2014 Warthog
New member
Heh yeah, same route
Yeah, just having a spotter to let me know about my left tire position and that rock on the right would have helped a ton! I'll get it next time
Warthog Build and Adventure Thread
- Thread starter 2014 Warthog
- Start date
Heh yeah, same route
Yeah, just having a spotter to let me know about my left tire position and that rock on the right would have helped a ton! I'll get it next time
BrianSD_42
New member
Awesome pictures.
If you are interested in an early spring Utah trip lets talk. I don't need a big group either but my truck is to old to go it alone in the wilderness. I'd like to go out there when first snow melt hits. Mid-March?
If you are interested in an early spring Utah trip lets talk. I don't need a big group either but my truck is to old to go it alone in the wilderness. I'd like to go out there when first snow melt hits. Mid-March?
EL CID
New member
Dude I'm way overdue for commenting on your trip, but thanks for the advice about Moab, you definitely didn't need to hit me up from the road! The pics are making me drool, the wife was getting excited for the trip until she saw the snow, then her Florida genes kicked in and she's like "Ew, there won't be snow when we go, right?". And like a good husband I lied through my teeth and assured her that no, it will not snow in Utah in the end of November! I'll cross that bridge when I get to it!
What kind of camera set-up were you shooting? Great trip report and awesome pics!!
What kind of camera set-up were you shooting? Great trip report and awesome pics!!
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Partitanium
New member
That trip looks like a blast! I wish i could make it out there without driving 30+ hours!
2014 Warthog
New member
And you're a good 5 hours closer!!!
I was at one of the higher spots in the area when I got snowed on (5700ft) Moab itself is about 4000 so camping around there, sand flats or south near the sand dunes would be less chance for snow. BUT you never know
If you are camping, you might as well stay at Sand Flats, it's right near town, can go in for a good meal at any time. It'll be empty. $10 a night. OR when I'm out with my wife, we usually stay in a hotel room and make daytrips adventures but then have a warm place and a soft bed to come back to at night.
I just bought a new camera a month ago. Nikon D810 with the 24-120 kit lens. Super nice lens, extremely sharp and allows you to use every pixel. The full size images are awesome
Part of the trip was to field test the camera. Very happy over all. Only issue I had was with some vinetting on wide shots which takes some care to get rid of in some photos (Not the ones where I purposely enhanced it for effect )
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2014 Warthog
New member
ATM I have my spring Moab trip ear marked for taking the Wife out to see the sights trip. Very light offroading, seeing arches etc. She's never been at all. That'll be in May.
But if I haven't blown my vacation and have the itch an earlier trip might be possible
JohnTheLuck
Member
Great report and nice pictures.
I crossed the river ford with a rental Tahoe stock 4x2 with street tires! The trick is stay on the south side as long as possible (for you, reach the far side immediately after entering the water). The bottom is hard rock with only a few inches deep. At first, I was a lot worried since it was a rental truck, but everybody I asked about were telling me this is no problem, and now I confirm this.
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New Guy here, just joined after picking up a 4 runner. Your build and adventures alone have made this forum awesome, I am inspired to get back out there and hit the trails. Nothing could be more therapeutic, (cept maybe fly fishing). A million thanks for all your efforts!!
2014 Warthog
New member
Wow thanks!
Welcome to the forum, I too got a lot of my inspiration from here and also meeting up with people for trips. I just got back from 3 days in Death Valley with [MENTION=46138]chmura[/MENTION] and a couple others. Never would have met them or had their experience to piggy back on without T4R
Will have pics tomorrow maybe!
chmura
New member
Wow thanks!
Welcome to the forum, I too got a lot of my inspiration from here and also meeting up with people for trips. I just got back from 3 days in Death Valley with [MENTION=46138]chmura[/MENTION] and a couple others. Never would have met them or had their experience to piggy back on without T4R
Will have pics tomorrow maybe!
Was indeed an awesome trip! Thanks for coming.
Now post some pics!
EL CID
New member
And you're a good 5 hours closer!!!
I was at one of the higher spots in the area when I got snowed on (5700ft) Moab itself is about 4000 so camping around there, sand flats or south near the sand dunes would be less chance for snow. BUT you never know
If you are camping, you might as well stay at Sand Flats, it's right near town, can go in for a good meal at any time. It'll be empty. $10 a night. OR when I'm out with my wife, we usually stay in a hotel room and make daytrips adventures but then have a warm place and a soft bed to come back to at night.
