[BCBrian]

Teaser

I found this excellent article and slide show of Death Valley and some of the places we are going to.

Death Valley National Park - The Greatest American Road Trip

10 weeks from today we will be camping at Panamint Springs!

 

[glamisdude]

What site numbers do you guys have at Panamint on which days?

 

[BCBrian]

What site numbers do you guys have at Panamint on which days?

T28 3/22, 23 & 25. R00 was supposed to also reserve it for 3/24 so his tent trailer could have a spot for the night.

I checked with them and tent sites are fine for pop ups. Bringing the pop up on the trails we are running will not be possible. Although it sounds like yours will be more capable, I strongly urge you to reserve a site at Panamint for all 3 nights and plan on sleeping in a tent, on the ground or in your rig on sat night.

 

[glamisdude]

Alright cool, since pop ups are ok on tent sites it looks like T29 is wide open still for all potential days.

I'd like to drive up Wednesday night, but it looks like class schedules are dictating late Thursday night or Friday morning:/ I'll try and see if she can get out of class on Thursday and then book the site. Regardless we'll be there at least a few of the days


btw: T28 is still open on the 24th, would appear @R00 hasn't booked it yet

Should this info be in this thread or the other?

 

[JeniorNV]

^You might just want to book for Wed-Sun now to secure the spot. They won't charge your card yet. If you need to drop Wed night later, you can just send them an email...the resort has been great to communicate with that way.

 

[glamisdude]

Well just called to confirm what Brian had said about popups on a tent site before booking and was told otherwise... They are ok with shell camping or trucks with cab overs but no pop up trailers on tent sites. Looking at 46 and 47 since they would be somewhat close to the group but at double the cost for literally nothing else I think we'll probably skip Wednesday night camping and head up Thursday. This sort of sucks though as check in is not until 4pm....
@BCBrian, do you know if dispersed camping is allowed near by?

 

[jbumx2]

Well just called to confirm what Brian had said about popups on a tent site before booking and was told otherwise... They are ok with shell camping or trucks with cab overs but no pop up trailers on tent sites. Looking at 46 and 47 since they would be somewhat close to the group but at double the cost for literally nothing else I think we'll probably skip Wednesday night camping and head up Thursday. This sort of sucks though as check in is not until 4pm....
@BCBrian, do you know if dispersed camping is allowed near by?

I just started looking into accomodations. Check in is at 11am for the campground, 4pm for the motel... at least according to their Policies and Information page on their website. I'm also considering dispersed camping...

 

[glamisdude]

I just started looking into accomodations. Check in is at 11am for the campground, 4pm for the motel... at least according to their Policies and Information page on their website. I'm also considering dispersed camping...

Well 11am is better but I'm thinking some dispersed camping with a day or two at the site may be the best mix for me. I was looking into it a bit more and the rules are pretty much the same as USFS and BLM
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm

These 2 rules kinda suck though...

Overnight group size is limited to 12 people and no more than 4 vehicles. Larger groups will need to split up and camp at least 1 mile apart.

Campfires are prohibited, except in fire pits in developed campgrounds.

About 2 miles east of the campground along the 190 is a dirt road that we could presumably camp off of.

Or alternatly, 1 mile west of the campground on 190 is Old Toll rd.

 

[jbumx2]

Well 11am is better but I'm thinking some dispersed camping with a day or two at the site may be the best mix for me. I was looking into it a bit more and the rules are pretty much the same as USFS and BLM
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm

These 2 rules kinda suck though...


About 2 miles east of the campground along the 190 is a dirt road that we could presumably camp off of.

Or alternatly, 1 mile west of the campground on 190 is Old Toll rd.

I guess it depends how many people decide to disperse camp. But bummer about the camp fire restriction though. That dirt road east of Panamint Resort you mentioned looks like a good candidate for a dispersed camp site. There's some hills to hole up in about 3 miles from 190.

Old Toll Rd looks promising too... there's even a waterfall you can hike to.

 

[BCBrian]

Well Jen.... so much for keeping this thread cleaned up!

Here is the email exchange I had with Leigh at Panamint Springs resort -

"Thank you Leigh! I hope my 2 different reservations did not confuse you.... let me explain.

I am coming to Death Valley with my 4 wheel drive club. I am arriving 1 day before most of the folks. We are going to spend fri night in Texas Springs CG, after running trails through the N end of the park, then we are headed S to come over Mengel Pass/Goler Wash and back to Panamint Springs.

You will get several other reservations set up in the same manner.

I have a friend with a tent trailer. He is considering paying for fri night as well, so he can leave his trailer in your facility for the entire trip, as it is not suitable for the roads and trails we will be traveling on.

Would a tent trailer be OK in a tent site or would he need to rent a dry RV site? I was hoping we could share the site as the pet I paid for is his small dog.

Please let me know,
Brian Berndt"

Her response -

"Hello Brian Berndt,

Sounds like your group has a great trip planned! If your friend just wants to park the trailer for several days, we offer day parking for $5.00 per day. Otherwise, a tent site should be an adequate amount of space for your friend’s tent trailer.

Best regards,

Leigh
Panamint Springs Resort
www.panamintsprings.com"

I suggest that you talk to Leigh and clarify because something is being miscommunicated one way or another.

 

[BCBrian]

This is getting out of hand as far as I'm concerned. The CG has showers, a store and other amenities that will be very useful.

The point of us camping together is so that everyone is on the same schedule and we can leave together as a group without a delay. You are going to need to find somewhere to store your trailer anyway and for $10 a night what is the big deal?

