Death Valley Noobs Rally
March 2009
March 2009
I discovered on the Adventure Rider Forum that a large group of primarily Southern California riders had been holding a gathering called the Death Valley Noobs Rally for a few years, and I decided to ride down from Camas, WA and join them. The rally originally started as a much smaller group of relatively new riders that met one year in Death Valley to practice off-road riding and explore Death Valley. It has since grown to an annual affair where more experienced riders will help both new riders learn some off-road skills, and show those riders new to Death Valley all of the riding opportunities within the park.
I hadn't actually met any of the riders before joining them in Death Valley, but as is usually the case with motorcyclists, they were a great bunch of guys and gals, and I left Death Valley with many new friends that I have experienced countless rides with ever since.
I left in the snow from Camas on a Monday to ride down to Las Vegas. My original plan was to ride dirt roads through the Cascades and into Nevada, but Mother Nature screwed that up. Instead, I simply slabbed it down I-5 through snow, sleet, and rain, eventually stopping in Stockton for the night. The next day was better and I made it to my Mom's house in Vegas. Wednesday, I took my GS in for a service at Las Vegas BMW, and had them install some TKC-80 knobby tires for the riding in Death Valley
Thursday, I left Vegas with two riders that were renting BMW's from Las Vegas and also heading to Death Valley although they were not taking part in the rally itself. We had a good ride together to DV though, and then I continued on to Panamint Springs. Although most of the rally participants were camping at Panamint, my old bones enjoy a bed and I had reserved a room at the small motel at Panamint.
I hadn't actually met any of the riders before joining them in Death Valley, but as is usually the case with motorcyclists, they were a great bunch of guys and gals, and I left Death Valley with many new friends that I have experienced countless rides with ever since.
I left in the snow from Camas on a Monday to ride down to Las Vegas. My original plan was to ride dirt roads through the Cascades and into Nevada, but Mother Nature screwed that up. Instead, I simply slabbed it down I-5 through snow, sleet, and rain, eventually stopping in Stockton for the night. The next day was better and I made it to my Mom's house in Vegas. Wednesday, I took my GS in for a service at Las Vegas BMW, and had them install some TKC-80 knobby tires for the riding in Death Valley
Thursday, I left Vegas with two riders that were renting BMW's from Las Vegas and also heading to Death Valley although they were not taking part in the rally itself. We had a good ride together to DV though, and then I continued on to Panamint Springs. Although most of the rally participants were camping at Panamint, my old bones enjoy a bed and I had reserved a room at the small motel at Panamint.
|
|
I woke up Friday morning ready for some riding in Death Valley. I ate breakfast at the restaurant, and then headed across the street to the campground and introduced myself to Gary, Dan, Rob, and Nate. They were finishing up what look to be a pretty good breakfast by their resident chef Rob; and getting ready for a ride so I asked to tag along.
They wanted to minimize the amount of pavement, and so decided to take Saline Valley Road north to Hunter Mountain. A little ways before actually reaching Hunter Mtn, I had me "senior" moment for the day. I was stopped and decided to take a picture of a great view of Panamint Valley while sitting on my bike. But I leaned to far over to the right, and before I knew it the bike had reached it's critical tipping point and down it went. We reached Teakettle Junction, then headed to what is known as the Racetrack, a (usually) dry lake bed infamous for its "moving rocks" - large rocks that leave trails in the lake bed and they move around in strange patterns.
After the Racetrack, we went down a technical, rocky Lippincott Mine Road, and then back to Saline Valley Road to head back south to Panamint. At the junction of Saline Valley Road and Hwy 190, a KTM rider pulled up and mentioned he was low on gas so I offered him some from the extra bottles I was carrying. I mention it now because it becomes important on Saturday.
Anyways, it was an awesome first day of riding in Death Valley, and of course we enjoyed the BS session at the end of the day!
They wanted to minimize the amount of pavement, and so decided to take Saline Valley Road north to Hunter Mountain. A little ways before actually reaching Hunter Mtn, I had me "senior" moment for the day. I was stopped and decided to take a picture of a great view of Panamint Valley while sitting on my bike. But I leaned to far over to the right, and before I knew it the bike had reached it's critical tipping point and down it went. We reached Teakettle Junction, then headed to what is known as the Racetrack, a (usually) dry lake bed infamous for its "moving rocks" - large rocks that leave trails in the lake bed and they move around in strange patterns.