I just bought a new camera a month ago. Nikon D810 with the 24-120 kit lens. Super nice lens, extremely sharp and allows you to use every pixel. The full size images are awesome
Based on the temps, I think we're going to bed down in a hotel for the night, she was OK with camping until I mentioned lows in the 20s! She shoots a Canon 7d mark II, and I just got her a 24-105mm lens so I'm stoked on the shots she'll get!! Too bad it's a full moon for the next few nights, we may have to get up wicked early to get some decent night shots. Should be a fun trip, just runnin' and gunnin', but hopefully it puts a bug in her to go back more frequently!
2014 Warthog
New member
Take landscape shots under the moon! Moon, no moon, doesn't matter. Different types of shots for both. In fact you kind of want at least 1/4 moon behind you for fill lighting when doing milky way shots anyway or everything else is just utter blackness
When I have the wife we frequently use a hotel for base of operations and do day trips to sights so I know how that goes
Have a great trip!My build will be similar, have toytec lift, bfg's installed. Shrockworks front bumper, demello sliders, ramsey winch, and cbi rear bumper on order. Your tutorial on the cbi rear bumper is gonna help a bunch im sure.
Probably gonna try to make my own roof rack, the boss cut me off so no gobi for me.
Holler if you make it out New Mexico way.
W8
Probably gonna try to make my own roof rack, the boss cut me off so no gobi for me.
Holler if you make it out New Mexico way.
W8
2014 Warthog
New member
I'm a bit ashamed that I didn't try to make more parts myself. I have all the equipment but impatience gets to me!
Hopefully the weather will be nice for the bumper install, it's a long day
2014 Warthog
New member
Death Valley 2015
Last weekend I went to Death Valley for three days of offroading with [MENTION=46138]chmura[/MENTION] and a couple of friends of his and a Jeeper named Mike from Expedition Portal. 4 vehicles total.
Weather was perfect, trails were rough, nothing broke. basically a 99% perfect trip!
We met in Ridgecrest at 7am, gassed up and got coffee and headed through stinky Trona to the little Ballerat ghost town.
THen it was time to air down and get serious. We headed south for Coyote Canyon / Goler Wash.
According to Mike, the most experienced DV traveler, this was the worst condition he'd seen it. The water washed away all the sand and pre-stacked rocks. Though it was plenty doable in the end. Everyone scraped their tank skids, I had to stack a couple rocks in a hole on this ledge due to my 32 in tires
It then opens into an easy wash for a while with a mine site to explore.
Last weekend I went to Death Valley for three days of offroading with [MENTION=46138]chmura[/MENTION] and a couple of friends of his and a Jeeper named Mike from Expedition Portal. 4 vehicles total.
Weather was perfect, trails were rough, nothing broke. basically a 99% perfect trip!
We met in Ridgecrest at 7am, gassed up and got coffee and headed through stinky Trona to the little Ballerat ghost town.
THen it was time to air down and get serious. We headed south for Coyote Canyon / Goler Wash.
According to Mike, the most experienced DV traveler, this was the worst condition he'd seen it. The water washed away all the sand and pre-stacked rocks. Though it was plenty doable in the end. Everyone scraped their tank skids, I had to stack a couple rocks in a hole on this ledge due to my 32 in tires
It then opens into an easy wash for a while with a mine site to explore.
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2014 Warthog
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Stopped for lunch ad the infamous Barker Ranch (Charles Manson "Family" hideout)
Then up Mengle pass! ALL ROCKS
And down the other side. This picture perfectly illustrates the reason that sliders are the MOST important piece of armor to have.
We checked out the "Cabins". They were pretty... iffy to stay in, other than Geologist Cabin, that one was in good shape. Tons of rat droppings everywhere and many rooms had no ceiling. Was just imagining them running in the rafters and pooping out you as you slept!
Striped butte.
Burros! The above picture shows Butte Valley which is home to a rather large herd of leftover burros. They were all over, though usually too far away to take pictures. I did get these two though! And later on a couple others were right next to the road and came up to the group asking for handouts! (I missed them so no pics from me)
Stopped at Warm Springs Talc mine (I didn't know you mined Talc) The area was built up nice at one time. Sturdy painted houses, a warm spring fed pool, the works. Miners were spoiled here
We almost spent the night at Warm Springs (Would have been a good place for it). But we wanted to be in the north end of the valley tomorrow and it was a LONG drive. So we decided to push on, and we knew we may have to contend with some closed roads and take a long way around too...
