North Road open

[DAW89446]

The sloughed off portion is the only real challenge on the Lippincott (normally, barring Mother Nature Earthworks Company efforts). Beardilock’s Cruiser shouldn’t have any issues as long as that 20 yard long portion is still intact. I’ve been over it numerous times over the years and have seen it wide enough for a full size pickup, one time that it was only a few inches wider than the track of my Tacoma. And the bonus is the old national monument sign.

[Beardilocks]

New story every time here lately.

Newest intel is that North Rd is open permanently. Probably. They think. Maybe not but most likely.

Literally my conversation with a ranger today. 😂

[Beardilocks]

Most recent intel from NPS today is that North Rd is open permanently.

Racetrack Rd has no timeline to reopen. Priority is on the 2-way, western end of Titus.

[MojaveGeek]

Ha, coming from anyone other than you, Beardilocks, I'd be thinking you were spamming us with false reports, to keep us on our toes Sounds like no one really knows WTF is going on. Great supervision and decision making! Well hopefully they keep it open now while they work on it. Ironically, it was some time in the last 10 years or so that they did a whole bunch of work with drainage up that way; I guess it got overwhelmed this summer.

DVD, that's pretty funny, a cameo self portrait. Who is that white haired geezer? And I liked the line about instant death...

Once I camped at the wash at the bottom of the road and walked up. There were definitely some oil stained rocks along the route and that sloughed off portion seemed intimidating. We walked up, and then traversed the Racetrack, climbed most of the way up Ubehebe Peak, and wandered back down for dinner. I was pretty damn fit in those days.

[Beardilocks]

Talking to rangers today they said even the LEOs weren’t informed it would open. It was just… suddenly open. Hahaha.

As far as condition: I drove up more or less to Titus (just shy of it) to do a hike up there. The road is completely patched up with new drainage. No gravel sections. Same old crappy road but with new bits. They did a good job.

The rangers I talked to today said they drove it to Ubehebe and it’s “finished” the whole way.

[Daymoth]

Yessssss opeeeeen!!!!!!

[trailhound]

Is the North Hwy a state road? If so, then Caltrans would be handling repairs. The park service would be out of the loop. That would explain the park being in the dark about the details.

[DeathValleyDazed]

Once I camped at the wash at the bottom of the road and walked up.  There were definitely some oil stained rocks along the route and that sloughed off portion seemed intimidating.  We walked up, and then traversed the Racetrack, climbed most of the way up Ubehebe Peak, and wandered back down for dinner.  I was pretty damn fit in those days.

Your comment is so spot on for me personally because when I located and watched the video of those two old guys driving down Lippincott I actually thought what a great idea it would be for me to hike up the damned road instead of the rough and tumble drive (I do not like technical driving over rough terrain and only do so when necessary to reach a destination.) 

And then I discover that you've already completed the hike. Very impressed am I. Please post any images you have of that adventure. Now replicating you path up to the playa and maybe scouting out a different return loop is on my DEVA bucket list. I'd much rather hike than drive. 

I believe that you'd love completing a non rushed hike to the summit of Ubehebe Peak especially early morning or near sunset with the fabulous 360 degree views. In some ways it's as expansive as Dantes View. Here's my feeble attempt to capture this fun end to the scramble. Once on the peak ridge line it's not as technical as it may appear. I wish I had done a focused zoom onto the Lippincott Road from up there but I didn't know exactly what I was looking at back then. BTW, as you know, the trail up to Ubehebe Peak is not as steep or technical as one might conclude from the video because most of my shots are from the ridge peering down that steep south slope into the Racetrack.  

[DeathValleyDazed]

Is the North Hwy a state road? If so, then Caltrans would be handling repairs. The park service would be out of the loop. That would explain the park being in the dark about the details.

FYI I just spoke with Chris Andriessen, Cal Trans District 9 Public Relations Officer - Bishop CA who informed me that Cal Trans only maintains Highway 190 through DEVA. All other roads are NPS Death Valley's responsibility.

District Nine has its own Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Caltrans9

[Kauri]

Is the North Hwy a state road? If so, then Caltrans would be handling repairs. The park service would be out of the loop. That would explain the park being in the dark about the details.

FYI I just spoke with Chris Andriessen, Cal Trans District 9 Public Relations Officer - Bishop CA who informed me that Cal Trans only maintains Highway 190 through DEVA. All other roads are NPS Death Valley's responsibility.

District Nine has its own Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Caltrans9

DVD, I'm very impressed at how, whenever a question like this comes up, you know exactly how to reach someone who can get you an answer, whereas probably most of the rest of us would be stuck in an infinite loop with an automated phone message trying to get ahold of a live person. Well done!