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Yosemite and DV in 2012

rodr

rodr

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Location
Oz
Moto(s)
CB500XA
Name
Rod
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AMA #: 2846730
Yosemite and Death Valley are on my list for 2012 -- still haven't been to either!

What's the best time of year to go? Good spots to visit? Camping options? Anybody wanna come? :teeth
 
Do DV when the wildflowers are blooming by way of carizzo plain.
 
rodr said:
Yosemite and Death Valley are on my list for 2012 -- still haven't been to either!

What's the best time of year to go? Good spots to visit? Camping options? Anybody wanna come? :teeth
Click to expand...

Any time would be a good time for yosemite... in a car. Winter with snow is really different than summer in terms of sights and feel of the place. On a bike, how fond are you about riding on snow ?

Death valley, I just remembered that it was really hot and boring. I need to go visit one more time before writing that place off ... Let's plan a trip there on bikes.
 
sv2007 said:
Any time would be a good time for yosemite... in a car. Winter with snow is really different than summer in terms of sights and feel of the place. On a bike, how fond are you about riding on snow ?

Death valley, I just remembered that it was really hot and boring. I need to go visit one more time before writing that place off ... Let's plan a trip there on bikes.
Click to expand...

Yosemite is open and clear right now. However, federal law requires that you carry chains through the park (but, I guess they don't have to fit, just that you carry tire chains ... ) Dress for the cold, though. :teeth
 
luckett said:
Do DV when the wildflowers are blooming by way of carizzo plain.
Click to expand...

Looks nice... but... Carrizo doesn't seem anywhere near DV, especially if Yosemite is on the route.

sv2007 said:
Any time would be a good time for yosemite... in a car. Winter with snow is really different than summer in terms of sights and feel of the place. On a bike, how fond are you about riding on snow ?

Death valley, I just remembered that it was really hot and boring. I need to go visit one more time before writing that place off ... Let's plan a trip there on bikes.
Click to expand...

Don't want snow, don't want hot and boring, guess that's why I'm posting here. :laughing

Jenn said:
Rod - I'd be up for trips to either place - but for DV, I would rather trailer bikes and have knobbies on, camp at Saline - way more funner that way. :)
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Hey Jenn, would love to do some adventuring with you. Don't have much dirt skills or equipment though, just this piggy old V-Strom. :laughing Maybe DV is not for me? :|

EDIT: Or maybe I just need different tires... see followup posting.
 
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yosemite is beautiful but it can bereally frustrating on a bike. anytime its good weather to be on 2 wheels, its good weather for all the tourists. i finally stopped attempting group rides through the park (a locals term). any of the highways are nice but 108 and 120 are the best. plenty of wonderful places to stop and enjoy the view.
 
rodr said:
Looks nice... but... Carrizo doesn't seem anywhere near DV, especially if Yosemite is on the route.
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Actually, Carrizo is about the same distance to DV as Yosemite. DV and Yosemite are two places that are usually best done at different times of the year. When DV is in it's prime, all the passes south of Tahoe will be snowed in. Once Tioga has opened, the highs will be getting up to around 110F in DV.
 
im pretty sure 120 is open right now ;)

i know for a fact that 108 is still open... im still riding to work and im at 5000 feet. craziness.
 
luckett said:
Actually, Carrizo is about the same distance to DV as Yosemite. DV and Yosemite are two places that are usually best done at different times of the year. When DV is in it's prime, all the passes south of Tahoe will be snowed in. Once Tioga has opened, the highs will be getting up to around 110F in DV.
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OK thanks, that gets to my question about best time of year. Kinda sounds like separate trips are in order, and maybe the DV trip should be on a loop that includes Carizzo. Even if the passes are not closed, I don't care to freeze my butt off. :)

Regarding the tourist crowds at Yosemite -- might that be solved by going mid-week?
 
Hey Rod - definitely interested :thumbup

I'm thinking maybe DV in mid-spring and Yosemite in summer....


T
 
rodr said:
OK thanks, that gets to my question about best time of year. Kinda sounds like separate trips are in order, and maybe the DV trip should be on a loop that includes Carizzo. Even if the passes are not closed, I don't care to freeze my butt off. :)

Regarding the tourist crowds at Yosemite -- might that be solved by going mid-week?
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Not as effective as one would hope but better than sat/sun none the less.
 
Titus58 said:
Hey Rod - definitely interested :thumbup

I'm thinking maybe DV in mid-spring and Yosemite in summer....

T
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Hi Tim! That sounds very reasonable.

Found some good info on Carrizo here.
 
Yosemite in May with all the waterfalls is pretty. April too early, too much water (or snow.) Death Valley, early spring supposedly is nice.
 
Jenn said:
Rod - I'd be up for trips to either place - but for DV, I would rather trailer bikes and have knobbies on, camp at Saline - way more funner that way. :)
Click to expand...

Hey Jenn, I was just surfing for info about the Saline Valley campground... that does sound appealing!

So how are the roads there... what if I have something like Heidenau K60's mounted? Those are supposed to be good in dirt/gravel and still good for around 7000-9000 miles on pavement. We're talking a 470-pound motorcycle here and I'd prefer to keep it upright... whatta ya think? :teeth
 
rodr said:
Hey Jenn, I was just surfing for info about the Saline Valley campground... that does sound appealing!

So how are the roads there... what if I have something like Heidenau K60's mounted? Those are supposed to be good in dirt/gravel and still good for around 7000-9000 miles on pavement. We're talking a 470-pound motorcycle here and I'd prefer to keep it upright... whatta ya think? :teeth
Click to expand...

Dual sport tires are fine if you come from the north (Big Pine). The road has been hit a couple of times with a road grader, and wide enough in most parts for vehicles to pass one another on Saline Valley Rd. You might get some snow on that road, though, above 6200', and it's above 7000' before it starts to decend. The six mile road from Saline Valley Rd. to the springs is one-vehicle wide and a bit rougher, but knobbies still not needed. Now, if you want to wander around some, then the knobbies would be very useful.
 
rodr said:
Regarding the tourist crowds at Yosemite -- might that be solved by going mid-week?
Click to expand...

There isn't any surefire "solution" Yosemite is a World class destination, and tourists or visitors are at it on all days. There is a heavy usage period of the year, and a Californian that can choose their days..can choose a day that the weather say Go...and the Tourest season says "that's not normal, don't go now".

Anyway..all the Sierra and Death Valley is a get out there, for Gods sake You live here, thing.
 
Sounds like DV around April will be the first order of business. :party

I'll post up a very tentative route/schedule sometime in the next week or so. In the meantime, keep those ideas coming!

Oh Jenn... if you're gonna trailer there, wanna haul some food and stuff? :teeth
 
Well that's what I remember... but... oh never mind. :laughing
 
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