Entering Death Valley proper at sunset. This nice graded road here completely disappears a bit further down as it crosses a huge flood plane. The recent rains have completely reclaimed it.
Then up Mengle pass! ALL ROCKS
And down the other side. This picture perfectly illustrates the reason that sliders are the MOST important piece of armor to have.
We checked out the "Cabins". They were pretty... iffy to stay in, other than Geologist Cabin, that one was in good shape. Tons of rat droppings everywhere and many rooms had no ceiling. Was just imagining them running in the rafters and pooping out you as you slept!
Striped butte.
Burros! The above picture shows Butte Valley which is home to a rather large herd of leftover burros. They were all over, though usually too far away to take pictures. I did get these two though! And later on a couple others were right next to the road and came up to the group asking for handouts! (I missed them so no pics from me)
Stopped at Warm Springs Talc mine (I didn't know you mined Talc) The area was built up nice at one time. Sturdy painted houses, a warm spring fed pool, the works. Miners were spoiled here
We almost spent the night at Warm Springs (Would have been a good place for it). But we wanted to be in the north end of the valley tomorrow and it was a LONG drive. So we decided to push on, and we knew we may have to contend with some closed roads and take a long way around too...
Entering Death Valley proper at sunset. This nice graded road here completely disappears a bit further down as it crosses a huge flood plane. The recent rains have completely reclaimed it.
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2014 Warthog
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When we reached the intersection of Warm Springs canyon road and West Side Road... well you couldn't tell there was a rod there at all except for a gate and a couple of signs sticking up through the sand.
From there we made it to the Badwater road which we knew was closed going north. We were planning on going south out of the park and around to the east and back in to Furnace Creek. Only as we headed south, the Pass and the wash out the south end were also closed! TRAPPED!
Reluctantly we decided to go up Jubilee Pass road. It was night, we had 4x4s... The west side of that road is utterly destroyed. Tons of washouts, areas with missing asphalt or 1-2 feet of sand and rocks covering the road. Overall was easy going for a high clearance vehicle.
We made it to Furnace Creek late, there was tons of camping space. Had an expensive and not very good dinner at the Cafe, then hit the sack. Next morning went south to see the Badwater flood if it was still there...
Had to hike out a good mile or so but we found some water left!
Looking back.
From there we checked the road conditions at the visitor center and headed north.
Aaaand, another closed road on our planned route. Even though we were JUST at the visitor center and it was not marked closed on their map
Sigh... I'm not normally one to just go around closed road signs but... the entire days activities were planned around this one. So we went around the sign.. This is heading to Crankshaft Junction. Road was washed out in 30+ places like this but not bad. After Crankshaft, it was completely regraded! I think they might have had the road closed temporarily due to the graders working but it was the weekend and they were just parked off the side of the road. Whew!
Sulphur mine in the Last Chance mountains.
Stripes of varying colors and tilts on a paved section through the Last Chance mountains.
Finally made it to out Saturday ;lunch stop. The Eureka Dunes! You can see some people on the right who are climbing up. A couple of us wet up a little ways but uh... climbing sand dues is WAY too much work for me
From there we made it to the Badwater road which we knew was closed going north. We were planning on going south out of the park and around to the east and back in to Furnace Creek. Only as we headed south, the Pass and the wash out the south end were also closed! TRAPPED!
Reluctantly we decided to go up Jubilee Pass road. It was night, we had 4x4s... The west side of that road is utterly destroyed. Tons of washouts, areas with missing asphalt or 1-2 feet of sand and rocks covering the road. Overall was easy going for a high clearance vehicle.
We made it to Furnace Creek late, there was tons of camping space. Had an expensive and not very good dinner at the Cafe, then hit the sack. Next morning went south to see the Badwater flood if it was still there...
Had to hike out a good mile or so but we found some water left!
Looking back.
From there we checked the road conditions at the visitor center and headed north.
