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Savago
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« on: May 31, 2018, 11:01:21 AM » |
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Dear friends
I'm going in a roadtrip and thought about crossing the Death Valley (CA) on my way to Las Vegas and was wondering if anyone got tips to do it in June?
Cheers
Savago
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northernvalk
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« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2018, 11:15:36 AM » |
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Rent a P/U truck with ac and throw your bike in the back.......?
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Serk
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« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2018, 11:25:51 AM » |
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Carry water, soak your shirt for evaporative cooling. When it dries out, pull over and soak it again.
Invest in some cooling neck wraps, keep those soaked as well.
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away...  IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2018, 11:56:51 AM » |
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Which way are you going ? Across Yosemite and down 395 is a nice route.
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MarkT
Member
Posts: 5196
VRCC #437 "Form follows Function"
Colorado Front Range - elevation 2.005 km
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« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2018, 12:09:29 PM » |
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Yeah. Wait 6 months and go for it.
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J.Mencalice
Member
Posts: 1850
"When You're Dead, Your Bank Account Goes to Zero"
Livin' Better Side of The Great Divide
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« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2018, 12:22:04 PM » |
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Dear friends
I'm going in a roadtrip and thought about crossing the Death Valley (CA) on my way to Las Vegas and was wondering if anyone got tips to do it in June?
Cheers
Savago
Early. Quickly. Uneventfully. |
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"The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive." Bill Watterson
Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance...
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2018, 03:22:11 PM » |
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Last time I rode home from up north in 100 degree days, I did it at night. You don't get to see much but headlights, tail lights (and deer), but the temps are better. What's to miss? :max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20110210_041-1000x1500-56a3882a5f9b58b7d0d27560.jpg) Apparently, even the rocks are trying to escape.   I did ride across the Mojave one early spring, and the desert was in bloom and beautiful.... though desert beauty is an acquired taste. But man you need to avoid the migrating billions of Monarch butterflies.... they really taste terrible. If you ride through a northern migration it's like experiencing a Biblical event. |
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« Last Edit: May 31, 2018, 03:41:33 PM by Jess from VA »
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2018, 04:11:43 PM » |
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I did ride across the Mojave one early spring, and the desert was in bloom and beautiful.... though desert beauty is an acquired taste. But man you need to avoid the migrating billions of Monarch butterflies.... they really taste terrible. If you ride through a northern migration it's like experiencing a Biblical event.
This is a strange place for sure. We seem to have Biblical event cycles. One year you might encounter swarms of butterflies as you say. The next year maybe swarms of grasshoppers, or beetles. Or sometimes nothing significant at all. Learning to ride in Alaska, it was just constant mosquitoes. |
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2018, 05:01:19 PM » |
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I did ride across the Mojave one early spring, and the desert was in bloom and beautiful.... though desert beauty is an acquired taste. But man you need to avoid the migrating billions of Monarch butterflies.... they really taste terrible. If you ride through a northern migration it's like experiencing a Biblical event.
