Death Valley - Trailers Maiden Voyage

[Midnight LJR]

We decided to do a VERY last minute camping trip through Death Valley. I had seen videos and read about @tomtaylz trip a while ago. So I called @Alex01 who said it was a great idea to take our 2 month old baby and daughter to Death Valley in the winter. Called @DrDmoney to get some advice and got to planning.

I was excited to try out the new roof top tent on the trailer but discovered it was delaminating bad even though I had never used it. So I pulled it off so I could take that up with the manufacturer.

Plan was to come in Ashford Mills spend Night 1 at the Geologist Cabin and night 2 somewhere on the other side of Goler Canyon.

We made a quick stop at furnace creek visitor center for some gas and a bite to eat.

Then we headed down to warm springs road. Unfortunately by this time it was already getting dark because we got a late start there was no way we were gonna make to the Geologist Cabin tonight.

We drove around a bit in the and were having a a hard time finding anywhere to setup camp. I ran into another group and they told me of a good spot by the main house of warm springs. So we headed over and set up camp in the dark near some tables.

Next morning we woke up and we’re surprised how cool the place was. There were several old buildings and the springs were quite warm. Daughter had a great time exploring. Baby woke up with a big smile after her first night camping. It was a very cold night. One of the other campers said her thermometer read 18, I believe it. Our tent was completely inadequate but luckily I brought a bunch of below zero bags and a heater so we got through.

So we got packed up and tried to make our way to the cabin hoping the flag wouldn’t be raised and we would get to stay the night in it. As we were headed to the cabin we could see another Jeep headed towards the cabin in the distance. My wife was freezing last night so was like “Go, Go, Go!” So we had a fun race to cabin with another Jeep. We “won” but turns out he wasn’t racing and wasn’t planning on staying at the cabin. Was a great family and we got a good laugh out of it. The cabin was amazing to say the least. I can’t believe how nice it is. Couldn’t of asked for a better place to spend the evening.

I unhooked the trailer put the flag up at the cabin and we headed out to explore the other two cabins.

Russel and Stella’s it was great fun exploring them and checking everything out. Being a Sunday night there were no other campers at these either.

After that some wild burrows stopped by to tuck us in. So we got some sleep and it was A LOT nicer in the cabin with a fire than the tent the night before.

I got up early to watch the sunrise and it was unreal. Top 3 sunrises I have ever seen.

To be continued…

 

[Midnight LJR]

After the epic sunrise we got ready to hit the trail.

Had a great time seeing what the trailer was capable of on Mengal Pass, it has exceeded all my expectations so far.

We passed by some poor guys trailer which had broken. But we’re glad to see no one had vandalized it. Hopefully he gets it out of there soon.

After that we stopped by the Baker Ranch to have lunch and explore. History of that place is creepy. If was so secluded we can imagine the police approaching that house had a pretty intense experience.

After leaving Death Valley we headed towards Goler Canyon. Which we were told was awesome and it certainly was. It’s hard to describe in pictures how steep and straight up it is. And it’s pretty wild the way the miners set up the cables.

After making it out of Goler the kids were getting a bit wreck less so we headed back over the pass into the park on pavement towards Mesquite Flat Sand dunes to let them out of the Jeep and play for a bit.

I had a dentist appointment 10:00am the next morning or we would have stayed another night. So we headed back to the Jeep.

We didn’t get home until 2:00am and we’re exhausted but we’re planning our next trip the whole time.

 

[tomtaylz]

I was just there in November love it down there! Did you find any of my log entries in geologist or stellas?

 

[Midnight LJR]

I was just there in November love it down there! Did you find any of my log entries in geologist or stellas?

Was trying to stop my daughter from wrecking the books so didn’t get a chance to read the logs much.

 

[tomtaylz]

Was trying to stop my daughter from wrecking the books so didn’t get a chance to read the logs much.

Hah! Bummer about your tent, I just got done selling my whole setup .

That turn on Mengel by the rock sure is sporty had to put a lot of rocks last time I was there coming down. Got to like 23 degrees off camber.

 

[TurboTJ]

Have you read about the Death Valley Germans? It is a fascinating if sobering story.

 

[tomtaylz]

Have you read about the Death Valley Germans? It is a fascinating if sobering story.

For everyone’s reading pleasure. https://www.otherhand.org/home-page/search-and-rescue/the-hunt-for-the-death-valley-germans/

 

[Midnight LJR]

Hah! Bummer about your tent, I just got done selling my whole setup .

That turn on Mengel by the rock sure is sporty had to put a lot of rocks last time I was there coming down. Got to like 23 degrees off camber.

What are you replacing it with?


Here’s a video of the Jeep and trailer. That was a fun section.

 

[psrivats]

@Midnight LJR that is a wonderful travel log. I dream of visiting and camping there sometime. Thanks for sharing your story. It's always great to spend good times outdoors with family and friends.

 

[tomtaylz]

What are you replacing it with?


Here’s a video of the Jeep and trailer. That was a fun section.

The jeep makes it look easy! Definitely sportier in my truck with 32s coming down.

