I’m back from Death Valley now after some marathon driving. Kailen and I went out the south pass to save some time. I believe I have the new speed record for getting out the south pass - 1 hour from Lower Springs to Highway 190, including a piss break and a honk at cows in the middle of the road break.

Anyway, here’s the rundown of the weekend:
Friday: Kailen and I left Santa Barbara, and ended up camping at Trona Pinnacles, which was a really eery experience, especially inebriated.

Saturday: Met up with everyone in Olancha and headed into the valley. Pismoboy and I were the advance Injun scout party (read: hauled ass ahead of the group to avoid sitting in a dusty Taco congo line).
On the way we met up with some cows, and a cowgirl riding herd.

Excellent vistas from the road overlooking the Panamint Valley

Stopped at an old Ghost town off of the hunter mountain trail (goldsomething) where Jason DeMello tested out his new rockcrawler rig.

We flew through several valleys to Teakettle junction:

From there we went into Racetrack valley, home of the mysterious moving rocks. After practicing some Lunar Bowling…

…We then camped in Racetrack valley and explored Lippencot mine, blew stuff up, drove really fast, and got drunk in preparation for our descent into Saline Valley the next day.

Sunday:
We descended Lippencot mine road into Saline Valley (often called the "Wildest ride in Death Valley National Park"). Once there, we saw the old salt drying ponds…

…and the remnants of the tramway that used to go from Saline over the Inyo Mountains (11,000 feet+) to the Owens Valley.

Monday:

After spending most of the rest of sunday in the hot springs, we packed up monday morning. I took a couple of pictures of camp, including the cool Wildernest Tent/Campershell thingy that someone had (I suck at names, plz remind me whoever you are). Westfalia, eat yer heart out.

I also managed to snap a couple of pics of the Lower springs and the well ma
nicured lawn near it. The springs are quite a contrast from the dusty dry surroundings - it’s a little bit of paradise in the desert.

Thanks go to David Hale for setting this all up, and to everyone that showed up.