Saline Valley Warm Springs, Death Valley National Park

reenmachine · 12-30-2012, 12:03 PM

I had a few days free after Christmas so I decided to make the run to Saline Valley, where I've been going for about 10 years via 4x4 but never before on the bike. Winter conditions weren't exactly ideal for two wheels, but they weren't bad enough to turn me back. Either that or I just wasn't smart enough. A lot of the ride was what my brother and I called "Class III Fun" back in our mountaineering days -- hateful and regretful while you're doing it, but once you're home and warm you can't wait to start planning the next time.

The trip was about 550 miles round trip, pretty much exactly 80% pavement and 20% off road. My 80/20 tires should have been perfect then, right? Not by a mile (not that I thought they would be). Next time I'll be wearing TKC-80s or similar.

The 55 miles of dirt, rocks, sand, and silt (and this time of year, snow and ice) to get to the springs made for an incredible ride.

About 15 miles outside of Olancha, CA, overlooking Owens Lake and the east side of the Sierra Nevada range

Death Valley National Park boundary

Lee Flat -- Joshua Trees as far as the eye can see

South Pass, about 6000' of elevation, overlooking the famous Racetrack Playa

The sketchy part of the trip where I probably should have turned back. I don't know what tire would have been OK here, but it sure wasn't these.

Taking the ditch turned out to be the ticket. That innocuous-looking pile of rocks just ahead hung me up pretty bad on the way back up though and cost about 15 minutes.

High centered. Took a while to dig out.

The descent into Saline Valley

Mile after mile of grievous washboards

A fun rocky stretch -- it was steeper and rockier than it looks.

Soft, powdery silt. Also bad with these tires.

Made it to the springs!

Just enough time to set up camp before the sun dips below the mountains

Sunrise

The view from the tent

The intersection with Lippincott Mine Road on the way out. The weather is rolling in.

Lee Flat again on the way out

Overall it was an awesome trip. I spent two nights at the springs. Before I make the trip again I need to figure out how to carry additional fuel, as I had just enough to get in and out, and I would have loved to have been able to spend a day on some side trips.

I'll be heading back in the spring when things warm up with better tires and more fuel!

studioe6 · 12-30-2012, 12:11 PM

Nice!

Denser NL · 12-30-2012, 02:42 PM

Great pics!

PinkPillion · 12-31-2012, 04:32 PM

Thanks for sharing reenmachine.
DV looks so beautiful in winter. I bet the springs were great!

byways · 12-31-2012, 04:56 PM

Enjoyed your story! You have cajones, doing that alone.

What time was sundown? I thought about making the trip down from Idaho, but heck, it gets dark so darned early, and then what ...

gogogordy · 12-31-2012, 05:09 PM

Nice camp Crocs.

UpST8 · 12-31-2012, 05:19 PM

Thanks for the report! Hope to get out into DV on the F8 sometime this spring...TKCs or K60s for sure

reenmachine · 12-31-2012, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gogogordy

Nice camp Crocs.

Ha. Not the manliest I'll admit, but they're light and they make good cushions in the bottom of the cases for other gear!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PinkPillion

Thanks for sharing reenmachine.
DV looks so beautiful in winter. I bet the springs were great!

They were, and felt better than ever having come in on two wheels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by byways

Enjoyed your story! You have cajones, doing that alone.

What time was sundown? I thought about making the trip down from Idaho, but heck, it gets dark so darned early, and then what ...

Sundown was around 5:30 I think. Early.

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpST8

Thanks for the report! Hope to get out into DV on the F8 sometime this spring...TKCs or K60s for sure

Yes! Aggressive tires are a must. I'll never go back in on 80/20s.

Ron_Ces · 01-01-2013, 05:07 PM

I like the Fat Tire sticker. Good stuff...
Ron

henderdogg · 01-01-2013, 07:32 PM

Very nice pictures. I'm thinking about doing DV in the spring myself.

