Sunrise/Sunset in Death Valley

I'll be in Death Valley on May 10 to 12. Any suggestions for places to
watch the sunrise and/or sunset? I've been to Dante's View and
Zabriskie Point before, but in the middle of the day (and a cloudy day
at that). Any opinions as to which is a better place to watch? Also,
any suggestions as to places in the western side of the Valley to
watch the sunrise? Also, any recent info on the condition of Racetrack
Valley Rd? I plan on making the trek to Racetrack Playa, as I missed
it last time.

threespeed18@m wrote:
> I'll be in Death Valley on May 10 to 12. Any suggestions for places to
> watch the sunrise and/or sunset? I've been to Dante's View and
> Zabriskie Point before, but in the middle of the day (and a cloudy day
> at that). Any opinions as to which is a better place to watch? Also,
> any suggestions as to places in the western side of the Valley to
> watch the sunrise? Also, any recent info on the condition of Racetrack
> Valley Rd? I plan on making the trek to Racetrack Playa, as I missed
> it last time.

For the best sunrise view, I suggest looking in the eastern sky as the
sun rotates into view. For sunset, the western sky usually has the best
view. I further advise looking above the horizon and not downward.

--
Nonny

Nonnymus
A penny saved is obviously a
government oversight.

In article <5d125707-e4c7-45ba-b611-7d3c59581fc0@59g2000hsb..com>,
<threespeed18@m> wrote:
>I'll be in Death Valley on May 10 to 12.

This is after the usual tourist season ends.

>Any suggestions for places to
>watch the sunrise and/or sunset? I've been to Dante's View and
>Zabriskie Point before, but in the middle of the day (and a cloudy day
>at that). Any opinions as to which is a better place to watch? Also,
>any suggestions as to places in the western side of the Valley to
>watch the sunrise? Also, any recent info on the condition of Racetrack
>Valley Rd? I plan on making the trek to Racetrack Playa, as I missed
>it last time.

The road from Ubehebe is OK. It's it usual self. I don't know if
Hunter is open, and I saw a chain of jeeps go over to Lipincott road to
Saline Valley. I saw no washs out.

The Park Service is recommending every one take 2 spare tires.
Now the first time I went in and over Hunter I didn't have any problems
in my Trooper (I did once get a flat in the first 3K miles on a shake
down in Silver Canyon). The most recent trip I took a 2WD govt. van for
the clearance (I tried to requisition a Blazer or carry all but we didn't
get it). I had no problems traveling about 15 MPH. The NPS warned us
that the new Superintendent blew 3 tires going in. Beside the jeeps
we saw a fair number of other vehicles going in including a low center
tourist sedan. Most of the other vehicles were tourist SUVs.
Later that day we saw the sedan at Scotty's it had a flat from one of
the tourist SUVs which blew 2 tires and was spending the night out there
(camping isn't allowed within 9 miles of the Playa).

So if you know what you are doing: the road is fine for an unpaved
desert road (take a day of water).

It wasn't my gas. That was work.

--

> any recent info on the condition of Racetrack Valley Rd?...

For the latest info on conditions, you might want to just call the
visitor's center.

threespeed18@m wrote:
> Thanks everyone (well, except for that one particularly useless post)
> for the suggestions, all such useful info. Do they recommend lowering
> air pressure in the tires when on the desert dirt roads? Dune tours on
> Cape Cod, near where I live, do this. It reduces gives more traction
> to the vehicles.
>

Awww, come on, it was just a bit of humor - from the best, I might add.
Thank you, Mr. Nonnymous.

Marsha/Ohio

<threespeed18@m> wrote:

> Thanks everyone (well, except for that one particularly useless post)
> for the suggestions, all such useful info. Do they recommend lowering
> air pressure in the tires when on the desert dirt roads? Dune tours on
> Cape Cod, near where I live, do this. It reduces gives more traction
> to the vehicles.

You would lower tire pressure to drive on soft sand. Many (most?) of
the backcountry roads in the west are rocky and hard packed dirt more
than they are soft sand.

In article <7a8c5d5b-c567-4845-8c31-4d37c541a915@x30g2000hsd..com>,
<threespeed18@m> wrote:
>for the suggestions, all such useful info. Do they recommend lowering
>air pressure in the tires when on the desert dirt roads? Dune tours on

Who They?

Well for the first time, I did see people reinflating their tires on the
Race Track road. I don't know who told them to do that. It's far more
important to keep speed down.

You can't drive the dunes near Stovepipe.

I've driven around, but have not yet driven the Eureka Dunes surrounded
by the Park (I think technically a State Park). There are dunes just S
of DV, and Imperial Dunes way S were just noted in the papers as a major
smuggling problem. Better to have a vehicle optimized for sand travel.
Or tame sand worms.

--

1100GS_rider wrote:
> <threespeed18@m> wrote:
>
>> Thanks everyone (well, except for that one particularly useless post)
>> for the suggestions, all such useful info. Do they recommend lowering
>> air pressure in the tires when on the desert dirt roads? Dune tours on
>> Cape Cod, near where I live, do this. It reduces gives more traction
>> to the vehicles.
>
> You would lower tire pressure to drive on soft sand. Many (most?) of
> the backcountry roads in the west are rocky and hard packed dirt more
> than they are soft sand.

If you do lower the pressure, I'd recommend not going below 20psi. Much
lower and you really increase the risk of "breaking" the bead on a
tubless tire. For sand driving, you really should have tires with tubes.

--
Nonny

Nonnymus
A penny saved is obviously a
government oversight.