After the Racetrack, we went down a technical, rocky Lippincott Mine Road, and then back to Saline Valley Road to head back south to Panamint. At the junction of Saline Valley Road and Hwy 190, a KTM rider pulled up and mentioned he was low on gas so I offered him some from the extra bottles I was carrying. I mention it now because it becomes important on Saturday.
Anyways, it was an awesome first day of riding in Death Valley, and of course we enjoyed the BS session at the end of the day!
|
|
Friday night, I reviewed my maps and decided I would ride to the Hells Canyon area on Saturday. Hells Canyon is an incredibly pretty area. At its deepest point, the canyon itself is the deepest river gorge in North America (almost 8000' deep). The canyon is carved by the Snake River, and borders Oregon and Idaho. I was definitely looking forward to the ride.
I left Joseph on Hwy 350 headed towards Imnaha. The morning skies were a beautiful blue. Once in Imnaha, I decided to take Ha Point Road, which is supposed to take you to a great overlook of Hells Canyon, but once again was turned back by snow at the higher elevations; so it was back to Imnaha.
I originally thought I could get gas in Imnaha, but there are no stations. I stopped in the little general store, and one of the locals offered to sell me some gas, which was a relief. My plan now was to go north from Imnaha and take the Dug Bar road which leads through the mountains and all the way down to the Snake River. I asked the locals about the condition of the Dug Bar road since I've never ridden it before. As it turns out, just two weeks earlier a truck on a church group outing had gone over the edge rolling 350' down a cliff, killing a youth pastor and leaving a teenager in a coma. Luckily several others in the truck had been able to jump out near the top. So the locals were playing up how rough it was, but the one that sold me some gas said it shouldn't be a problem on the GS.
The Dug bar road indeed has some sections that are fairly narrow (although wide enough for a car to make it), and much of it winds around the edges of some very steep and deep cliff edges. Most of the road is in pretty decent shape. Towards the end, it has some rocky sections; but it's definitely passable on the GS and was really an incredibly fun ride.
Dug bar is a one-way road, so after relaxing at the end near the Snake River, I backtracked to Imnaha. From there I headed north, and stopped at a La Qunita Inn in Kennewick, WA for the night.
I left Joseph on Hwy 350 headed towards Imnaha. The morning skies were a beautiful blue. Once in Imnaha, I decided to take Ha Point Road, which is supposed to take you to a great overlook of Hells Canyon, but once again was turned back by snow at the higher elevations; so it was back to Imnaha.
I originally thought I could get gas in Imnaha, but there are no stations. I stopped in the little general store, and one of the locals offered to sell me some gas, which was a relief. My plan now was to go north from Imnaha and take the Dug Bar road which leads through the mountains and all the way down to the Snake River. I asked the locals about the condition of the Dug Bar road since I've never ridden it before. As it turns out, just two weeks earlier a truck on a church group outing had gone over the edge rolling 350' down a cliff, killing a youth pastor and leaving a teenager in a coma. Luckily several others in the truck had been able to jump out near the top. So the locals were playing up how rough it was, but the one that sold me some gas said it shouldn't be a problem on the GS.
The Dug bar road indeed has some sections that are fairly narrow (although wide enough for a car to make it), and much of it winds around the edges of some very steep and deep cliff edges. Most of the road is in pretty decent shape. Towards the end, it has some rocky sections; but it's definitely passable on the GS and was really an incredibly fun ride.
Dug bar is a one-way road, so after relaxing at the end near the Snake River, I backtracked to Imnaha. From there I headed north, and stopped at a La Qunita Inn in Kennewick, WA for the night.
|
|
|
|
It was Sunday, and I needed to get back to Camas. I was leaving Tuesday for a work assignment in Calgary. From Kennewick, I headed west on Badger Road, and then took Badger Canyon Road south. Then on to Sellards Road through some farming communities, and Glade Road towards Bickleton and on to Goldendale. I finally reached Hwy 1 along the Columbia River and headed west to Camas and home.
I had left Thursday not knowing where I would end up, and Friday night I wisely decided to head to Hell's Canyon and enjoyed a great ride down to the Snake River. So I made it to Hell and back!
I had left Thursday not knowing where I would end up, and Friday night I wisely decided to head to Hell's Canyon and enjoyed a great ride down to the Snake River. So I made it to Hell and back!
|
|