12-30-2012, 12:03 PM	#1
reenmachine ^OP Rain or Shine Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Studio City, CA Oddometer: 146	Saline Valley Warm Springs, Death Valley National Park I had a few days free after Christmas so I decided to make the run to Saline Valley, where I've been going for about 10 years via 4x4 but never before on the bike. Winter conditions weren't exactly ideal for two wheels, but they weren't bad enough to turn me back. Either that or I just wasn't smart enough. A lot of the ride was what my brother and I called "Class III Fun" back in our mountaineering days -- hateful and regretful while you're doing it, but once you're home and warm you can't wait to start planning the next time. The trip was about 550 miles round trip, pretty much exactly 80% pavement and 20% off road. My 80/20 tires should have been perfect then, right? Not by a mile (not that I thought they would be). Next time I'll be wearing TKC-80s or similar. The 55 miles of dirt, rocks, sand, and silt (and this time of year, snow and ice) to get to the springs made for an incredible ride. *About 15 miles outside of Olancha, CA, overlooking Owens Lake and the east side of the Sierra Nevada range* *Death Valley National Park boundary* *Lee Flat -- Joshua Trees as far as the eye can see* *South Pass, about 6000' of elevation, overlooking the famous Racetrack Playa* *The sketchy part of the trip where I probably should have turned back. I don't know what tire would have been OK here, but it sure wasn't these.* *Taking the ditch turned out to be the ticket. That innocuous-looking pile of rocks just ahead hung me up pretty bad on the way back up though and cost about 15 minutes.* *High centered. Took a while to dig out.* *The descent into Saline Valley* *Mile after mile of grievous washboards* *A fun rocky stretch -- it was steeper and rockier than it looks.* *Soft, powdery silt. Also bad with these tires.* *Made it to the springs!* *Just enough time to set up camp before the sun dips below the mountains* *Sunrise* *The view from the tent* *The intersection with Lippincott Mine Road on the way out. The weather is rolling in.* *Lee Flat again on the way out* Overall it was an awesome trip. I spent two nights at the springs. Before I make the trip again I need to figure out how to carry additional fuel, as I had just enough to get in and out, and I would have loved to have been able to spend a day on some side trips. I'll be heading back in the spring when things warm up with better tires and more fuel! __________________ '11 BMW G650GS '02 Yamaha FZ1

12-30-2012, 12:11 PM	#2
studioe6 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2012 Location: Ottawa Canada Oddometer: 194	Nice! __________________ Motorrad

12-31-2012, 04:32 PM	#4
PinkPillion Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Northeastern California Oddometer: 473	Thanks for sharing reenmachine. DV looks so beautiful in winter. I bet the springs were great! __________________ I'd rather live, than live forever... 10 HUSQVARNA TE250 & 00 BMW R 1150 GS 2up Black Rock Desert Anniversary Ride 4 Days-2up NorCal to Death Valley Black Rock Desert Overnighter

12-31-2012, 04:56 PM	#5
byways byways Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho Oddometer: 1,488	Enjoyed your story! You have cajones, doing that alone. What time was sundown? I thought about making the trip down from Idaho, but heck, it gets dark so darned early, and then what ... __________________ Tony Huegel Backcountry Byways Journal Leave No Trace Heart of the West Adventure Route (a.k.a. Forever West)

12-31-2012, 05:09 PM	#6
gogogordy Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Temecula, So. California Oddometer: 1,365	Nice camp Crocs. __________________ You really need to get out more.

12-30-2012, 02:42 PM	#3
Denser NL Adventurer Joined: Dec 2012 Location: Hoeksche Waard, The Netherlands Oddometer: 14	Great pics!

12-31-2012, 05:19 PM	#7
UpST8 turnin gas to noise Joined: Aug 2007 Location: californication Oddometer: 5,978	Thanks for the report! Hope to get out into DV on the F8 sometime this spring...TKCs or K60s for sure __________________ WHERE AM I RIDING *Chronicles*

01-01-2013, 05:07 PM	#9
Ron_Ces Aging Hacker Joined: May 2005 Location: Sunny Riverton, NJ Oddometer: 1,486	I like the Fat Tire sticker. Good stuff... Ron __________________ Ride whatever makes you smile! Every bike has it's own issues, problems and annoyances... BMW R1150GS ADV KTM 300 EXC (plated)

01-01-2013, 07:32 PM	#10
henderdogg n00b Joined: Jun 2011 Oddometer: 1	Sweet! Very nice pictures. I'm thinking about doing DV in the spring myself.

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