Death Valley

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bubinga

Joined
Feb 16, 2005
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161
I'll be spending Thursday in Death Valley.

It's hard to predict these things in advance, but the 129 degrees being forecast should make it the hottest day of the year, possibly several years, and maybe even 40 years if it hits 130 degrees.

Because it's there, that's why.

Other than the obvious, about 10 gallons of water, cooler, signal mirror, multipurpose tool, a few knives, an Inova 24-7, a flashlight with a couple dozen lithium batteries, a hat, sunscreen, a brand-new Cadillac STS with air-conditioned seats, a AAA card and cell phone (the last two almost certain to be useless), can you think of anything else I could bring that would increase my odds should something bad happen?
 
I haven't been to Death Valley since 03 but at the time there was, as you noted, no cell phone service along the roads. Can you borrow or rent a sattelite phone? That is the only help you may see for days.

10 gallons of drinking water is a minimum amount for 1 person per day. Don't forget shade, a spare serpentine belt and the tools to change it, radiator stop leak, oil, a fullsize spare tire, tow strap (hooks?), high lift jack, etc. A flight plan that you can give to someone reliable if you don't return on time. Oh, and stick to your plan.

BTW,air coditioned seats? Cool! Have fun, could be record high temps all over California tomorrow.
 
Good idea, BJE, but my friends think I'm insane.

Excellent idea on the stop leak, thanks 2dogs!
 
Maybe this is given but I would bring a compass and a map. It is far easier to get disoriented in desert environments than in most others. Binoculars. Loose-fitting clothes (incl. a long sleeve if you're exposed) and 1000 SPF sunscreen (or the highest available, for UVA and UVB). Ditto the suggestion to bring something to make shade if necessary (tarp), and yes bring more water.

Give your itinerary to someone, esp when you plan to be back!

Where are you driving from? Death Valley is harsh and beautiul. I haven't been there in years but I was in Joshua Tree 6 weeks ago.

Happy 4th --
Glen
 
Bubinga, maybe you should put a portable generator and a good 120V window unit air conditioner in that Caddy's trunk in case it craps out on you. :D Oh, and throw in a sat phone, too!
 
Check your car heat gauge now; mark the normal ranges, especially
going uphill. On the trip, check it occasionally, but going up hill,
check it constantly.
Check hoses now.

Sunglasses or clip-ons, and extras.
Edit: I just noticed the binocular recommendation. I agree, but the
desert can be so bright, it burns your eyes. Be careful.

A large plastic woven tarp, with ropes attached, 4 big stakes, 6 ft pole.
You might have to use a dead man. I do not know at what
temperature the plastic tarps will melt, so some other tarp may be
better. (Woven plastics had not been invented, when I lived in the
Mojave-Sonora.) Furnace tape, duct tape, or other for repairs.

Tilly or boony all cotton hat. An all cotton golf shirt. White
bandanna, all cotton. 2 White washcloths, all cotton, 1 in hat,
1 in bandanna. Extra big light colored long-sleeved shirt,
for example an old dress-shirt.
You can keep the above clothing soaked with water and
it will keep you cool.

Why go to the extreme of soaking clothing with water?
Most people cannot drink enough and sweat enough to stay
cool.

Some non-salty sugary food (sugar candy). If you do
not drink a lot of water, i.e. staying cool and no exercise,
then you can eat this. You will not need much salt.

Some salty sugary food. If you work hard and drink a lot of
water, you will need the salt and the sugar, to prevent cramps.
If you have little water, be very careful, use minimum or no salt.

Stay off side roads, no matter how tempting a ghost town may be.
GPS, extra batteries and compass. Some people like traveling at
night cause its cooler, but there are problems:
more deer on road (not in Death Valley, but elsewhere)
easier to get lost
gas stations not open
 
In addition to the cellphone, bring a radio transmitter/receiver...you can always be heard by Goldstone.
 
I would have to second the water thing when you think you got enough water add 2-3 more gallons. Its not just for you but for your car too just in case. Shade is as important as water when its hot and the sun beats on your head trust me on that. Lets not forget a way to carry atlist one gallon on you when you walk away from the car. A GPS would go a long way to help not getting lost. Forget knifes guns and everything else think water more water and shade. I heard of some people that died in the desert having more then 50 gallon of water in there stuck RV. They went looking for help with only one Q each. They were found dead less then 5 miles away from the RV. use common sence and respect the desert. Oh yea carry lots of ice Nothing beat a cold class of water when its 110 outside.