And secret for now haha we’ll see soon

 

[DrDmoney]

After the epic sunrise we got ready to hit the trail.
View attachment 306619

Had a great time seeing what the trailer was capable of on Mengal Pass, it has exceeded all my expectations so far.
View attachment 306620View attachment 306621View attachment 306622

We passed by some poor guys trailer which had broken. But we’re glad to see no one had vandalized it. Hopefully he gets it out of there soon.
View attachment 306624View attachment 306625

After that we stopped by the Baker Ranch to have lunch and explore. History of that place is creepy. If was so secluded we can imagine the police approaching that house had a pretty intense experience.
View attachment 306626View attachment 306627

After leaving Death Valley we headed towards Goler Canyon. Which we were told was awesome and it certainly was. It’s hard to describe in pictures how steep and straight up it is. And it’s pretty wild the way the miners set up the cables.
View attachment 306628View attachment 306629View attachment 306630View attachment 306631

After making it out of Goler the kids were getting a bit wreck less so we headed back over the pass into the park on pavement towards Mesquite Flat Sand dunes to let them out of the Jeep and play for a bit.
View attachment 306633View attachment 306634View attachment 306635View attachment 306632


I had a dentist appointment 10:00am the next morning or we would have stayed another night. So we headed back to the Jeep.
View attachment 306636
We didn’t get home until 2:00am and we’re exhausted but we’re planning our next trip the whole time.

I’ll have to dig up some pictures of the Barker Ranch before it burned down. Bummer about that other trailer cause that is not the place to break down but fortunately not a lot of traffic through there. Glad your whole family went.

 

[Midnight LJR]

I’ll have to dig up some pictures of the Barker Ranch before it burned down. Bummer about that other trailer cause that is not the place to break down but fortunately not a lot of traffic through there. Glad your whole family went.

Yeah the other trailer had some kind of fancy A arm air bag suspension. Doesn’t look like a simple trail repair for sure. I saw that and quickly appreciated the simplicity of my leaf springs and solid axle.

 

[Plumber1]

Looks like a great outing

 

[NskLJ]

After the epic sunrise we got ready to hit the trail.
View attachment 306619

Had a great time seeing what the trailer was capable of on Mengal Pass, it has exceeded all my expectations so far.
View attachment 306620View attachment 306621View attachment 306622

We passed by some poor guys trailer which had broken. But we’re glad to see no one had vandalized it. Hopefully he gets it out of there soon.
View attachment 306624View attachment 306625

After that we stopped by the Baker Ranch to have lunch and explore. History of that place is creepy. If was so secluded we can imagine the police approaching that house had a pretty intense experience.
View attachment 306626View attachment 306627

After leaving Death Valley we headed towards Goler Canyon. Which we were told was awesome and it certainly was. It’s hard to describe in pictures how steep and straight up it is. And it’s pretty wild the way the miners set up the cables.
View attachment 306628View attachment 306629View attachment 306630View attachment 306631

After making it out of Goler the kids were getting a bit wreck less so we headed back over the pass into the park on pavement towards Mesquite Flat Sand dunes to let them out of the Jeep and play for a bit.
View attachment 306633View attachment 306634View attachment 306635View attachment 306632


I had a dentist appointment 10:00am the next morning or we would have stayed another night. So we headed back to the Jeep.
View attachment 306636
We didn’t get home until 2:00am and we’re exhausted but we’re planning our next trip the whole time.

Looks like a very cool trip! Death Valley is addicting so much to see, I was there a year ago in February, it was a great time. The story I heard on mengel pass is that his ashes and prosthetic leg is buried under the rocks. There is also a monument to a fallen soldier just north of the pass on a big rock.

 

[Kon]

Amazing pics and seems you enjoyed it. I really like your jeep also, it's quite a built you got there from what I saw in your profile.

Btw, have you created a thread re your trailer built? I would be interested to know about it. Thanks!

 

[Midnight LJR]

Amazing pics and seems you enjoyed it. I really like your jeep also, it's quite a built you got there from what I saw in your profile.

Btw, have you created a thread re your trailer built? I would be interested to know about it. Thanks!

It’s included in the Jeep build thread. The action starts on page 47.

 

[notnsuv]

What a great trip!

 

[Billy06]

Awesome trip and pics. Everyone looks happy and life long memories you are creating with the family...love it!

 

[SoCalGlide]

Awesome!
I've made 2 trips, in the spring, to Death Valley, on 2 wheels. Did a side trip to Cerro Gordo as well. We did Goler Wash and Mengal Pass in the opposite direction you did. I'm looking forward to taking the Jeep, and my wife, the next time I can make it.

 

[Midnight LJR]

Awesome!
I've made 2 trips, in the spring, to Death Valley, on 2 wheels. Did a side trip to Cerro Gordo as well. We did Goler Wash and Mengal Pass in the opposite direction you did. I'm looking forward to taking the Jeep, and my wife, the next time I can make it.
View attachment 306716View attachment 306717View attachment 306718View attachment 306722View attachment 306725View attachment 306726

Where is that hotel and that other cabin? That looks like an amazing trip.