A couple of SoCal questions

[easelman]

come july or august death valley is the hottest spot on earth (literally) getting up to 120. Its very serious stuff in the desert in summer. Its not fun that time of year.

just my warning.

[CaliCruizer]

Death Valley is my favorite place in the world. I've biked thourgh it twice - one in mid may so almost summer. I don't think it really feels all that hot there - it's windy so the wind cools things down a little. Furnace Creek Ranch is a really cool place to stay. They have an aweosme breakfast buffet. The rooms are okay - nothing fancy but theres a golf corse with a resturant you can drive a golf cart up to (I'm not into golf but I still think it's pretty cool) and there are plenty of day trips to see cool places in DV from Furance Creek. It's only a mile from the Furnance Creek Inn which is fancy and a lot more expensive. I like the Ranch better - there are actually homes for the people of DV in the ranch so it's cool to see those and theres an old post office and a general store and horse stables all in the ranch.
As far as beaches new SD, Torrey Pines and La Jolla Shores are some of the best. Mission Beach is fun because of the boardwalk but the beach itself is way too crowded.

[spertierra]

Try this. Day one, get up early enter from the north, and see the Eureka valley dunes, then backtrack, and go visit Uhebebe crater, scotty's castle, the racetrack, and then head for one of the resorts. Second day, see all the easier stuff to see in the south end of the park, there will be signs showing you the main sights. If you wife was more adventerous, I would give you more choices, but they require camping out. Titus is a must see.

[kokopelli]

Thanks folks, I appreciate the advice.. I've visited the SW in the summer a number of times and I do know about the heat. Problem is my wife teaches school and that's the only time she can get away for three weeks. We spent a week in mid July in Moab last year, so she's adapting. The intake air on my Rubicon (Scanguage) went up to 158 out in the desert back of Arches. The steering wheel got so hot that i had to wear driving gloves! I believe we could have boiled hotdogs in the water jerry can in the back. I know what we're headed for and I'll be prepared, but I totally agree.. I have a very healthy for the desert and normally carry a weeks supplies and communications gear as well.

We won't be doing any of the serious stuff on a summer trip, just the easier (tourist) stuff. Sandy is new to the desert and roadtrips, but she's showing signs of addiction. She handled three weeks through the mid-sections (Ouray, Moab) last summer, so we'll do the real SW this summer. As long as there's a nice B&B or INN and good food at the end of the day, she'll be fine.

PS: I'm now 53 and time's a wasting.. If I'm lucky I'll have another 20 years do so this stuff all over again. Much older, but hey a new FJ and trophy wifeThanks Ron

PS: haven't been to Diego or the CA coast in 35 years!

spertierra previously said:

Try this. Day one, get up early enter from the north, and see the Eureka valley dunes, then backtrack, and go visit Uhebebe crater, scotty's castle, the racetrack, and then head for one of the resorts. Second day, see all the easier stuff to see in the south end of the park, there will be signs showing you the main sights. If you wife was more adventerous, I would give you more choices, but they require camping out. Titus is a must see.

[kokopelli]

I understand and will plan accordingly.. I'm like real, REAL, big on safety and not over-extending. I don't consider this stuff lightly. I appreciate your warning.. Thanks Ron

easelman previously said:

come july or august death valley is the hottest spot on earth (literally) getting up to 120. Its very serious stuff in the desert in summer. Its not fun that time of year.

just my warning.

[Kokopeli]

CADavebert previously said:

OMG - Poker - Thanks for that.... I'm like, I thought his name was Brian, but now it's Ron??? And I thought he already lived in SoCal, why's his wife elsewhere???


Whew. I'm ok now.

LOL.. Yes, there are TWO Koko's on this forum, I (Brian) only have one "L" and the other (Ron - the imitation ) has two "L"s in his.

I am also Kokopeli (one "L") on Pirate4x4, Adv4x4, and the SoCalFJ forums.

Hope this helps differentiate the two of us.. Though, just for fun, I might start using Ron's avatar. That should really screw people up!

[Kokopeli]

Hi Ron,

One nice part about visiting in the summer months is that there will be very few people around.

