Death Valley

It has been 2 years since I have been to DVNP, so I'm looking forward to a trip next month.  Here is the planned itinerary, though it depends in part on the condition of Saline Valley Rd.  Anyone know how South Pass is doing?  I want to drive down there and part way up Lippincott to hike a loop involving Ubehebe Peak and the Racetrack.  I've wanted to hit Thimble Peak for a long time, and with Titus Canyon being closed to vehicles, I want to hike over from Daylight Spring.  It will make for a 19 mile day, but not too much elevation change.

April 14, morning arrival to LAX, drive to Argus Range and hike part way up to Parkinson Peak
April 15, summit Parkinson Peak and perhaps Maturango, descend, and drive to Wildrose Campground
April 16, Drive up to Kilns/Thorndike/Mahogany Flat and hike Telescope, drive down South Pass to part way up Lippincott Rd
April 17, Hike cross country to Ubehebe Peak, then down to the south end of the Racetrack, and down Lippincott Rd, drive to Daylight Spring
April 18, Hike cross country to Titus Canyon Rd, then to Leadfield and up to Thimble Peak, then return and drive to ??? 
April 19, ??? then drive to Joshua Tree NP Black Rock Campground
April 20, Cactus to Clouds, as far as I can get before too much snow, then tramway down, taxi back to vehicole, and drive to near San Gorgonio trailhead.
April 21, as much of San Gorgonio as I can do.  
April 22, as much of San Antonio (Baldy) as I can do.  Back to LAX for red eye home.

I thought about saving the southern California mountains for another year because of the amount of snow, but it is doubtful I will get another chance to see them like this, so decided to do them anyway.

(2023-03-24, 09:07 AM)wbdeford Wrote: [ -> ]It has been 2 years since I have been to DVNP, so I'm looking forward to a trip next month.  

Brian, I'm currently in the park. Yesterday 3/23/2023 I spoke with a park ranger/officer while he performed maintenance on the windsock at the Furnace Creek Airport. He said south pass currently is "iffy" with show and ice and some rocks washed onto the road. He said just be careful. BTW- this morning about 2 a.m. it rained about a 1/4 inch at Furnace Creek and I noticed a new dusting of snow at the higher elevations - Panamints. 

The weather has generally been cooler than average and the snow pack above average so I'm not sure how much will be melted by the time you arrive? I planned on visiting your "maple grove" east slope of Telescope this week but there's too much snow up at Mahogany so I'll try again in warmer times. 

Thimble Peak is a delightful climb with great views so I'm sure you'll be okay. When I topped Corkscrew Peak seven years ago I met a hiker who approached from Titus Canyon but I can't remember his route. Maybe Titus will be open for you in two weeks? 

If I return to the Visitor Center I'll try to get a detailed prediction report for you. 

BTW, I grew up at the base of San Gorgonio and have summited that peak three times from age 12 to age 64. One can actually see San Gorgonio from Telescope Peak which about 150 miles separating the peaks. Pretty cool seeing Whitney, Charleston, San Gorgonio simultaneously on a clear day. San Gabriels are in view but I'm not familiar at all with them. 

Another BTW: That park ranger (Spencer) told me the pot growers on Hunter Mountain have been eradicated but that "this is the scouting season" meaning the crooks are out looking for new grow spots. I learned this when I told him I was planning on a South Pass hike and was worried about running into the pot head growers rumored to infest the area.

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Thanks, DVD!  Hopefully over the next 3 weeks, South Pass will be clear of snow.  At only a little over 6000 ft, I would think it would be clear by then, unless more snow falls closer to the date.  But if I have to, I will take the regular Racetrack Valley Rd (I think it's open now).  I wasn't planning to visit the Racetrack this year, but I have seen on satellite images that it has been flooded multiple times this winter, so hoping there has been some nice rock movement, and also that it will be fully dried by then.

I seriously doubt Titus Canyon will be opened by then.  All reports I've heard are that it's shut down "indefinitely".  But if it is, that will be a nice bonus of time saved and only having to do the 1.5 mile hike to the Thimble summit.  

I have faint pics of San Gorgonio from Telescope, and even from Whitney, 190 miles away.  I'm looking forward to the drive into the Panamint Valley from the south, which I have never done before, and seeing Telescope from that end.  
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Thread taken from:  South Pass - Saline Preservation Association with more info on the photographer's experience as well as the rest of the road in the valley and south to Lee Flat.

Taken March 24th. Don't try this in a rental Prius ...

There are currently several individuals and groups stranded in the valley and air drops of food and supplies have been made. Lippincott is iffy according to most reports.

(2023-03-24, 09:07 AM)wbdeford Wrote: [ -> ]I've wanted to hit Thimble Peak for a long time, and with Titus Canyon being closed to vehicles, I want to hike over from Daylight Spring.  It will make for a 19 mile day, but not too much elevation change.

Titus will not be open anytime soon, but I wonder if the road is closed right at the park border, or if you can drive up it some distance.  It's probably closed at the park border. 

If I find myself outside Beatty soon I'll check it out, because Thimble and others in the area are also on my to-do list.

(2023-03-24, 05:45 PM)Brice Wrote: [ -> ]

(2023-03-24, 09:07 AM)wbdeford Wrote: [ -> ]I've wanted to hit Thimble Peak for a long time, and with Titus Canyon being closed to vehicles, I want to hike over from Daylight Spring.  It will make for a 19 mile day, but not too much elevation change.

Titus will not be open anytime soon,  but I wonder if the  road is closed right at the park border, or if you can drive up it some distance.  It's probably closed at the park border. 

If I find myself outside Beatty soon I'll check it out, because Thimble and others in the area are also on my to-do list.

The park service has stated that the road to Titus Canyon is closed where it transitions from two-way to one-way

Very helpful pics!  I think I will swap my Thimble and Racetrack days and just take the Racetrack Valley Rd, and start my Ubehebe loop from a different spot.  With Titus being 1 way, it seems extremely unlikely that they would open any of that stretch till it is all clear.

Thanks, guys!

A Racetrack loop I’ve always wanted to do is to hike down to Corridor canyon from Racetrack Rd, continue into Saline Valley, and loop back via Ubehebe Peak.

Titus is almost guaranteed to be closed at the CA/NV border. I’m not sure when the snow will clear off Telescope/Mahogany. Snow load was pretty big this year and it’s simply not warming up. Ten day forecast only shows 2 days over 75 in Furnace.

I checked it out and as expected the Titus road is closed at the park boundary, 1.5 miles from the highway. Oh well.

(2023-03-26, 04:50 PM)Brice Wrote: [ -> ]I checked it out and as expected the Titus road is closed at the park boundary, 1.5 miles from the highway.  Oh well.

Isn't hiking portions of Titus a possibility? I've hiked in a way from the exit and parking lot for Fall Canyon.