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Death Valley Tour, April 14-18, 2012

rodr

rodr

Active member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Location
Oz
Moto(s)
CB500XA
Name
Rod
BARF perks
AMA #: 2846730
Come to Death Valley with me in the spring! You can do some of this trip, all of it, or more. After some great feedback from other BARFers, here's the route that is currently planned. If anything changes I'll update this posting accordingly.

Meeting time at point A in San Jose is 9am. It's the Arco station at 1250 East Julian Street, at the SE corner of E. Julian Street and N. 26th Street. KSU 9:15 sharp! We will do a last-chance stop for gas in Hollister.

[gmap]<iframe width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=E+Julian+St&daddr=CA-25+E+to:36.14553,-120.7556+to:14th+St+to:CA-58+E%2FG+St+to:Selby+Road+to:35.153069,-119.80687+to:35.120149,-119.744892+to:35.077366,-119.666204+to:35.4389714,-118.7968873+to:35.5523609,-118.6001063+to:Cort+214%2FKern+Canyon+Rd+to:Main+St+to:I-80+W&geocode=FXDyOQIdj2q8-A%3BFUEeMgIdLbnD-A%3BFXqJJwIdcGrN-CkRSRXaChmTgDH1xYfCCd81vA%3BFT-LIQIdfVPO-A%3BFSoJHAIdHa3P-A%3BFUQDGAIdQV_b-A%3BFa1kGAIdauTb-CmJWgch7pXrgDGqvtl-upNsFg%3BFRXkFwIdhNbc-CmvF_iXpr_rgDH5VSNbfH7-pQ%3BFfY8FwId5Ane-Cn7tcy648brgDGOWIs217JZ1w%3BFXvBHAIdqU3r-CmThEuGaXHqgDGZ_7pAKPUFlQ%3BFWh8HgIdVk7u-CmvHy085tnBgDFjSo5DUNjI5w%3BFVjSHgId-l7v-A%3BFagjMwId5loK-Q%3BFTpOSAIdk-e5-A&sll=36.156727,-120.740433&sspn=0.402495,0.651627&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrsp=2&sz=11&via=2,6,7,8,9,10&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=37.028869,-119.421387&spn=4.209546,7.03125&z=7&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=E+Julian+St&daddr=CA-25+E+to:36.14553,-120.7556+to:14th+St+to:CA-58+E%2FG+St+to:Selby+Road+to:35.153069,-119.80687+to:35.120149,-119.744892+to:35.077366,-119.666204+to:35.4389714,-118.7968873+to:35.5523609,-118.6001063+to:Cort+214%2FKern+Canyon+Rd+to:Main+St+to:I-80+W&geocode=FXDyOQIdj2q8-A%3BFUEeMgIdLbnD-A%3BFXqJJwIdcGrN-CkRSRXaChmTgDH1xYfCCd81vA%3BFT-LIQIdfVPO-A%3BFSoJHAIdHa3P-A%3BFUQDGAIdQV_b-A%3BFa1kGAIdauTb-CmJWgch7pXrgDGqvtl-upNsFg%3BFRXkFwIdhNbc-CmvF_iXpr_rgDH5VSNbfH7-pQ%3BFfY8FwId5Ane-Cn7tcy648brgDGOWIs217JZ1w%3BFXvBHAIdqU3r-CmThEuGaXHqgDGZ_7pAKPUFlQ%3BFWh8HgIdVk7u-CmvHy085tnBgDFjSo5DUNjI5w%3BFVjSHgId-l7v-A%3BFagjMwId5loK-Q%3BFTpOSAIdk-e5-A&sll=36.156727,-120.740433&sspn=0.402495,0.651627&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrsp=2&sz=11&via=2,6,7,8,9,10&ie=UTF8&t=m&ll=37.028869,-119.421387&spn=4.209546,7.03125&z=7" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>[/gmap]

Also we have an alternate route from Hollister to Santa Margarita, for those with adequate fuel range and who don't mind a few miles of dirt.

