the AAA Death Valley map as well as the county maps surrounding it in CA.

And

bajaguy - 1-6-2012 at 01:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by TW
Looks like you got a nice set that will keep you busy. I suggest getting the AAA Death Valley map as well as the county maps surrounding it in CA.





some topo maps or the DeLorme map book

Barry A. - 1-6-2012 at 02:07 PM

Ken----other books by Roger Mitchell that might be appropriate:

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUV TRAILS (Vol I) THE WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT, by Roger and Loris Mitchell

and

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUV TRAILS (Vol II) THE EASTERN MOJAVE DESERT, by Roger and Loris Mitchell

-----also

BACK COUNTRY ADVENTURES SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, by Peter Massey and Jeanne Wilson. (this is a huge book, with tons of info in it.)

MAPS:

In my experience, by far the most accurate and detailed maps of the Death Valley area (and the entire Mojave) are put out by BLM, and called DESERT ACCESS GUIDES/SURFACE MANAGEMENT STATUS Maps. The Quads you would want for Death Valley are:

Bishop, Last Chance Range, Pahute Mesa, Mount Whitney, Saline Valley, Beatty, Darwin Hills, Death Valley Junction, RidgeCrest, and Owls Head Mountains. They are a little pricey at $4 per quad, but worth it, IMO.

Also, TRAILS ILLUSTRATED use to put out a plastic map of Death Valley (1991) that was practically industructable, and very easy to read, and has topog. and most (all?) Jeep trails on it. The Title of it was DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL MONUMENT. Now they have teamed up with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and that Death Valley map is #223, I believe, and can be obtained on line.

Hope this helps.

I have all these maps, and also all the USGS topo maps, but the Topo maps are very dated for showing roads and trails, but great for Topography.

Barry

(Edited---Well, I just went back and read the whole thread, and see that you already have these books above----jokes on me!!!! )

We stayed at the hotel at StovePipe Wells last Jan for $100 per night, and it was very nice. Restaurant there too was good.

[Edited on 1-6-2012 by Barry A.]

[Edited on 1-6-2012 by Barry A.]

TMW - 1-6-2012 at 03:43 PM

There are books available with the topo maps. One by DeLorme is a topo and another by Benchmark Maps that is Landscape Maps. They both are large like 11x15. Lots of trails. Remember you must stay on marked routes inside and outside the park. You just can't go cross country. Even Jawbone OHV area has closed routes.