3 Wagons Ramble in Death Valley for 5 Days
- Thread starter Lookout Ranch
- Start date
Bob, Dave and the pups checking out the campsite in Johnson Canyon. Someone had done a lot of rock work, creating a level terrace in the side of the hill with low walls and a cooking stove. Dave is examining what might have been the spine of a coyote or some other canid.
If you hike up the canyon another 3.5 miles, you’ll find Hungry Bill’s cabin. Apparently the road used to go up the canyon quite a bit further.
If you hike up the canyon another 3.5 miles, you’ll find Hungry Bill’s cabin. Apparently the road used to go up the canyon quite a bit further.
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Day 5 — Echo Canyon
This was by far the shortest day in terms of miles and hours but it was also scenic and enjoyable.
Echo Canyon is just a short drive from Furnace Creek. Here we are climbing up to the mouth of the canyon.
In the narrows.
We took it easy and enjoyed the views.
After a mile or so the canyon opens up. There were a lot of flowers up there.
Part II later
This was by far the shortest day in terms of miles and hours but it was also scenic and enjoyable.
Echo Canyon is just a short drive from Furnace Creek. Here we are climbing up to the mouth of the canyon.
In the narrows.
We took it easy and enjoyed the views.
After a mile or so the canyon opens up. There were a lot of flowers up there.
Part II later
Tralehead
Well Oiled
Thanks Kurt and Dave for posting up all of your great pics!
Gorgeous country, thanx for letting us ride along!!
Day 5 — Cont.
There are ruins of an old mine up the canyon.
After walking around the mine, we drove up to the end of the road and had lunch, then went back down part way and turned up another branch of the canyon.
This road goes through to the adjacent Amargosa Valley. It’s an enjoyable little road as far as we went.
There were some old mining ruins.
Then we came to the beginning of the challenging part. First this…
Then just above it, this…
We could almost imagine doing the first. We decided it was a bit too much for our stock wagons and Dave led us back for the way we came.
The next morning we packed up and headed home our separate ways.
It was a very enjoyable week in the desert for me and I appreciated the good company.
There are ruins of an old mine up the canyon.
After walking around the mine, we drove up to the end of the road and had lunch, then went back down part way and turned up another branch of the canyon.
This road goes through to the adjacent Amargosa Valley. It’s an enjoyable little road as far as we went.
There were some old mining ruins.
Then we came to the beginning of the challenging part. First this…
Then just above it, this…
We could almost imagine doing the first. We decided it was a bit too much for our stock wagons and Dave led us back for the way we came.
The next morning we packed up and headed home our separate ways.
It was a very enjoyable week in the desert for me and I appreciated the good company.
Over 800 mile drive for Dave. I'd say that was a fine warmup for his RFTH commute.
It was a good shakedown run, and he took home a short list of things to work on before RFTH.
54 wagon ken
Well Oiled
Awesome adventure boys !!!
'Bout a 400 mile jaunt for you although your RFTH drive is rumored to be without Ford diesel power.
I think the wagon is ready. This is how much oil was burned and leaked over the 534 miles driven on this trip.
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White oil on snow?
Tralehead
Well Oiled
A big thanks to Kurt for the logistics, it was my first time exploring Death Valley and Mister Ranch put together a great itinerary. Having Dave along was a blast, in spite of a few minor glitches he kept his sense of humor and his (m)apping skills were a welcome addition. All in all a great time in a great place with some great folks!
And it goes to show that sixty plus year old trucks can handle this just fine. So hopefully this stokes up some fires to get those Old Willys out there on the trails!
What a great trip and an excellent trip report. The photos were awesome!
That was one for the books! Thanks Kurt and Bob--you guys were great fun to explore with and I feel like I learned a hell of a lot from both of you. That trail-side fix of the wiring was an aha moment. Just follow the old Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared, and everything will be fine. Of course it helps to have a couple of Willys "eagle scouts" along. This was by far the biggest challenge I've put the wagon through, and yes, I do have a list to work on--but all-in-all I was blown away by what a 65 year old vehicle can do.
Here's the overview map of the week showing all five routes and our three camp locations.
Here's the overview map of the week showing all five routes and our three camp locations.
I couldn’t have asked for better guys to travel with than Bob and Dave. They were easy-going and game for whatever. A couple of the routes turned out to be rough (not in a good 4WD way, just punishing) and not that interesting, and some of the returns to camp were a bit too late, but they never complained. It ended up being a really pleasant time wandering around in the desert.
By the way, you may be wondering how Dave ended up traveling with Bob and I (who did a trip with our wives in October). After my solo trip to Death Valley last year, Dave found a book about the area at a used bookstore in Oregon and got it to me via an OWF relay. Though our correspondence, I learned he likes the desert, so when Bob and I started planning this trip, it just seemed natural to invite Dave, and we were very glad it worked out for him to come down.
By the way, you may be wondering how Dave ended up traveling with Bob and I (who did a trip with our wives in October). After my solo trip to Death Valley last year, Dave found a book about the area at a used bookstore in Oregon and got it to me via an OWF relay. Though our correspondence, I learned he likes the desert, so when Bob and I started planning this trip, it just seemed natural to invite Dave, and we were very glad it worked out for him to come down.
Adventure ready — Bob added a spare fuel tank and tool kit to his wagon.
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Is that 90 or 100 proof fuel?
PADave51
Sharpest Tool
Great trip and a great write up. Thanks for letting us following along.