While in DV, be sure to drive out to the Racetrack and see the mysterious moving rocks. Also be sure and take the drive through Titus Canyon. Both are easy drives (though the last time I drove to the Racetrack there was a section of deep sand that was as fine as talcum powder) and well worth the time it takes to drive them. Check out a couple of the ghost towns while you are there as well.

Seeing the Mojave and staying in decent lodgings shouldn't be too much of a problem. There are many towns located within the Mojave desert and each offer a variety of hotels to choose from.

While in the Mojave, be sure to stop and see the Kelso sand dunes and the Mitchel caverns are kinda fun to tour. Both are in close proximity and can be tackled the same day. You might also want to visit the Amboy Crater, a cinder cone volcano which is also close to the other two landmarks. While visiting the crater, be sure to stop for lunch at the diner (assuming it is open). They have the best milkshakes within 50 miles.

I'll go through some of my travel journal entries and see if I can come up with some other "must see" locales in these areas.
~Brian

[kokopelli]

Hi Brian,
Thanks for the tips.. I'm also known around as "Hohopelli", thus the seasonal avitar! I'm looking forward to the trip. Ron

Kokopeli previously said:

Hi Ron,

One nice part about visiting in the summer months is that there will be very few people around.

While in DV, be sure to drive out to the Racetrack and see the mysterious moving rocks. Also be sure and take the drive through Titus Canyon. Both are easy drives (though the last time I drove to the Racetrack there was a section of deep sand that was as fine as talcum powder) and well worth the time it takes to drive them. Check out a couple of the ghost towns while you are there as well.

Seeing the Mojave and staying in decent lodgings shouldn't be too much of a problem. There are many towns located within the Mojave desert and each offer a variety of hotels to choose from.

While in the Mojave, be sure to stop and see the Kelso sand dunes and the Mitchel caverns are kinda fun to tour. Both are in close proximity and can be tackled the same day. You might also want to visit the Amboy Crater, a cinder cone volcano which is also close to the other two landmarks. While visiting the crater, be sure to stop for lunch at the diner (assuming it is open). They have the best milkshakes within 50 miles.

I'll go through some of my travel journal entries and see if I can come up with some other "must see" locales in these areas.
~Brian

[nevadaesh]

OK here's my 2 cents.

Motel schedule: 1st night in Beatty, 2nd in Panamint Springs, 3rd at Stovepipe Wells or Furnace Creek Inn.

Day 1: Stay in Beatty for a night. Make reservations at Panamint Springs for the next night. As others have said, Titus canyon road starts about 5 miles out of Beatty. Do Titus, but skip Scotty's castle on this day. Proceed to Ubehebe crater, take a look, head south to the Racetrack, 25 miles of washboard road. The Park grades other dirt/gravel roads but they seem to forget about this road. Anyway, bring a distinctive old teapot from your home and some tie wire for Teakeattle junction. Visit the Racetrack and backtrack to Teakeattle junction and take the "other" road, that being Hidden Valley and Hunter Mountain roads. Hunter Mountain gets you up over 7,000', a respite from the heat. This will get you to Hwy 190 just above Panamint Springs and your motel room. All of this is a good long days drive.

Day 2: Go east from Panamint Springs to Panamint Valley and head south on the Panamint Valley Rd. 15 miles south take a left and head north along Wildrose road. This will take you by many touristy places to visit. This also heads you in the general direction of Death Valley proper. Visit the Charcoal Kilns, Mahogany Flats, Aguereberry Point and Skidoo mining area. Once you hit Hwy 190 again, visit Mosaic canyon, its down by Stovepipe Wells.

Day 3: You will now be in the real touristy area. There is Badwater, the lowest point in the US, Artist Drive, a must see, Devils Golf Course, etc. etc. See Zabriskie Point and further up the road, Twenty Mule Team Canyon, a short one way drive thru a landscape you won't believe, beautiful. Then there's Dante's View.

So much to see. If you want a tag along on the first day, let me know and the wife and I can travel with you. The first days trip will take you into an extremely remote area of the park that, in the middle of summer, you should have someone else along for safety reasons. The other two days, you will have plenty (well some) other people out and about, you will be on paved roads.

Good luck and have lots of fun.

[CADavebert]

If you make it all the way out here closer to the coast, we should setup a koko(2) event. (that's koko squared)