downs 1 Posted March 31, 2014 https://spotwalla.com/embed.php?id=92a05338c5bbb8d98&width=600&height=600&scale=on&zoom=default&refresh=no So decided to hit up the Noob Rally this year up at Death Valley cause I had never been there before. The ADV group seems to be a lot of fun to hang out with too. I was one of four Stroms that we noticed there. Most of the field was made up of BMWs, KTMs, ect. And a bunch of KLRs also. I got off work around 500pm on Thursday. Rushed back to the barracks and got the bike loaded up and was on the road before 545. Took me about 4 and a half hours to make it there with over half the trip being done in pitch dark with no moon in across the desert. I had no idea what was around me until I came back though this morning on my way out. It was beautiful. All I could see on the way up though was where my headlights were shinning. I rolled into Panamint Springs resort around 1030 then proceded to putt around camp on the bike trying to find the campsite. I was looking at the map of the campground they had put on ADVRIDER upside down :/ The next morning. You can probably guess which one is my bike. Sunrise The gas station across the road had some old equipment setup for show Glad I have a 200 mile range. I only bought gas here one time The different groups meeting up in the morning Our first stop is a cabin in the middle of BFE. Apparently there are cabins like this scattered thoughout DV and they work off the honor system. Use whatever you want but leave what you can behind for the next group and cleanup after yourselves. One of my riding buddies from out here in San Diego. He couldn't stand up right in the cabin The next stop. Pretty good view. Ted on his Strom Group Panorama Josh next to a Joshua Tree Teakettle Junction was interesting. I signed one of the kettles. For the next 35 miles after this we were on heavy washboard to the "racetrack" to see the moving rocks then to the Crater Trail in the dry lake bed bed left by one of the moving rocks. I think that when it rains and the lakebed becomes muddy the high winds in the area actually push the large rocks across the lake bed. The rock that left the trail from the edge of the lake bed Extremely vast Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downs 1 Posted March 31, 2014 Huge crater that was created by superheated steam from water over a magma pocket some 2000 years ago Lots of roads like this out here that just seem to go to nowhere On day two I struck out on my own since Ted had work to do via WiFi and Paul had rolled his ankle at camp the night prior. I went East towards Nevada and Titus Canyon along with Beaty and a few other landmarks. Other than Titus Canyon this day would be mostly paved. Ryolite was a very interesting little ghost town. One of the B-movie scifi flicks I like Cherry 2000 was partially filmed here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_2000 One of the residents there has setup an odd collection of art I really didn't get this one The walls on this house are made completely out of bottles. The local Cemetery Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downs 1 Posted March 31, 2014 Heading into Titus Canyon requires a bit of a trek to get into the mouth of the canyon Entering the Canyon. I wish I would have gotten some pictures of it but in the middle of the ride though the canyon I come across a Suburban and a Xterra loaded with college age kids.....not just in the vehicles but covering the roofs of both vehicles as well. Weird. I didn't get a picture because the floor of the canyon is covered in a pea gravel type substance and I had my hands full with the Strom down there. Leaving the canyon and heading back towards the Tarmac Really neat geological formation. Also gave me time to get my front tire aired back up after airing down to 25 psi Once again wide open spaces Dante's View. The spot where I'm standing is just a bit over 5000 feet according to my GPS. The floor below is at over negative 200 feet. Part of the road going to Dante's View Heading towards Badwater. Lowest place in the US and the Western Hemisphere If you look really close you can see the "SEA LEVEL" sign about half way up the cliff face. Very hot, dry and windy down here even though it's not even summer yet Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downs 1 Posted March 31, 2014 At Furnace Creek. Place that holds the record for the hottest day in America Headed back towards camp. Again no pics but at the top of the pass before dropping down into Panamint springs I ran across what as left of a trailer and truck. Looked like the fire started on the trailer where 4 or 5 bikes were tied down (only the rim were left by this point) and spread into the truck. Luckily no one was injured but I never found out who they were Last night at camp The drawing for all the goodies Ted enjoying his last cider of the night This guy binned up his 1200GS something bad. Somehow during his wreck in the sand the bike landed upside down and basically shattered the whole upper fairing. That's a series of RokStraps holding his headlight pod on along with his Instrument cluster which had the glass broken out of it. The gauges still worked and as far as I know he was riding it back home today. Headed back to San Diego. Snow still dusts the tops of some of the peaks here Coming down out of Hisperia, CA on I-15. Ted in the lead Paul splitting off and heading to LA. He was having the suspension on the GS rebuilt and upgraded. Good timing since the Washboard roads in DV blew the seal out of his rear shock. That's all the pics I have. Got home a few hours ago. Still need to get my gear unpacked and cleaned up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Diego 40 Posted March 31, 2014 Nice report and excellent photos. Thanks for posting! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tntmo 901 Posted March 31, 2014 Looks awesome. How were the temps? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downs 1 Posted March 31, 2014 Temps were comftrable everywhere but Furnace Creek and Badwater Basin. Those two places were pretty warm but not to where it was unbearble. Some places were down right cool. I would stop in Stovepipe Wells and zip up my vents and refuel before going over the pass into Panamint Springs. The top of the pass would be down right cold during some parts of the day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Honda90 0 Posted March 31, 2014 Really cool, man! Gotta do this some day. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to post all those pics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHunter 15 Posted March 31, 2014 Great report with some interesting details. Thx for taking the time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Afry 1 Posted March 31, 2014 Todd and I met up at the event - he rode his SE and I had mine on the Joehauler since I was bringing food for 200 peeps that Todd and I bbq'd on Thursday night. Sat we rode the back way to Darwin then came back to Panamint for lunch and a cold one then headed to Ballarat/Goler Wash and Barker Ranch (hideout where Charles Manson was arrested). Day two we teamed up with Big Todd and Ben which took us back up to Darwin then Centennial Flats to sand dunes play at Olancha then up to Cerro Gordo (8100 ft elevation and COLD). Jimmy Lewis had just come up to Cerro Gordo from the back way and said it was "BLOWN OUT" but we didn't know this and the reason I didn't take any pics of the "dry rapids" on the way back down is cause my SE was having a hard time staying upright (: Todd contemplating the meaning of life...or wondering what the heck happened to the GS that was following us -we sent a rider back down and he decided to turn around. 3 SE's on the way to Darwin Todds KTM brush hog Me, Tim, Chris and Todd DV! If KTM made a camper....the Super Enduro of RV's Ballarat ghost town Todd and one of our side trips off Goler Canyon looking for Barker Ranch/Manson hideout What's left of the ranch after a fire burned it in 09 The outline on the wall in the right corner is where they found Manson hiding under a bathroom vanity - the place was creepy. Apparently some Manson disciples are still hanging around the Barker ranch....this guy looked a little sketchy. Goler Wash (smooth part...) Ballarat refreshment stop - each direction, and a picture of my finger. China Garden Spring - in the middle of no where More of CGS Ben and Todd on the way to Centennial Flats Big Todd playing in the dunes at Olancha More BT Kickstands optional - wind was blowing steady 20-30 Big Todd and Todd lite digging out the mighty SE Cerro Gordo Rd overlooking Owens Lake Cerro Gordo ghost town at 8100 ft elevation - these people were nuts! They pulled $13,000,000 in silver out of this place. At one time there were 200 buildings which included 7 saloons and 2 house of ill repute. American Hotel Saloon inside Poker room - complete with bullet holes In 1868 Mortimer Belshaw arrived in Cerro Gordo, attracted by the rich deposits of galena ore. After establishing a partnership with another stakeholder in the Union Mine, he brought the first wagon load of silver from Cerro Gordo to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles he was able to secure financing to build his own smelter that was superior to all other smelters at Cerro Gordo, as well as to build the first wagon road up the mountain. This road became known as the Yellow Road from the color of the rock that it had been cut through. By operating the Yellow Road as a toll road, Belshaw was able to earn income and control the shipments of silver from the mountain. This was his house General store View from Salt Tram Rd Either a drunken miner or a snow angel -you decide. Take note that the snow is not melting. Either Father Crowley or Todd lite - you decide... Okay - Todd lite, he looks a little cold doesn't he? It was 80 down below. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downs 1 Posted April 1, 2014 Those are some great pictures. I remember passing that 5-ton camper conversion. Very cool stuff. Same for the ghost towns and what not. I didn't get to see any ghost towns while I was there. Next time I go I want to be on something a bit smaller like a DRZ or the like. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hodnettjj 0 Posted April 1, 2014 Looks like a great trip... I can't wait to get back out there to explore... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
