Landsandcrab

Ah, that time of year to squeeze one (or two!) more trips to DD. Assembled a tight crew of one this time. Quick one nighter but a lot of riding up and around the area. It was actually strange to ride/camp in dry sand! It was quite the nice and wet season eh? Can't say I don't miss the wettish sand, but love the warmer temps! We had a crew that could go next week but the weather is looking too wet/stormy. Mayyyyybe week after if the temps hold under 90..... Just a few pics this time, enjoy! One of the best sunsets of the season....one of those type that just keep changing and keep their color forever it seems If you end your day at top of a dune, you must be doing something right! ...the hills are watching.... The hills are.....happy! You can spy this geological "wonder" on the way to Shoshone via hwy 127 (between Tecopa and Shoshone) Chicago Valley Rd area (on other side of pass east of Shoshone), found the "12 mile Spring", but didn't find the nearby grinding holes (mortars) or agave roasting pits. But did score some nice pics and wasn't shot at for going into some possible private property. What's that, you wanted more flower pics??LOL! Back to the sand....this spot at the Little Dunes always seems to pop up the best desert lilies, they just hadn't bloomed yet Too hot to ride in midday so I grabbed my gloves and some bags and started some clean-up along the track that goes from big dunes to salt creek mine area. I went to pull on a strap sticking out the sand and pulled up a lost bag.....some big cresent wrenches (rusted), an intact bottle of water, a busted Pepsi can, some intact snack bags. You never know what's lurking beneath that sand! If you know what "Volcom" is, you'll like this....there are lots of cool rocks around the area, but this one is amazingly similar to the "Volcom Stone". I didn't bring it home, see if you can find where I left it?? Usually when you get stuck at Dumont, it's in the sand right? Well, I highly recommend NOT riding into the "dry" Little Dune Lake! Holy crap, what a mess....I was coming back from Big dunes to camp and while messing around in the little dunes rode thru some area that looked dry but 20 feet in my bike sank up to the axles.....quick mud!? No chance to lift it out....had to tip the bike on it's side and wrestle the rear tire out, then the front....and repeated for almost 40 minutes until I finally reached some solid ground, a whole 20 feet away!!! Damn, it was a chore but could have been worse being I was solo. Poor bike! It was the worse kind of mud....playa or alkaline mud, very very sticky and is like a suction cup when wet and drys hard enough to require an hour or more with a pressure washer to get mostly clean. You should have seen my front brakes....had to tear it all apart to get all the dry mud out. If I would have been in a Sxs or quad I would have been completely screwed! Can you guess what side I dragged it out on? My driveway is permanently stained from the mud (nice reminder) now It was surreal driving out on Tuesday evening, the wind was a bit much for riding or camping, glad the timing worked out. Hope to be back in a week or so for one more round this season! Anyone else going out this month?

It was a great trip with 8 guys and one gf. Drove out from Big Bear with light rain from Barstow, turning heavy after turning toward Baker. Heavy winds and more rain that fortunately lasted until midnight, then was quiet as a mouse! As you can guess, the conditions were amazing the rest of the trip! We did plenty of dune riding, a side trip to the infamous "Crusty Bunny Ranch" (southeast of Dumont), and a long 180 mile loop to Furnace Creek via Harry Wade road. Saw plenty of prudy wildflowers....we nailed it on the timing for this decades Super Bloom, by accident, sweet! Dantes View was also on the agenda. The rest of the crew did another side trip up Sperry Wash to gulp down a few Date Shakes at China Ranch date farm, so I got bored and decided what the hell I'm going to find out what is on top of that big mountain to the east of the Little Dunes!! Check out the pics for the killer views.... Planning another trip next week and probably one more mid month if the weather holds up. Enjoy! WET and FUN This sunsets for you Barrie Morris....RIP Miss ya Mate Anyone ever slept next to your ride when it's raining? I can cross that off the list! Clancy, Coors lite, CRF The gang, mid 30's to the mid 70's and we ain't talking temperature! Crusty Bunny Mine Inside the earth Terry checking out old headframe Wet desert traction for days Apparently, the Crusty Bunny Ranch has been closed for some time.... Near Ashford Mill in DV Super Bloom! About 150 miles into the 180 mile loop, east entrance to DV. Red Bikes galore! Sperry Wash was running FYI, the "Death Valley Internet Cafe" is in Tecopa, 20 minutes north of Dumont. They offer FREE WIFI, great food, beer and wine and a great atmosphere. Checkitout! You seen this mountain behind the Little Dunes? I decided to see what was on top. Started (hiking) from camp, went up the "road" that goes to first little peak, found a goat trail that climbed to next peak, and then worked north/left to Summit. Very nasty scramble down but totally worth the effort! Halfway up. Not much of a trail eh? Made it to the top! There was a large rock stack, some possible sleeping circles, sentry post, and of course a killer view! Can you see our ring of campers (middle, just before Hwy 127)? Note water flow and cool dune formations! Mandatory Summit Selfie! Rock and Sand contrast Love us some DD! See ya soon!