24 replies to this topic

[Dughlas Stiubhart]

We will be heading south soon, passing through Death Valley as we go. I have never been to Eureka Dunes and would like to go in to the park that way from Lone Pine, i. e. Lone Pine to Eureka Dunes and then to Ubehebe Crater. The daily report on DVNP's website doesn't include that road and their Facebook page for road conditions isn't very up to date. Anyone driven this route in the last week or two?

 

Thanks.

Ted, when I drove into DV via Eureka Dunes the dirt/sand sections were world-class washboard and that is a very long road.  I can't speak to the conditions today, but, as 3pin says, be prepared. 

[Lighthawk]

Dang, HIghz!  You are an astro-sleuth!  Double star, eh? 

 

The date/time on the EXIF should be accurate (if I had the camera clock set exactly).   6:38pm sounds about right, and you can look up the azimuth of the setting moon.  I was using a tripod-mounted Canon 7D (1.6 crop factor) with a borrowed 100-400 lens, maxed out at 400 focal length (640mm in 35mm).  The limiting factor is the time value

[Ted]

Dang, HIghz!  You are an astro-sleuth!

No doubt. That is impressive.

 

As far as Eureka Dunes go, I just realized the route is from Big Pine, not Lone Pine. So I'm not sure I'm as prepared as I should be if I don't even know the route. But then again, NOAA weather shows it getting down to 29 F the night we would be there. That is pretty normal winter camping for us. No big storms lately to have washed the road out. I think we are good to go. Washboard is the norm in DV. We will probably go from the dunes to Racetrack, and that road has nasty washboard as well. Just going to have to air down the tires and take it slow. And drive Mrs. Ted crazy by going, "Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" for hours on end while we bounce down the road.

[ski3pin]

<snip>

Just going to have to air down the tires and take it slow. And drive Mrs. Ted crazy by going, "Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" for hours on end while we bounce down the road.

 

Ted, you always know how to make things fun!

 

and highz, incredible astro-sluething!

[highz]

Don't want to hijack this thread, but this kind of astro-sleuthing isn't that hard with the right tools. PM me if you want more info.

 

"Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"       Make it a duet with Mrs. Ted.

[Ted]

 

Don't want to hijack this thread

 

No worries. Astro-sleuthing is much more interesting.

[Ted]

Alas, no driving Mrs. Ted crazy on bumpy roads. A family emergency required our return home. Eureka Dunes aren't going anywhere so we will have to plan a new trip another time. Thanks for the input.

 

-Ted

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Ted, sorry to hear about the family emergency.   I hope all turns out well.

[Dughlas Stiubhart]

I hope all is well back on the home front.  Too bad you missed out on the dunes and MrsTed missed the washboard.

[Ted]

Thanks for your concerns. Unfortunately a day into our trip we received word that my wife's Father passed of a heart attack. It was quite unexpected as she had just visited him two days before and he seemed to be in good health. Fortunately they had that visit and she is doing well.