trips - New Years at Death Valley

Trip Info

Dates: 12/27 - 1/1/08
Trip Organizer: bearcrossing
Location: Death Valley NP

Number of Attendees: (view all)
1 yes
2 maybe

Description

Anybody interested in spending the weekend before New Years and New Years Eve in Death Valley? I'm thinking of car camping and day hiking. The dates I'm thinking about are driving out there Thurs Dec 27 then spending Fri/Sat/Sun/Mon exploring and driving home on Tuesday. Let me know if you'd like to come at least for a day or two :) Then we'll start to nail down more details.

12/5 Update:

Here are some places I would like to see and hike - Marble Canyon, Titus Canyon, Mosaic Canyon, Wildrose Peak, Darwin Falls, Eureka Dunes, and the Racetrack. I have been out to the Racetrack but I didn't see any of the famous self-moving rocks. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to see some this time :) Let me know of any places you would like to see/trails you'd like to hike.

We're thinking of staying at Emigrant or Wildrose Campground. http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/camping.htm

Another thing I've always wanted to do was see the show at the Amargosa Opera House at Death Valley Junction. I just called and they do have space at the 12/29 showing! I got two tickets for my husband and myself. If anybody else would like to go, here's the info. Tickets are $15. You can also stay there at the hotel which is something I did do back in 1999 but the show that night was sold out. It's supposed to be quite fantastic and definitely a unique experience.

http://www.amargosa-opera-house.com/main.html

12/7 Update:

Proposed itinerary, subject to change:

27 - Drive to DV, hike to Darwin Falls, camp at Wildrose
28 - Hike up Wildrose Peak (if conditions permit), camp at Wildrose
29 - Hike up Mosaic Canyon, explore Death Valley Dunes, shower at Stovepipe Wells, Amargosa Opera House for the evening, camp at Death Valley Junction or in Greenwater Valley (or, if you're not going to the Opera House, you can camp again at Wildrose)
30 - Drive to Racetrack, visit Ubehebe Crater, camp in Hidden Valley
31 - Visit Eureka Dunes, camp at Eureka Dunes
1 - Drive home

FYI, you will need a high clearance vehicle to get to the Racetrack and Eureka Dunes and I hear 4wd doesn't hurt either. If you don't have such a vehicle perhaps you can join us for the first part of the trip and carpool with someone else for the 2nd?