The plan includes a combination of camping and motels. Here's the current itinerary:

  • Sat 4/14 Ride to Carrizo Plain and camp for the night at Selby Campground. Any non-campers could ride another 30-40 miles to Maricopa.
  • Sun 4/15 Ride to Beatty, stay at a hotel TBD.
  • Mon 4/16 Play in DV North side (Titus Canyon, Ubehebe Crater, Scotty's Castle, etc.), remain in Beatty.
  • Tue 4/17 Play in DV South side (Badwater, Artists Drive, Skidoo, etc.), remain in Beatty.
  • Wed 4/18 Go home, or do some more camping.
Can't be away that long, or want to spend more time? There are options!
  • Day Trip Dads/Divas: Come with us as far as Bitterwater, split off to King City and Fort Hunter Liggett, then take Nacimiento-Ferguson Road to the coast and head back home along 1. This is about as awesome as a day trip can get.
  • Weekend Warriors: Camp with us on the Carrizo Plain and then go home the next day. Sorry, no Death Valley for you!
  • Three Day Toe Dippers: Camp at Carrizo, follow us through Death Valley to Beatty, spend the night there, then take 95 and 50 through Sacramento to get home.
  • Four Day Frolickers: Like the Toe Dippers but with a full day playing in DV with us.
  • Epic Adventurers: Spend more time in DV and/or anywhere else.
We have a group rate at the Death Valley Inn in Beatty, 775-553-9400. Mention the Bay Area Riders Forum to get the rate, it's $59.96 per night including tax for a double. It's good for April 15-18, 8 rooms are available, and it's OK to book fewer nights. Their normal rate for that is $68.61 so this is a pretty good deal. If there's any confusion ask for Dawn, the manager.

Obviously a few other details remain to be determined, and this first posting will be updated as they are worked out. In the meantime, please post here if you plan to come and/or if you have comments or suggestions.

Some links of interest:

Map of Carrizo Plain National Monument
Aerial view of Carrizo with links to its features
Soda Lake Road video showing wildflowers in bloom, the turnoff to Selby Campground at 0:31 and dirt at 3:19
Map of Death Valley National Park
Excellent intro to visiting Death Valley (see especially the photo tour)
More good visitor information

About fees, from http://wikitravel.org/en/Death_Valley :
A seven day pass with unlimited re-entry is $20 for a standard vehicle (car/truck/van) and $10 for each individual traveling on foot, motorcycle, or bicycle. However, individuals planning to visit many different National Parks in the USA may save money by purchasing an America The Beautiful, The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for $80; this pass allows free entry to all federal fee areas in the USA.

Unlike other National Parks, few of the roads into Death Valley National Park have road-blocking ranger-manned fee booths. You are expected to pay the entrance fee though, and there are automatic kiosks at several places in the park.
Click to expand...

Note: Street tires are fine, but you'll have more options with dual-sport or knobbies.
 
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probably too close to an already scheduled vacation for me but have a great ride! I miss DV and it looks like you have a fun route planned.
 
Participants

Here's another post that I'll update as things change. As best I can tell, the following are planning to participate:

Code: 
                          Carrizo  DV
  Nufc9 (Tim)                Y      Y
  rodr (Rod)                 Y      Y
  seavoyage                  N      Y
  Star Man (Greg)            Y      N
  sweeping winger (Ed)       N      N  (day tripper)
  The Smokester (John)       ?      Y
  Titus58 (Tim)              N      N  (possible day tripper)
 
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Rod, also got a planned vacation from April 7th - 17th to San Diego & L.Vegas.
But it's just a plan for now, if this goes south, I'll ride with you guys for a day trip up to Hwy. 25.
This will be another awesome trip. Thanks for the invitation, Rod.
 
Hmmm, this sounds like fun. I could be up for this. Will need to check with work and see what moods I will need to make to the bike. I'm probably 75/25 in/out. Any thoughts on a pre planing meeting as this would be my first long trip and would like to rack some people's brains as to what to bring and what needs to be done to the bike.
 
