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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Death Valley Trails in March
Death Valley and surrounding desert is a beautiful place in the spring. Last weekend starting on Friday March 23rd I was invited to join a group of
guys to run some of the trails in and arround Death Valley. The group leader was John Marnell a member of Baja Nomad and an expert in desert travel.
Most of us met up just outside Barstow and the rest at Baker. 10 men, 2 dogs, 5 Jeeps and 3 Tacomas. We topped off the gas tanks at Baker and headed
up hwy 127 to the Dumont Dunes area.
Day 1:
Our first run would be up Sperry Wash and past several mining operations before swinging west toward Death Valley.
The start
A Hawk watches us from above
Danger rocks ready to fall
Where are we
One of our protectors
Our first night camp site, a cabin in the middle of no where
A group picture
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Day 2:
Saturday we head out to the hwy and up to Furnace Creek stopping at Badwater
Furnace Creek an old ore hauler on display
After gassing in Nevada we start the Echo Canyon run from the Nevada side
Approching the first dry waterfall, careful is the word
A little road building and expert spotting
Easy does it
Baja Nomad XRPhlang is up next in a Tacoma
Harley our other guard dog waits for XRPhil to come thru
After the water falls we make camp for the night near the jct Inyo mine
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8946
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
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Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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What a fun gathering! 
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TMW
Select Nomad
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Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Day 3
Sunday we continue down Echo Canyon. Looks like straw in the rock
The Eye of the Needle
Trouble in River City. The drag link breaks. Time to call for help.
There is cell service in Furnace Creek and we were close enough to get it. We were about a mile from the hwy when the steering drag link broke.
Several of the guys started calling around and John went into Furnace Creek and found a welder at Furnace Creek area but he wouldn't weld it due to
liability. Also found a flat bed tow truck to get the jeep to Funace Creek but the driver wouldn't go off highway to get it. Finally got a AAA flatbed
tow truck from Independence on hwy 395 to come down and get the jeep and haul it about 5 miles to the camp ground. One of their friends was coming
back from Escondido heading to Riverside and he stopped and picked up a new drag link at an auto parts store. Brought it to the camp ground but it had
a wrong bend at the end and wouldn't work.
While all this was going on Half the group went on to Beatty for gas and ice then did Titus Canyon.
Titus Canyon has some of the most beautiful rock formations
Back to Furnace Creek and the camp ground for the night
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Fernweh
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Registered: 2-24-2011
Location: Centenario, BCS
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TW,
did you guys started the run through Echo Canyon from Sandy Valley?
We always drove north to end up in Beatty.
Looks like a nice crowd!
Karl
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TMW
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Day 4
After much discussion it was decided that a couple of the guys would go to Las Vegas to get the correct drag link. Two guys had left Sunday for a
bingo tourament in Nevada. Since this was our last day anyway Phil and I decided to head down south and do the Butte Valley, Mengel Pass and Goler
Wash stopping by Barker Ranch where Charlie Manson was caught.
OLd mining equipment along the way
The wide valley
Striped Butte
Geologist"s cabin, we left food and supplies
Mengel Pass and grave marker
Barker Ranch house, Manson hideout, cabin was burnt down in 2009
What it looked like before being burnt
Manson was hiding in a cabinet. It's said some of his hair was showing and that's how they caught him. Phil re-in-acts the location
WE leave Death Valley Park and make our way thru Goler Wash and out by Balarat
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TMW
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Fernweh
TW,
did you guys started the run through Echo Canyon from Sandy Valley?
We always drove north to end up in Beatty.
Looks like a nice crowd!
Karl |
I'm not that familiar with that area but it was from Amargosa Valley. We had gotten gas at Lathrop Wells I think. John knew the area and may answer it
better.
[Edited on 3-30-2012 by TW]
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
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Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Thanks for all the pic's ... you guys get out there...
Do you ever sit still ??? 
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TMW
Select Nomad
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Location: Bakersfield, CA
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It was one of the most fun trips I've been on. Just the right pace and stops. We eat like a king. Chile Verde, Tri tip, Lasagna, Eggs, sausage,
potatoes, beans and rice. One guy had a Coleman oven with two burners on top and he baked the Lasagna in it. Even with the Jeep broke we had fun.
Everyone got along and went out of their way to help when needed. The CB radio talk was entertaining like listening to a group of truck drivers back
east. Actually some of the guys were truck driver.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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Thanks for the ride 
Nice to see some trails...
Don't believe everything you think....
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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i spent a year working at the Nebo USMC Base and had no idea there was stuff out there..... heard about Baker but my focus was getting home. too hot
in the summer and days were too short in winter.
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Sunman
Nomad
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Registered: 6-22-2007
Location: Oxnard
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Nice shots TW, we have visited all of those locations over the years. Butte valley really is something to behold. Thanks .
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Very very nice... so the Jeep was the only breakdown? How did the Tacoma do going down the waterfall?
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Fernweh
Nomad
Posts: 444
Registered: 2-24-2011
Location: Centenario, BCS
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Thanks TW for the report.
we have been to all the areas you visited over the last few years. It's a real shame that somebody set the Barker ranch on fire.
Good show, leaving food supplies at the cabin!
Are you bringing those menu choices with you to Aqua Verde?
Karl
[img] ************************** [/img]
[Edited on 3-30-2012 by Fernweh]
[Edited on 3-31-2012 by BajaNomad]
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bacquito
Super Nomad
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Mood: jubilado
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Thanks, good trip!
bacquito
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1921
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Echo Cyn - Fernweh
We went south on Highway 373 from Lathrop Wells, NV for 4 miles.
Then turned west on a dirt road, Frontier Ave, for a little over 11 miles.
At that point, a rocky road leads northwest and from there we began the adventure. I'd like to say that the proper route to follow is pretty intuitive
but there are a number of options where it's easier if you know the correct route.
We surprised two good sized bighorn sheep along echo canyon, hopefully photos to follow.
All the vehicles did very well David K - the Cherokee broke 12 miles west of the waterfall on a good gravel road and looking at the pieces you saw
that there likely had been previous issues as there was a bit of rust at the damaged site.
Echo Canyon again
Site of Greenwater - Death Valley copper mining camp circa 1907
I had made the decision to travel this route from east to west due to other trip considerations as trip leader.
John M
[Edited on 3-30-2012 by John M]
[Edited on 3-30-2012 by John M]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Well Fernweh while Phil cooked dinner the first night he is a restaurant chef and if we can talk him into the great gourmet type meals for the Agua
Verde trip similar to what we had on this trip it would be great. Hope Phil reads this.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
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Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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John led you guys on an excellence see-all trip in Death Valley and he is a very nice guy, too.
Too bad he did not take you the other way over Echo Canyon so you could go UP the waterfall like my
Septuagenarian Wife did in our Tacoma/camper did last year!
Wimp, Wimp, Wimp! Guess he was worried about the Jeeps, huh, DK?  UP
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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Fernweh
Nomad
Posts: 444
Registered: 2-24-2011
Location: Centenario, BCS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Neal Johns
John led you guys on an excellence see-all trip in Death Valley and he is a very nice guy, too.
Too bad he did not take you the other way over Echo Canyon so you could go UP the waterfall like my
Septuagenarian Wife did in our Tacoma/camper did last year!
Wimp, Wimp, Wimp! Guess he was worried about the Jeeps, huh, DK? UP |
First time I came upon the waterfall - it sure looks different when approaching from the South.
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Fernweh
Nomad
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Registered: 2-24-2011
Location: Centenario, BCS
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Charlie's Kitchen, where he was hiding in a cabinet when he was caught by the Inyo-County Sheriff.
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