Sasha
 
Maybe some sort of cart so if you have to walk, car broke no phone service, you can put the water in there instead of on your back. Water is heavy, and you will need alot of it.Travel at night if you have to. Just trying to help. The other stuff suggested is good advice.

Scottman
 
All the above and an umbrella. If you can find one of the Golite Chrome Dome models, that's the way to go. A good improvised rig is a golf umbrella with a space blanket taped silver side up. Other than that, any large, light colored one you can find.

Umbrellas are really handy for rain and sun, making a wind break for a small stove, etc. GoLite makes ultralight ones (or at least used to). Mont Bell makes an UL folder. Shed Rain makes a tiny, light one that fits in a coat pocket that I use for commuting. I keep a golf umbrella in each vehicle-- buy 'em at garage sales and thrift stores for cheap.
 
FALSE ALARM!

A mere 121F (49C) in Death Valley today. No doubt Bubinga is bummed. :)

RE binoculars: They are more of a necessity in arid deserts than probably any other environment. Surface glare can be a problem in snow country or on open water but not really in the desert. The heat haze dampens not amplifies reflections, which is why you need binos to try and identify shiny things in the distance. Landmarks are much farther apart so binos greatly improve your ability to find your position and track your movements via resectioning and triangulating. "Gee, is that a road/shelter/oasis of nude sorority girls over there? I'll bet a pair of binos could save me the 20+ min. walk one way over exposed ground to find out." Distant roads and shallow passes are very difficult to spot without them, even when the desert is cool. (Which is why desert survival experts like David Alloway and Mark Johnson urge carrying them)

Happy 4th, all --
Glen
 
Oops I forgot to add some sort of desert boot, that is without steel insoles, for walking. No hoof, no horse.
 
If you want to know how "Death Valley" got its name, do a search for a book written in the 1850s by William Manly. DEATH VALLEY IN '49.

Also look for the story of Juliet Brier, of the "Walking Sands Party," an absolutley amazing story of survival. (Manly was part of that party.) Juliet Brier was the first white woman to ever go into "the valley." She crossed it, carrying one of her sons on her back, by sheer determination, courage, and true grit. When she finally reached the far side, she was nothing but skin & bones, weighing 70 pounds. Ten people of her party died in the blistering heat and sands.

Even today, with modern equipment and our knowledge of what to do and not do, Death Valley is still a very dangerous place.

I've been there several times, but never alone, and never in the middle of the summer. October, it begins to cool down a bit.

Be careful

L.W.
Be careful.
 
I was just at Mahogany Flats campground a month ago. The last mile or two of dirt road is lousy, rutted, somewhat rocky, and WAY to vertical for anyone in a 2wd car to consider. Though the view is pretty.

MF campground also has no water, at all.

Darwin Falls, on the northern side of China Lake, is supposed to be pretty. Missed the unmarked turnoff to it, and so cannot comment on the road conditions.

Saline Valley road is an unmarked, rough 4wd road. It branches off to The Race Track. But is so rough, I'd stay off it.

And, gasoline is insanely expensive in Death Valley, so fill up before you enter. Having an ice chest full of nice fresh food is an excellent idea, too.

CHEERS
 
Thanks everybody for the advice, much of which I'll be taking tomorrow.

The Death Valley National Park "Morning Report" has lowered the expected high to 124 tomorrow--oddly, the Weather Channel still shows 130 (which would be something like a 40-year Western Hemisphere record) as the expected high. It will probably end up somewhere between the two.

Bear in mind they take these readings at Furnace Creek (the park headquarters) and not at Badwater (the lowest point at minus 280 feet), which is usually a couple of degrees warmer. Badwater is where I plan to be about 5:00 PM tomorrow when it peaks--there's supposed to be a small weather station there so I'll have some idea of what the unofficial high is.

I had a more ambitious route planned, but I think I'm going to stick with the main roads and tempt fate as little as possible--a real outdoorsman would camp there instead of heading to relatively chilly (116 degrees) Las Vegas for a nice hotel room afterwards! Rumor has it other tourists will be out there for the experience, and I should expect to hear a lot of foreign languages at the visitors center.

It's not easy being a weather geek, but at least I'm not in Oklahoma chasing tornadoes--now THAT'S crazy!
 
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