This is a strange place for sure. We seem to have Biblical event cycles. One year you might encounter swarms of butterflies as you say. The next year maybe swarms of grasshoppers, or beetles. Or sometimes nothing significant at all. Learning to ride in Alaska, it was just constant mosquitoes. Speaking of crazy events, after weeks of rain, we just had the strongest storm/hardest rain yet. Like maybe 3" in an hour. It overflowed my french drain a bit in the finished basement (hasn't happened in over 20 years since french drain was rebuilt), and through the wall in the unfinished basement utility room, and my sump pump is kicking on every 15-20 seconds (happens once in a blue moon). I've been bailing for an hour, and taking a break. Got a lull, but the doppler radar looks bad until midnight. The red and yellow parts are not good. Esp after the weeks of rain probably has our water table at 18" from surface, which is somewhat shallower than my basement. https://weather.com/weather/radar/interactive/l/22309:4:US?layer=radarQuestion of the day: If you can't build waterproof basements, why do you build them at all? Sorry for the drift of death valley. |
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« Last Edit: May 31, 2018, 05:11:54 PM by Jess from VA »
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pago cruiser
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« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2018, 05:18:46 PM » |
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Assuming you have a mesh jacket, the evap cooling vest is the best $40 you will ever spend. Ever. I guarantee it. Drops your core temp by about 20F as long as the water is evaporating. Normally, in "warm" temps (85-90) the water lasts about an hour. In 100F+ temps, figure half an hour. It takes just about a liter of water to re-charge the vest. Easy to do on any flatish spot handy - seat, rear trunk, etc. Carry at least 3 liters - If you don't need them all to re-charge the vest, you can drink them when you have a flat. ALWAYS carry extra water. The only times it does NOT work is 1) anywhere both hot AND humid, or 2) if you do not have a mesh jacket. I would not consider crossing that area in Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep without the evap vest & mesh jacket. Other than that, stay on main roads. There are lots of enticing roads around; but having a flat tire 10 miles from pavement without cell phone coverage has the potential to be fatal. Happens every couple years out there, usually cagers.  Assuming you already have a compressor (yes?) also get an automotive sized spare tire in a can STIAC). Running over a truck tire shard (affectionately known as an alligator) can put a hole in your tire that will require a constant source of air. The goop in the STIAC has a good chance to seal the hole, allowing you to limp into Furnace Wells and come up with a plan B, whilst sitting at the air conditioned bar...  And I did not say this, but it can be a fun place to ride fast. Real fast...  A couple years ago about 5 miles in from the sign posted by Jess I was buzzed by an Air Force fighter jet at what seemed like 20 feet above my head. About startled the crap out of me...  One last thing - if you pass by Panamint Springs, be sure to stop in for a cool one...The best bar within a 100 mile radius.  |
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Just because you are not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you
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Robert
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« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2018, 05:21:45 PM » |
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Hot and check the gas stations since there is quite a distance between fillups some times. There are sights in the ride through the park but death valley is not much to see. One time going through I watched a train filled with military vehicles and tanks going through the desert. If I remember you are in Northern Cali and will take awhile to get to Vegas. From Vegas to Santa Barbra was about 4 to 5 hours. Many logistics centers in the desert, one trip lighting was going from the ground to the sky and in the south the high desert is a bit cooler just like in the park. It will take awhile though so be prepared no matter what route you take. Going to Sacramento off hours and non scenic 15 to 10 to 5 was usually the best route from there its easy to get to San Francisco.
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« Last Edit: May 31, 2018, 05:24:40 PM by Robert »
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“Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.”
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Serk
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« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2018, 05:50:35 PM » |
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What's to miss?
I absolutely LOVE the isolation and desolation of the high desert... My profile pic was taken, while not in Death Valley, in far west Texas (Highway 54 north out of Van Horn Texas headed towards Big Bend NP) Love it...  |
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Never ask a geek 'Why?',just nod your head and slowly back away... IBA# 22107 VRCC# 7976 VRCCDS# 226 1998 Valkyrie Standard 2008 Gold Wing Taxation is theft. μολὼν λαβέ |
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DirtyDan
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« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2018, 07:56:14 PM » |
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All good advice
Take the tour of Scotty’s castle it’s worth it
The blue jays might try to get your food
Dan
Ps +1 on the high desert, that’s why I live there
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« Last Edit: May 31, 2018, 09:34:58 PM by DirtyDan »
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Do it while you can. I did.... it my way
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Skinhead
Member
Posts: 8742
J. A. B. O. A.
Troy, MI
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« Reply #13 on: June 01, 2018, 04:44:19 AM » |
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The road thru Panamint Springs to Lone Pine CA wass awesome in a cage (never did it on a bike). If you go thru Lone Pine (good place to spend the night if you lay over) be sure to ride up Mt Whitney Portal.
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 Troy, MI |
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Savago
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« Reply #14 on: June 01, 2018, 11:21:56 AM » |
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@all: thanks for the good advice!
