Bodie the Dog
Banned
Don't worry about Lippincott
Lippincott Grade is very narrow with dangerous cliffs, but in terms of technicality it is a piece of cake. Just keep an eye for turnouts as you descend, in case you have to back up to them for traffic coming uphill.
The Warm Springs by Barker Ranch aren't usually soakable, being lukewarm and muddy. In Saline the topo map has them called "Lower Warm Springs," the "Palm Spring," and the " upper warm spring." The upper warm spring, located about 3 miles north of the others, is where to go for solitude. Despite its name it is hot enough, maybe 95 degrees. I like to be in it at sunset, when all the bats come down to drink. I'm sure medical experts would advise against it, what with the fear of airborne rabies (?), but it is a great experience. Thousands of bats visit the pool, and since it is only 10' wide, you'll find yourself in the middle of a flock of them. Sometimes their wings will brush you, even (I wear a hat just in case).
You might be trying to travel too far given the amount of time you have. The park is big, and the dirt roads suck, plus you'll see lots of shiny things to go investigate. One reason I don't know much about the main public portions of the park is that I can spend a week in Saline Valley/Racetrack/Eureka. And if you head north, just out of the park? More cool stuff, less rangers.
But that's for another day.
Lippincott Grade is very narrow with dangerous cliffs, but in terms of technicality it is a piece of cake. Just keep an eye for turnouts as you descend, in case you have to back up to them for traffic coming uphill.
The Warm Springs by Barker Ranch aren't usually soakable, being lukewarm and muddy. In Saline the topo map has them called "Lower Warm Springs," the "Palm Spring," and the " upper warm spring." The upper warm spring, located about 3 miles north of the others, is where to go for solitude. Despite its name it is hot enough, maybe 95 degrees. I like to be in it at sunset, when all the bats come down to drink. I'm sure medical experts would advise against it, what with the fear of airborne rabies (?), but it is a great experience. Thousands of bats visit the pool, and since it is only 10' wide, you'll find yourself in the middle of a flock of them. Sometimes their wings will brush you, even (I wear a hat just in case).
You might be trying to travel too far given the amount of time you have. The park is big, and the dirt roads suck, plus you'll see lots of shiny things to go investigate. One reason I don't know much about the main public portions of the park is that I can spend a week in Saline Valley/Racetrack/Eureka. And if you head north, just out of the park? More cool stuff, less rangers.
But that's for another day.
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