Death Valley Germans bluff site

[DAW89446]

The AZ couple were experienced back country hikers/campers, had water and food, etc. but got into country that was too rough to traverse safely.  

They overestimated the capability of their vehicle as well.  I have a Subaru Outback, and while it's a very capable vehicle, I wouldn't take it out in this kind of area without some serious modifications - skid plates, big AT tires w/ 2 spares, etc.  This couple's Subaru was just showroom stock, with street tires.  People need to understand, JUST because your car has AWD or 4WD doesn't mean you can just hop in and go anywhere.  I've met several people who believed exactly that.  This couple got 2 flat tires, and everything else spiraled out of that.  

One other thing: I've been off-road in DV a few times with some very experienced guys, and I noticed that they try very hard to never go out alone, in a single vehicle, for obvious reasons.

I also have an Outback, but it’s only been on maintained dirt roads and not that often. In the past I had a Tacoma TRD, currently a 4Runner. Those go off road. I always run load range E BFG All Terrain T/A's. It has been my practice to travel with one or more, each driving and often camping in our respective vehicles. I've been over most of the park's trails over the decades, some now closed. I've lived in Trona, Ridgecrest Big Pine and June Lake for decades, spending a lot of time in DVNM and DVNP. I've been down the road through Gold Valley to the end. Greenwater Valley and Gold Valley roads are fine for the Forester, the trail over the summit isn’t. I wouldn’t use P rated tires if I were regularly taking the car even on maintained dirt roads.

I try to resist being critical of those poor folks adverse actions and mistakes, but there were several critical ones. But when in distress, one makes some bad choices. I can empathize because I've been there - both heat exhaustion, in blizzards and sub zero temps; and have even broke through ice and submerged in an icy pond. Fortunately I had made some other preparations in those cases that ultimately brought me through to safety. I am guilty as most in that I’ve made a quick “it won’t happen to me” attitude and done something dumb and paid for it. I hope my dumb mistakes don’t cost me my life.