@meathead: yep, that is the plan: through Yosemite and next the CA-395 then CA-190.
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #15 on: June 01, 2018, 11:29:32 AM » |
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@all: thanks for the good advice!
@meathead: yep, that is the plan: through Yosemite and next the CA-395 then CA-190.
if you have time take a swing thru Mammoth Lakes. It’s pretty cool. Water,water,water. (You can’t have too much) A small umbrella would be good also. |
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Savago
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« Reply #16 on: June 18, 2018, 02:37:09 PM » |
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An update: I followed you guys suggestion and got a cooling vest for 25 bucks (it worked beautifully). On first day I did the 3 passes (Ebbets, Monitor, Sonora), followed the next day by Tioga Pass (with a quick stop at the Mono Lake). Next I rode through the East side of the Sierra Nevada (US-395) and when I was at Lone Pine changed my mind and instead of riding through the Death Valley, decided to continue heading South and ended in Barstow ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barstow,_California). Barstow is mentioned in that famous music by Chuck Berry (Route 66). The following day I rode to the Joshua Tree National Park and finished the day near San Diego (found a cheap hotel in Fallbrook). Finally, on Saturday, I rode back from San Diego to SF Bay Area (through the I-5 and crossing the Pacheco Pass) so I would be back home for Father's day. I clocked a little over 1500 miles (or 2400 Km) in 4 days, not too bad for just 4 days ride.  |
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« Last Edit: June 18, 2018, 02:38:47 PM by Savago »
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Bighead
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« Reply #17 on: June 18, 2018, 03:13:08 PM » |
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Rode through DV in late june 2013 and it was Hot but just kept hydrated and it was no problem.
Temps were at *112 but not the same heat with it being so dry. Sweat evaps instantly as apposed to what I am used to. But knew to drink plenty of H2O every 30-45 minutes.
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1997 Bumble Bee
1999 Interstate (sold)
2016 Wing
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #18 on: June 18, 2018, 03:49:31 PM » |
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An update: I followed you guys suggestion and got a cooling vest for 25 bucks (it worked beautifully). On first day I did the 3 passes (Ebbets, Monitor, Sonora), followed the next day by Tioga Pass (with a quick stop at the Mono Lake). Next I rode through the East side of the Sierra Nevada (US-395) and when I was at Lone Pine changed my mind and instead of riding through the Death Valley, decided to continue heading South and ended in Barstow ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barstow,_California). Barstow is mentioned in that famous music by Chuck Berry (Route 66). The following day I rode to the Joshua Tree National Park and finished the day near San Diego (found a cheap hotel in Fallbrook). Finally, on Saturday, I rode back from San Diego to SF Bay Area (through the I-5 and crossing the Pacheco Pass) so I would be back home for Father's day. I clocked a little over 1500 miles (or 2400 Km) in 4 days, not too bad for just 4 days ride. Sounds like a good ride |
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desertrefugee
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« Reply #19 on: June 18, 2018, 04:24:57 PM » |
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I've criss-crossed the desert out here in Summer a few times. If you want to hit the coast from Phoenix, it's a necessary evil.
Agreed on the evap vests and mesh. A camelback with constant water flow helps a lot.
But, for whatever reason, as my mind wanders during those rides (or any ride), moving across the desert the temperature and condition of my tires is always close in mind. Pavement temperature can reach 170F.
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'97 Bumble Bee, '78 GL1000, '79 CBX, '78 CB750F, '74 CB750
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #20 on: June 18, 2018, 06:46:46 PM » |
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I've criss-crossed the desert out here in Summer a few times. If you want to hit the coast from Phoenix, it's a necessary evil.
Agreed on the evap vests and mesh. A camelback with constant water flow helps a lot.
But, for whatever reason, as my mind wanders during those rides (or any ride), moving across the desert the temperature and condition of my tires is always close in mind. Pavement temperature can reach 170F.
We have also. It’s even worse going up to Mammoth Lakes. From now on I’m taking the trailer, even if only to carry the cooler. It was heaven having ice and water. |
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