Aaaand, another closed road on our planned route. Even though we were JUST at the visitor center and it was not marked closed on their map
Sigh... I'm not normally one to just go around closed road signs but... the entire days activities were planned around this one. So we went around the sign.. This is heading to Crankshaft Junction. Road was washed out in 30+ places like this but not bad. After Crankshaft, it was completely regraded! I think they might have had the road closed temporarily due to the graders working but it was the weekend and they were just parked off the side of the road. Whew!
Sulphur mine in the Last Chance mountains.
Stripes of varying colors and tilts on a paved section through the Last Chance mountains.
Finally made it to out Saturday ;lunch stop. The Eureka Dunes! You can see some people on the right who are climbing up. A couple of us wet up a little ways but uh... climbing sand dues is WAY too much work for me
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2014 Warthog
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After lunch we went through Dedeckra Canyon. Some nice ledges and tight spots. About the same difficulty as Coyote Canyon.
Then 2.5 hours through steel pass and down into saline valley. Slow going. Driving on a beg of decently sized rocks with plenty of boulders to drive around/over thrown in. Was nice scenery and all but once was probably enough for that trail
The Saline Hot Spings. A bit of an old hippie era relic. People were showing up for Thanksgiving already. Apparently it's like a 2-300 person mass potluck thing out here
I have to say that I sort of avoided doing the naked hot tubbing myself, ah well...
Pic of Mike and his Jeep and his camping setup. He packs a LOT of stuff in that Jeep!
Sun morning picture of one of the lower hot tubs with no one in it. (Pictures with people in them is of course not looked on too well)
We headed for north pass, Knew it might be closed but there was no sign from the bottom. Though we did run into this! And it was a surprise at the bottom of a small hump in the road. But there was a bypass to the right.
The rest of the road out to the highway was rough but fine for high clearance, no 4x4 needed. At the top there were signs once outside the park that said closed coming the other way but there were a lot of people through anyway.
We headed down to Big Pine and picked up 395 south. One more attraction along the way is a Mine that is big enough to drive in!
You can go about 1/4 mile or so down into the mountain before it ends in a space large enough to turn around (thankfully) It was fun/scary Hard to get good pictures too, not because of the darkness but the dust was SO thick it was like fog almost.
Another 4.5 hours and I was home. Warthog has two thick layers of dust inside and out now. Will need a really thorough cleaning this thanksgiving weekend!
Thanks to [MENTION=46138]chmura[/MENTION] and Mike for inviting me and guiding the trails. It was a super fun trip!
Then 2.5 hours through steel pass and down into saline valley. Slow going. Driving on a beg of decently sized rocks with plenty of boulders to drive around/over thrown in. Was nice scenery and all but once was probably enough for that trail
The Saline Hot Spings. A bit of an old hippie era relic. People were showing up for Thanksgiving already. Apparently it's like a 2-300 person mass potluck thing out here
I have to say that I sort of avoided doing the naked hot tubbing myself, ah well...
Pic of Mike and his Jeep and his camping setup. He packs a LOT of stuff in that Jeep!
Sun morning picture of one of the lower hot tubs with no one in it. (Pictures with people in them is of course not looked on too well
)We headed for north pass, Knew it might be closed but there was no sign from the bottom. Though we did run into this! And it was a surprise at the bottom of a small hump in the road. But there was a bypass to the right.
The rest of the road out to the highway was rough but fine for high clearance, no 4x4 needed. At the top there were signs once outside the park that said closed coming the other way but there were a lot of people through anyway.
We headed down to Big Pine and picked up 395 south. One more attraction along the way is a Mine that is big enough to drive in!
You can go about 1/4 mile or so down into the mountain before it ends in a space large enough to turn around (thankfully) It was fun/scary
Hard to get good pictures too, not because of the darkness but the dust was SO thick it was like fog almost. Another 4.5 hours and I was home. Warthog has two thick layers of dust inside and out now. Will need a really thorough cleaning this thanksgiving weekend!
Thanks to [MENTION=46138]chmura[/MENTION] and Mike for inviting me and guiding the trails. It was a super fun trip!
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crazynelsons
New member
By far one of the coolest posts. Thanks.
ExploreABitMore
New member
Awesome photos Warthog! Looks like a real good tour of some of the nice spots one can drive to in DV. Never seen, or heard of, that mine before. Crazy how you can drive in there! Haven't been up Goler yet this year, but been hearing its pretty rough right now, as your pics sure seem to show!
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