Here is the bottom line....

We are traveling over 120 miles each day. In order to be able to see some sites and get this large group through obstacles and into camp at a decent hour, we will be meeting by 8am sharp each day and be leaving camp by 8:30 AT THE VERY LATEST.....

I am trying to keep everyone on point and on track so we can make this adventure as smooth as possible. Please just camp with us OK?

 

[glamisdude]

This is getting out of hand as far as I'm concerned. The CG has showers, a store and other amenities that will be very useful.

The point of us camping together is so that everyone is on the same schedule and we can leave together as a group without a delay. You are going to need to find somewhere to store your trailer anyway and for $10 a night what is the big deal?

Here is the bottom line....

We are traveling over 120 miles each day. In order to be able to see some sites and get this large group through obstacles and into camp at a decent hour, we will be meeting by 8am sharp each day and be leaving camp by 8:30 AT THE VERY LATEST.....

I am trying to keep everyone on point and on track so we can make this adventure as smooth as possible. Please just camp with us OK?

Didn't mean to step on anybodies toes...

My thought of dispersed camping was only because I was under the impression that a tent trailer on the tent site was a no-no. I'm perfectly fine with $10 a night and will gladly pay for all the nights at the campground if that is the case. (Assuming that I can confirm with Leigh before booking)
The issue I have is if I will be forced to pay the $20 a night for the dry rv site. At that price it is not worth it to me to book all 4 nights and I would rather backcountry camp a few of the nights.

I completely understand your reasoning to have everyone camp together and apologize if I started needless rabble. Thank you for organizing this event.

 

[BCBrian]

No problem Chris. Originally I was planning on camping in the back country but after deciding on the route, the CG at Panamint Springs was in the right location. It offers bathrooms, showers, a store and gas which eliminates some logistical issues. These include, carrying a portable toilet and a solar shower and trying to find the privacy to use them. Also having gas close by, although expensive, helps ensure full tanks on the trail.

If you need to pay for the more expensive site maybe you could share it to bring the cost down?

I wonder if there is some confusion between a pop up and a tent trailer, which are essentially the same thing? Hopefully Leigh can explain why you got a different response than I did.

Please let us know what you find out and we'll go from there.

 

[crewmaxxis]

Panamint camp booked for 3-23 & 3-25

I got spot #31

 

[JeniorNV]

I moved all the chit chat from the other thread into this one so that it's all in the same place.

My personal opinion is still that all the posts after November 2 should be moved into the other thread (and this one should possibly be locked) because I think that would be a lot less confusing.

 

[glamisdude]

Well you can count us in 100% but, we may end up only do a day or two with the group. We'd like to do more than just wheel the whole time we are there. Hate to be a party pooper but we don't get out as often as we used to and want to make the most of the time we were able to get off (we honestly have not done a trip like this since the last time we saw you guys in Hollister). There looks to be some great hiking and biking as well as some hot springs and other interesting things in the area.

I've sent an email to the campground about the clarification on popups on tent sites and will report back when I hear the verdict. So with that said, we plan to drive out Wednesday morning and head home Sunday afternoon.

Brian, what would be the best day to tag along? We would camp in the campground the night before as to not disrupt the groups depart time.

 

[BCBrian]

Well you can count us in 100% but, we may end up only do a day or two with the group. We'd like to do more than just wheel the whole time we are there. Hate to be a party pooper but we don't get out as often as we used to and want to make the most of the time we were able to get off (we honestly have not done a trip like this since the last time we saw you guys in Hollister). There looks to be some great hiking and biking as well as some hot springs and other interesting things in the area.

I've sent an email to the campground about the clarification on popups on tent sites and will report back when I hear the verdict. So with that said, we plan to drive out Wednesday morning and head home Sunday afternoon.

Brian, what would be the best day to tag along? We would camp in the campground the night before as to not disrupt the groups depart time.

Since you are going to get there wed, you could hike or bike on thu and meet up with us thu night or even just be at the gas station in Panamint Springs at 8am fri. It would be hard to choose between our 2 wheeling days as each has interesting sites and what look to be fun trails. You could wheel with us both days, fri and sat, and camp with us fri night at Texas springs and sat at PS then since most of us are leaving sun morning you would have that day to do other things as well.

I'm just glad you are in 100%!

 

[glamisdude]

We are only just starting to put our route together now but we'll shoot for making at least one of the wheeling days and camping nights.

I just heard back from Leigh, I guess she is the general store and motel manager. Looks like tent trailers are ok on tent sites as she said in Brian's email.

Thank you for contacting Panamint Springs Resort! We apologize for the misinformation that was given to you. Yes, a tent trailer should fit with no problem in a $10.00 site. You would only need the RV dry site if you prefer the additional space.

Would appear that you only need to opt for a dry rv site if space dictates so. I'm a little bummed that I didn't book earlier as you guys suggested as now its a hodge podge of sites and days available...

 

[chito frontier]

Well...this looks like real Fun! To top it i will be cooking some really tasty Paella Valeciana and some great Vino to go with it over a nice wood burning campfire! Bona petite!

 

[JeniorNV]

Two more days!

My current plan is to work for part of the day on Thursday and then drive down. It is supposed to be stormy in the mountains most of the week, but a break is expected on Thursday. I hope to be at Panamint Springs by about 7.

If the forecast changes and the weather looks iffy, I am going to take the day off, leave in the morning, and take a longer alternate route through Nevada instead. If that ends up being what happens, I haven't a clue what time I'll arrive.

In any event, see you guys soon.

Don't forget to top off your washer fluid before you leave.