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What kind of SUV and is it a rental or personal vehicle? I carry traction boards for sandy roads (I like the ones made by GoTreads), and I'd suggest doing some reading on how best to handle driving sandy roads. Going all the way out to Marble Canyon, especially after the closure, I'd also be concerned about sufficient ground clearance. That road does of course vary year-to-year, I've seen a Prius parked in the Cottonwood wash and a RAV4 at the Cottonwood-Marble junction, but I also remember a past trip (I think December 2014, after the road had recently washed out) where we were surprisingly concerned about ground clearance on our stock FJ Cruiser going up to Marble Canyon. I personally wouldn't recommend taking a crossover-size SUV (Subaru/RAV4) beyond the entrance to Cottonwood without skid plates and sufficient experience with tire placement, but a larger SUV such as a stock 4Runner I would think should be fine unless the road is very bad and/or you as the driver aren't familiar with driving those kinds of roads.
Link to my DV trip reports, and map of named places in DV (official and unofficial): http://kaurijacobphotography.yolasite.com
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(2022-12-06, 01:51 PM)Kauri Wrote: What kind of SUV and is it a rental or personal vehicle? I carry traction boards for sandy roads (I like the ones made by GoTreads), and I'd suggest doing some reading on how best to handle driving sandy roads. Going all the way out to Marble Canyon, especially after the closure, I'd also be concerned about sufficient ground clearance. That road does of course vary year-to-year, I've seen a Prius parked in the Cottonwood wash and a RAV4 at the Cottonwood-Marble junction, but I also remember a past trip (I think December 2014, after the road had recently washed out) where we were surprisingly concerned about ground clearance on our stock FJ Cruiser going up to Marble Canyon. I personally wouldn't recommend taking a crossover-size SUV (Subaru/RAV4) beyond the entrance to Cottonwood without skid plates and sufficient experience with tire placement, but a larger SUV such as a stock 4Runner I would think should be fine unless the road is very bad and/or you as the driver aren't familiar with driving those kinds of roads.
So last year we had a rental kia sportage and were hoping we would make it to the entrance, were in theory 2WD can sometimes make it. And yet the sand just freaked us out. It felt quite deep and we had no experience. So we did a 20 point turn around.
This year we have our own ( the bank's) RAV4, but still no experience.
Ill look into traction boards!
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(2022-12-06, 01:51 PM)Kauri Wrote: What kind of SUV and is it a rental or personal vehicle? I carry traction boards for sandy roads (I like the ones made by GoTreads), and I'd suggest doing some reading on how best to handle driving sandy roads.
Are traction boards the same thing as sand ladders?
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(2022-12-07, 09:10 PM)netllama Wrote: (2022-12-06, 01:51 PM)Kauri Wrote: What kind of SUV and is it a rental or personal vehicle? I carry traction boards for sandy roads (I like the ones made by GoTreads), and I'd suggest doing some reading on how best to handle driving sandy roads.
Are traction boards the same thing as sand ladders?
Yes, same thing.
Traction boards / sand ladders can be a good tool in certain instances, but if you're not from the start comfortable and capable with the vehicle you're driving and the conditions you're in, then I wouldn't count on them. YMMV.
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Probably should have some as an emergency item anyway, even if its the cheapo ones I dont intend to need to use.
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And just so I dont open another thread, any thoughts on the Mojave preserve? The lava tubes and cinder cones are not accessible right now.
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(2022-12-08, 12:43 PM)Daymoth Wrote: Borax Benchmark - Artist Peak
Early in this thread you mentioned BM and AP. Not sure what Artist Peak is but of all the locations I've explored and enjoyed so much (Keane Wonder - King Midas Mines, Telescope Peak area, Surprise Canyon, Darwin, Hunter Mountain, Saline Valley, Eureka Dunes area, Ibex Dunes, Mesquite Dunes, Funeral Mountains, Dantes View and ridge line, Panamint Dunes, Lee Flat, Rainbow Canyon, Tucki Mountain and canyon, Grapevine Mountains, Death Valley flats and Badwater) The Borax Benchmark was the most fun but most challenging. The color schemes and geology was endlessly fascinating and you are all alone up and out there. This includes scrambling up and over Artist's Palette into its drainage basin which falls west of BM.
Life begins in Death Valley
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Life begins in Death Valley
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2022-12-08, 05:26 PM
(This post was last modified: 2022-12-08, 05:27 PM by John Morrow.)
(2022-12-08, 12:43 PM)Daymoth Wrote: And just so I dont open another thread, any thoughts on the Mojave preserve? The lava tubes and cinder cones are not accessible right now.
Just got back from there. Here's a couple ideas I just really enjoyed. IMO: MNP is a vastly underappreciated Preserve. Scroll older albums for more MNP ideas. I should have older TRs on Backcountrypost or here but ask if you interest is piqued!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N...0304260484
route maps at bottom of album. Crossover from Burro to Rustler was scrambly but up and back either is worthwhile. The triangle loop of the two Piute Branch canyons is still on my list....
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