Cold streak in May, let's go to Death Valley

[navynuke]

So for the past few weeks a small group of us had planned to ride up and overnight in Sequoia National Park. About a week ahead of time the forecast starts to look pretty iffy.... By Thursday they were getting snow with cold temps and a mix of rain/freezing rain predicted for the weekend during our trip!!!!

So instead some last minute route crunching on the part of Orbel along with work and family commitments for others we decide to detour to Death Valley instead. We found temps ranging from 45F all the way up to 90F over the 2 days we were on the road and had an absolute blast on a very quiet trip.

We departed up Hwy 2 to Angels forest and up to the 14. From there we headed through Mohave and then CalCity where we took off down a whooped out dirt road for a good ways cutting out to the road into Trona

From Trona it was a quick fuel stop and cruise up to Ballarat Ghost town where we had a cold coke and then proceded into Death Valley up through Coyote Canyon I believe.

 

[navynuke]

Coyote Canyon beat us both up, with gravel/water/loose substrate taking us both down.

Then the temps started to climb as we entered the park from the South West Corner. We then stopped at the Geologists Cabin

Nothing like these long lonely sections of dirt to make you feel really alone in the world

Quick stop in Furnace Springs for a late sandwich. We were the only Adventure bikes when we pulled in, but a couple of guys showed up as we were leaving on GS1200's

Then into Titus Canyon where the yellow flowers were blooming from the recent rains and we had zero traffic problems.

After that it was a quick run over the Pass on the 190 to Panamint Springs where we pitched the tent's and settled in for the night.

And a much earned Beer!!

 

[navynuke]

Day 2 started a bit late after a nice breakfast from Panamint Springs. A group of big KTM's left early, all loaded up and looking strangely like KLR's with milk crates and bungees holding more things on than seems really necessary.

We headed out towards Darwin Falls and circling around to the Hillbilly Estates, where they protect the town with this flower cannon??

After crossing through the Hillbilly Estates we headed up the most epic section of trail, a winding 2 track with a moderate amount of sugar sand that ran between the shrubs and Joshua Tree's up to a pass between two very large rock outcrops in the distance. No picture would do it justice, so I didn't even try, but it looks similar to this section.

Then we crossed the HWY and headed to Tea kettle junction, as we climbed over the pass the temps really dropped off.
Then a stop at the Racetrack Playa, man this place is cool to walk around on, again the pictures don't do it justice

 

[navynuke]

We left down Lippincott Pass, another challenging way for big bikes, but should be doable going up if you watch your lines and keep a bit of momentum.

Then a long ride down 395-14-Angels Forest and into Los Angeles. ::018::


A couple of pictures from Orbel, my riding buddy on this trip!

 

[VgnSTRider87]

Awesome navynuke. Really cool ride, would love to join next time, in Los Angeles myself. Any chance you could put together a google map of your ride?

 

[CentralCal]

Does look like a nice ride. The weather has been weird here to say the least. I'm not too far from there in Frazier Park. Lots of riding here and if your in the area look me up. I'm 10 miles from the 5 freeway Frazier Park exit. Need to make up my mind on which crash bars and skid plate to get to start doing some off roading. Only have 800 miles on my bike. My ride today:
Packed my lunch and planned on stopping somewhere along Cerro Noroeste Rd to eat. After a bear crossed in front of me about 5 miles after PMC figured I better keep going. Didn't want to fight the bear for my sandwich cause I wasn't sure which one of us wanted it more. This looked like a safe spot. Along the 166 in Cuyama. Guess I drove about 40 miles past the bear but he wasn't getting my sandwich!

 

[VgnSTRider87]

Does look like a nice ride. The weather has been weird here to say the least. I'm not too far from there in Frazier Park. Lots of riding here and if your in the area look me up. I'm 10 miles from the 5 freeway Frazier Park exit. Need to make up my mind on which crash bars and skid plate to get to start doing some off roading. Only have 800 miles on my bike. My ride today:
Packed my lunch and planned on stopping somewhere along Cerro Noroeste Rd to eat. After a bear crossed in front of me about 5 miles after PMC figured I better keep going. Didn't want to fight the bear for my sandwich cause I wasn't sure which one of us wanted it more. This looked like a safe spot. Along the 166 in Cuyama. Guess I drove about 40 miles past the bear but he wasn't getting my sandwich!

Haha. Glad you were able to save your sandwich from the bear. I highly recommend the full Rumbux set.

I haven't done much offroad in your area, but I like riding around pine mountain on the twisties. I made an attempt at Hungry Valley SVRA on the S10 and promptly realized I was completely out of my league (sand everywhere). I like Rowher Flats on the S10 which is much more hard pack.

 

[CentralCal]

Agree on Hungry Valley. Haven't been there in years. Got too crazy with all the wannabe motocross racers there. Got hit head on many times in my dirt bike days there cause nobody pays attention.
Lots of fire roads around here I need to explore again. Or good ride to Ojai or Santa Maria.
It's a great area to ride the Yamaha.

 

[Wesmo]

Nice write-up. I've covered most of that ground in a 4wheeler would like to try on a bike someday. Keep safe. I'm in the AV BTW.
::008::