| DRY MOUNTAIN | 4-6/7-85 |
This private trip was almost made as a loner but at the last minute Eivor indicated her desire to go along. Had a very good meal at the Stovepipe Wells restaurant and then drove to about 4400 level on the race Track road. We were up and running by 0540 with 6 liters of water. I headed for the south end of the major ridge instead of the large wash which appears to be the obvious route. I think this was the correct choice. The ridge went well with no problems. Found a small amount of snow on the trip but the temperature was great. We were on top by 1245. On the return trip we decided to try the route down the large wash. This was in part ducked. I would rather have returned via our approach route. Got back to the van at 1845. A long hike. GENE
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL MONUMENT REGULATIONS ARE BEING STRICTLY ENFORCED:
Three of us were cited for "violation of Park regulations" at the 11-9/10 Dry/Tin trip. It's costing us $25 each. We parked paralle1 to the road and perhaps 10' from it, to avoid blocking traffic, on the narrow, graded Racetrack road. We could have been cited for "Driving off road" ($50), and for Destruction of Vegetation" (also $50). Other DPS trips have gotten into trouble for illegal fires and illegal camping. The supervising Park Ranger at Grapevine succinctly put it: "This is embarrassing for both of us".
Two folders summarize camping in Death Valley: "Camping in Death Valley", and "Dirt Road Travel and Back Country Camping in Death Valley National Monument". Many of the 4WD roads shown on the current (9/76:) issue of the latter are no longer open. The ACSC map, "Guide to Death Valley" is very informative. A summary follows"
PARKING: Only on shoulders, turn-outs and very wide places in roads. You can be cited for going a foot or two outside the space graded by the grader blades.
CAMPING: Only at designated campgrounds (10 total, 3 all year, 3 Nov-Apr, 3 Mar-Nov, 1 Apr-Oct.) or in backcountry more than 1 mi. from designated roadways (see more on back of "Dirt Road Travel....." folder. (but not within 5 mi. of Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, or Mesquite Spring)
FIRES: In 8 campgrounds only; NOWHERE ELSE. Basically, if you want group campfire, you drive outside the monument.
SUMMARY for the 11 peaks involved:
| GRAPEVINE & PALMER: | Camping 0.K.; no fires in Phinney Canyon. |
| DRY & TIN: | Camp. at Mesquite Springs Campground (2 vehicles/ site), or 1 mi S.E. of Teakettle Junction (no fires), or out of park, 7 mi. N of Ubehebe Road. Parking a problem:; stay in turnouts or wide spots. Dry no problem from West. |
| CORKSCREW: | Camp out of park on road to Beatty or in Monument Campgrounds. Parking O.K. on shoulder |
| TUCKI: | No camping at Skidoo. Camp at Monument campgrounds or out of Monument. Parking O.K. at roadhead E of Skidoo. |
| TELESCOPE: | Camp at Monument campgrounds (Mahogany flat or Thorndike if possible for overnight acclimatization). Parking O.K. |
| SENTIINEL: | Was day-hiked from Panamint City, outside monument. Surprise Canyon Road gone; now peak is overnight backpack from west. Johnson Canyon 4WD road now an alternative from east. Camping in Johnson Canyon O.K. but no fires. |
| SMITH: | Camp just outside Monument or in Gold Valley w/ no fire. Bad road; 4WD & some high-clearance only. |
| MANLY & NEEDLY: | Drive to the pass between Redlands Canyon Butte Valley just outside the Monument. Nearly all vehicles can do this. Goler Wash/Coyote Canyon Rd tough 4WD only. |
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