Date:         Tue, 14 Feb 2006 17:31:23 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Death Valley Trip Report
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

I didn't mention the golf course? Thought I did... a guy that worked there
told me they used around a million gallons of water a day on average to
irrigate that thing- I was having a hard time trying to figure out how they
would have the time to get million gallons out of a given number of
sprinkler heads in 24 hours, nevermind having to accommodate the golfers.

He also said the aquifer under the mountains on the east side of the valley
was one of the largest in the US (many billions of gallons), and that it
wasn't being tapped for much other than local use because of disputes
between the various states and the Fed. gov't over the allocation of rights
(what else is new).

What do you think caused your van to overheat? Does it have a problem
perhaps or do you think that it is just that there are some grades that the
engine won't negotiate at that weight?

I take it you didn't think to check out that VW boneyard in Pahrump that was
discussed on the list? I was thinking about taking a day trip with the
family and checking it out. However for all I know the guy sold it already.

Unbiased, eh? I dunno if I agree with you about the 'scenic-ness' of the
respective deserts but I will say that it seems most of the really
interesting stuff (or anything that might compare to the 'monuments' and
what-have-you that you're used to) out here is kind of hidden and hard to
get to; you also may have come to early for the spring flowers, unless they
were blooming in the valley already. I envy you the trip, spring seems to
have come early to the desert and I'm gettin' itchy feet.

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "bueses" <bueses@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 3:36 PM
Subject: Death Valley Trip Report


> Thanks to all who responded  w/ info on going to Death Valley.  We went on
> the quick 4 day journey last weekend & got home last nite.
>
> Drove from Salt Lake City to Wendover, NV, then south to Ely, west to
> Tonopah, and south again to the northeast end of DVNP-took about 8.5 hours
> for the 510+- miles.  Beautiful drive, very few people, pulled into
> Scotty's
> Castle hoping to sit in the bar & watch the Opening Ceremonies of the
> Winter
> Olympics!  Oooops, can't do that, but we did camp at Mesquite Springs &
> enjoyed the warm weather at 2000' elevation.
>
> Next day did the tourist stuff, Castle Tour, volcanic crater, petted/fed
> the
> coyotes, then headed for the San Dunes, & Stove Pipe Wells-too commercial,
> Boy Scout Troop 1814 from La Habra, CA there in their matching red
> T-shirts
> setting up camp in the parking lot like camp sites, decided to get out of
> Dodge & headed up Emigrant Pass to the Charcoal Kilns & Wild Rose
> campground.  Camped at Wild Rose at 4100' elev. where it was definitely
> cooler than on the valley floor.  The westy did not like going slow up
> long/steep grades & started to get hot-3/4 to 7/8 on temp gauge, so
> decided
> not to go the rest of the way to the upper campgrounds which were open at
> 7400' & 8100' elevs.
>
> Next day cruised down the hill to Mosaic Canyon for a short hike, Salt
> Creek
> to look for Pupfish(too early), & then on to the thriving metropolis of
> Furnace Creek where we got the 2nd to last good camping spot at around 3
> pm
> on Sunday afternoon. Minding our own business later on & having a
> cocktail,
> when 4 women in 2 Eurovan Winnebago campers pull in next to us to camp in
> the last good spot left. They also had Utah plates, & it turned out we
> sorta
> knew them.  You can run, but you cannot hide!
>
> Next day headed out for more site seizin, hikes, & drove home via scenic
> Pahrump, NV, Los Wages, St. George UT, etc. back to SLC.  I had between
> 30-35 episodes of "Vanagon syndrome" between the trip down & the trip
> back-getting pissed enuf now that I gotta fix this problema, otherwise,
> the
> westy ran like a charm when it wasn't overheating or bucking.
>
> DV was nice, especially if you have not seen desert before, but I gotta
> say,
> as an unbiased observer, that S Utah/N. AZ's deserts are much more scenic
> than CA/NV's deserts!  Who'd a thunk DV would have a golf course?
>
> Tom-back to my hole to avoid the flames