Date: Sat, 6 Nov 2004 13:28:01 -0800
Reply-To: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: CA roundup
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I live in one of the many pissant little desert towns that likes to call
itself the 'Gateway to Death Valley...'. For those who have not been there
before, I strongly suggest you do some research into what you should bring-
there are resources there, but they can be few and far between, not to
mention expensive. Bring plenty of drinking water- you can get dehydrated in
the desert pretty quickly even on a cool day, often before you realize it.
Another thing y'all should check into- somebody told me, a few months ago,
that one of the main roads into Death Valley (from the western/395 side) had
been wiped out in a storm earlier this year. I don't remember the
particulars, you should be able to get that information from CalTrans.
As for the time of year, I would definitely avoid going in the warmer
months, unless your in pretty good physical condition. It also has somewhat
to do with acclimation. I've met several tourists over the years who went in
the summer and greatly regretted it. Takes some people a couple of days to
get over it. It often gets to around 115 around here in the summer and
sometimes goes up to 125 thereabouts, and you can definitely feel the
difference, BION. I've heard of temps routinely going 10 degrees higher or
more out there in the valley.
I used to work just off of 395 in the lower Owens Valley, and on days when
the wind was coming out of the east it felt like the hot breath of Hell was
blowing on you- and it was already hot where we were. Take a hair dryer and
hold it pointed at your head for 15 seconds at arms length, and that's what
it feels like (seriously). I met one English couple that went in August (!)
on the recommendation of a friend (who, as it turns out, went in March)...
the friend had told these folks, who were in their 60's, how beautiful it
was and whatnot. They agreed that it was impressive, but they didn't have
much time to check it out as they wound up driving straight through because
they thought they were gonna die (in a rental car with air conditioning).
They went in there from the east side heading west, didn't take any water or
anything. Unbelievable. By the time I saw them, I'm pretty sure they were
suffering from heat exhaustion. You see and hear about things like this all
the time out here.
January should be pretty nice, but you should still over-prepare, IMO; it's
pretty remote and unforgiving place.
Cya,
Robert
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff at Vanagonparts" <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 12:11 PM
Subject: Re: CA roundup
>I disagree. Just last summer, the family and I spent a couple of days in
> Death Valley on the way to Vegas. It was very different and enjoyable.
> The
> temps were in the low teens, so it wasn't that bad, at least my '88 Wolfy
> didn't mind. For anyone who has never experienced the desert in summer I
> highly recommend it.
>
> The hottest I've ever experienced was on Laguna Diablo in Baja California
> in
> July... 127 degrees on the middle of the dry lake. Let's just say that it
> was physically painful just to stand there and breathe. That being said,
> it
> was an experience I'll never forget. The only mistake we made was
> shutting
> off our motorcycles. The 2 stroke engines were quite hot and refused to
> start till they cooled a bit, and due to the heat we were only able to
> kick
> them over about three times before we were ready to pass out.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Wognacious
> Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 8:02 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: CA roundup
>
>
> Death Valley that time of year sounds fine, you'd be
> crazy to go there any other time
> Paul Rogers
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