Death Valley Germans bluff site

[MojaveGeek]

I've never needed SAR, and although I've carried an emergency locator system for over a decade, never had to fire it off either. But I've been in a few dicey situations and made a few mistakes in my time.

It seems a frequent factor is that we are out and we have a plan and we believe we will execute the plan, and our focus on "the plan" prevents us from paying adequate attention to the small things that should clue us in to the fact that the plan may not happen. But we ignore those clues until we end up in a bad way. There is a tension between giving up at the first sign of difficulty (a slope steeper than expected), in which case we don't achieve many of our goals, and being so focused on the goal that we ignore the danger signs.

And when I have a plan, it is often easy to fit suspect terrain into it and imagine that it does match the topos and I'm not off route (and getting further off with each step). I've had to teach myself that it is *never* a waste of time to stop and check the map, gps, compass, whatever, and to quickly admit "Hmm may be off route here...".

Though the best course of action would have been to follow a known path to known water, perhaps this party was so focused on the goal (getting to LA to catch a flight, I believe) to consider going back in the opposite direction, and simply admitting that the goal was not going to be achieved, and in fact the situation had turned completely into one of survival. Which, unfortunately, they lost.

When we find ourselves in a situation like this, will we have the presence of mind to come to a screeching halt and totally revise our response to the situation? Worth thinking about it, because if we do think now, we are a bit more likely to do the right thing later, if it ever comes to that.

(of course lots of other lessons here, like not assuming you know anything you have not confirmed on a map, being unaware of conditions, and having way way too little water for such a wild place.)

[DVexile]

@MojaveGeek - You describe the slow, easy path into trouble perfectly. My worst situations have followed similar trains though fortunately have all just resulted in long uncomfortable days rather than needing any assistance.

A key point is taking the time to stop, collect yourself and think. Thinking is helped by water and sugar as well as in warmer months - shade! So stop for a drink, bite and cool rest before considering your situation and things will probably go better than quickly making hot, thirsty and hungry decisions. It is such a ridiculously simple thing but if you’ve spent any time around an irrational hungry child you know what a difference it makes and we aren’t that much more developed than small children…

@Osmigo - Check your estimated distance. I measure 9 miles one way on a route that even cuts some corners on yours.

[DAW89446]

It seems a frequent factor is that we are out and we have a plan and we believe we will execute the plan, and our focus on "the plan" prevents us from paying adequate attention to the small things that should clue us in to the fact that the plan may not happen. But we ignore those clues until we end up in a bad way. There is a tension between giving up at the first sign of difficulty (a slope steeper than expected), in which case we don't achieve many of our goals, and being so focused on the goal that we ignore the danger signs.

Well said.

May have been the very reason for the recent tragic incident on Willow Creek by the AZ couple.

[Osmigo]

@Osmigo - Check your estimated distance.  I measure 9 miles one way on a route that even cuts some corners on yours.

I get anywhere from 7 to 9.5 miles, starting at the entrance to Anvil Valley, depending on the route.  A big unknown is the "rough" area between the Anvil wash (where the "bottle brush," etc. were) and the flat table.  I used Google Earth.

[MojaveGeek]

 Thinking is helped by water and sugar as well as in warmer months - shade!  

That is also an excellent point.   In the sun, hot, stressed...  does not lead to taking the time for serious evaluation of one's circumstances.  Thanks for the comment.

[Osmigo]

May have been the very reason for the recent tragic incident on Willow Creek by the AZ couple.

It's sort of like what happens to some Himalayan climbers: they get so obsessed with their objective, they exceed their limitations.  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. 

Here's an article about the AZ couple.  It has a link to a YouTube of a guy driving the full length of Gold Valley Road. He made it a few days after the AZ couple's disappearance. The comments on the video are very interesting as well.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/20...r-lofgren/

[MojaveGeek]

The one thing that I found strange about the Willow couple was that they had left a note on their vehicle saying they had 3 days of water. I was out there that week, sleeping at SPW and hiking above 7K feet most days in the Panamints, because it was HOT! As in, up to 100 on the FC thermometer. Hot as in a gallon a day hot. So they were not carrying 3 days of water, and if they thought they were, they were not experienced in those conditions. (But I thought that at least one of the couple was from southern AZ, so would certainly have better awareness).

The video of the road is nice - and in fact there are vids of most of the back country roads, which are a good source of info if you want to know a bit more about where you are going. Flats are unexpected though, double flats a real bummer. But I could see in some of that vid, as the valley went down and toward the west, with the snowy Panamints in the distance - although there was hardly any snow left this past April - and the attraction of the paved road down there how it could just suck you in.

But again, the same deal. Plan, to go down. Hope there is water, as there are springs up high, and (don't know if they knew it) flowing water down low. Canyon is technical. It gets harder and harder. But they are following their plan until... they are in over their heads with no exit back out. But if they looked at a topo map, it looks so tempting. Springs even in the canyon. Easy mistake. Sad.

[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.

[Osmigo]

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. 

Just wondered, any particular reason you changed from the Tacoma?  I've known several veteran DV off-roaders that swear by them.

[DAW89446]

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. 

Just wondered, any particular reason you changed from the Tacoma?  I've known several veteran DV off-roaders that swear by them.

I’m getting old. Bad knees hurt when using the clutch. Needed more seating space. Bed nearly always empty because crawling around back there hurt the bad knees. Son needed a truck, I wanted to keep the Tacoma in the family. In northern Nevada I don’t do any serious off roading any more except when hunting. I wanted a truck based SUV but not a large one. I wanted another Toyota. The 4Runner fit the bill perfectly. I have no regrets.



The Tacoma, a 2002, was a superb truck. Bought it new. Only time in the shop was for its 100,000 mile timing belt/water pump replacement; in 2017 for spark plugs. Still on original clutch. AC never serviced and blows cold. Brakes never serviced. I kept it mechanically stock. Son also keeping it stock. Truck just turned over 200,000; still on original clutch, fourth battery, fourth set of tires, original brakes, third set of shocks.