Griffindor said:
Rod, also got a planned vacation from April 7th - 17th to San Diego & L.Vegas.
But it's just a plan for now, if this goes south, I'll ride with you guys for a day trip up to Hwy. 25.
This will be another awesome trip. Thanks for the invitation, Rod.
Click to expand...
:thumbup

Nufc9 said:
Hmmm, this sounds like fun. I could be up for this. Will need to check with work and see what moods I will need to make to the bike. I'm probably 75/25 in/out. Any thoughts on a pre planing meeting as this would be my first long trip and would like to rack some people's brains as to what to bring and what needs to be done to the bike.
Click to expand...
Added you to the list, 75/25 is good enough for that. :)

Asking on BARF is probably better than a meeting -- lots of smart folks here! If your bike is up-to-date on service you should be good for the route as mapped here. Once at DV, tires and ground clearance will of course affect which roads you can explore.

Yeah I think this trip is gonna be epic!
 
I'ma think'in I'ma gonna hit this one; see'in I ain't bean the DV or Net Beatty's house befoe. :toothless
Prolly just do like 3 days though, and slumming in hotels.
 
Banjoboy said:
I'ma think'in I'ma gonna hit this one; see'in I ain't bean the DV or Net Beatty's house befoe. :toothless
Prolly just do like 3 days though, and slumming in hotels.
Click to expand...

Oh hell yeah. :thumbup

There's a Motel 8 in Maricopa, I think that will be the only one anywhere near the Carrizo campground.

Suggest you try to get one more day off so you can explore DV a bit. Lots to see there!
 
Selby Camp

Here's some intel on Selby Camp, our first overnight stop.

This video (which I also added to post #1) shows at 0:31 where the turn-off is from Soda Lake Road to the campground (it also shows wildflowers in bloom at its beginning, and where Soda Lake becomes dirt at 3:19).

After the turn-off go about 4.5 miles and bear left at the Y, then another mile to the campground. There are 13 campsites each with a covered picnic table and a fire pit. It has toilets but no trash cans and no water.

If someone is caging (trailering bikes) then it would be nice to also bring some firewood for this. It's not clear to me if a "campfire permit" is required; if yes then it can be had online for free.

More camping info here. More Selby info and photos here. There is an alternative campground here but it looks like Selby is more interesting.

EDIT: I found a cool thread on advrider with lots of pics where 4 guys with sidecar rigs went camping in Carrizo last year. And hey, another one right here from our very own WoodsChick!
 
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Banjoboy said:
I'ma think'in I'ma gonna hit this one; see'in I ain't bean the DV or Net Beatty's house befoe. :toothless
Prolly just do like 3 days though, and slumming in hotels.
Click to expand...

Damn BB, going to really test the ADV ability of the FJR, eh? :laughing

I'm thinking about doing the same thing... maybe just the first 3-4 days. I still haven't taken the Tenere on a proper multi-day ride yet and DV was one place I wanted to take the S10 in 2012.
 
GoNotShow said:
Damn BB, going to really test the ADV ability of the FJR, eh? :laughing

I'm thinking about doing the same thing... maybe just the first 3-4 days. I still haven't taken the Tenere on a proper multi-day ride yet and DV was one place I wanted to take the S10 in 2012.
Click to expand...

Think you're more likely to come than not? If so I'll add you to the list. :)

By the way I'm having second thoughts about that South Pass to Saline Valley... here's what it looked like around the end of March last year. :laughing

1232866820_cH4ME-M.jpg
 
rodr said:
Think you're more likely to come than not? If so I'll add you to the list. :)

By the way I'm having second thoughts about that South Pass to Saline Valley... here's what it looked like around the end of March last year. :laughing

1232866820_cH4ME-M.jpg
Click to expand...

Sure sign me up! :thumbup

And if winter continues to be as dry as it has been, we might be OK doing South Pass to Saline this year in April.
 
Looks like a blast.

Ride safe, take pics!!
 
Any more details on the ride rod, looks like I can get the time off, who is in at this point?.
 
Hi Tim, see post #3 in this thread for the current list of who's in. I will keep that updated as things change.

For anyone who's not on the list but plans to come, or who expects to take off early or join late where that's not already noted, please either post up here or PM me. Sometime next month we'll probably want to select a hotel and start making reservations.

One detail we won't have a handle on for quite a while is Saline Valley. If the South pass is not passable then we may choose to go in on the North side, or skip it entirely.
 
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