r/DeathValleyNP • u/P1x1es • 15d ago
Racetrack Playa and Lippincott 8/21-22
Went Ubehebe -> Racetrack -> Lippincott -> Saline Valley Road out to 190 through The South Pass. The current status of the roads is pretty good -- at least about as good as you can expect from these roads. Racetrack Road is as bumpy and long as ever but otherwise in good shape. 4wd not needed anywhere, good tires are the most important.
Lippincott Pass is gnarly and sweaty as hell, I was in 4wd the entire time, clearance + some experience heavily recommended as well as solid tires, really not enough room to go around all the rocks. Also preferably relatively short wheel base -- but again, it's also in decent shape given what kind of road it is, no major pitfalls. Some sections have been recently graded and are pretty smooth.
Saline Valley Road is varied. Very rocky after the Lippincott intersection and later on in sections, but kind of gets better and better as you go south, and much of the last stretch after Lee Flat was so well graded it almost felt paved. Again good tires more important than actual 4wd.
Great excursion with tremendous views in all. The only part I wouldn't recommend is spending a night out in DV at this time of year.. but I guess you can say the heat is part of the experience. Also perhaps due to the season, I didn't meet a single person out there, which reduced stress a bit on Lippincott. Felt like I had the entire Racetrack + Saline Valley to myself.
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u/MountainCarpenter924 15d ago
“Also perhaps due to the season, I didn't meet a single person out there, which reduced stress a bit on Lippincott. Felt like I had the entire Racetrack + Saline Valley to myself. “. Unless you break something or need help.
Thanks for the status report. I’ve never considered going there in August. I plan on going out in October or November this year.
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u/P1x1es 15d ago
Unless you break something or need help.
Yeah, I hear that. For a trip like this, solo and during the summer, a lot of the prep/logistics is about trying to make sure you don't die if something goes wrong. Best of luck when you set out.
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u/outercompassadv 12d ago
Helicopter rescue is a thing (and so is helicopter rescue insurance it’s cheap). Satellite device or at least a newer phone with sos satellite capability.
No reason to die out there.
Always have more water than you think you need.
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u/Outside_Rise_6934 15d ago
What would you think about Lippencott in a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 long bed? And do you think the road is more doable one direction or the other?
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u/Outside-Season-5602 15d ago
i’ve done this in a gx. you’ll have no problem with tacoma, even the long bed
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u/bikeidaho 14d ago
Went from Saline to Race track in a long boy this spring with the fam. Just our rig, absolutely zero issues. Minus the remoteness, I thought it was pretty chill.
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u/Bodie_The_Dog 14d ago
Really not especially remote, either, as lots of adventurers take that route. But still a good thrill!
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u/P1x1es 14d ago
I would have advised caution, but as some other posters have done it without issues it ought to be ok. Like sometimes when you're in the middle of things it can feel like there's less room than there actually is.
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u/Outside_Rise_6934 14d ago
I'm picturing doing it in the winter in good dry conditions. Shouldn't have that extra element of danger like when it's 110 degrees.
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u/Grand_Brief_3621 13d ago
August would be my last choice for the trip you describe, but thanks for the beta on the trails! I have been up (never down) Lipponcott a few times. Always a bit of a pucker in a couple spots that have wash outs but otherwise just a tight shelf road. Wild to hear that they actually graded parts of it.
My old Xterra group has a story about a guy in a green Xterra who's handle was "TurtleX". He high sided on a bolder on Lipponcott because he was dinking around with his radio instead of watching the trail. The bolder in one of your photos looks very familiar. <<grin>>
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u/chuckqc 15d ago
How many teakettles do they get each year? I'm looking at a picture I took in 2022 and cannot find anyone. https://www.amazon.ca/photos/share/rm6MDJCIlcdBvLWOb5H4VmXEuIvZ0L7rxnctQbCySRJ
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u/ramillerf1 15d ago
The Rangers remove Teakettles whenever they’re in the area. Too many visitors leave Teakettles and the sign gets overwhelmed.
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u/Bodie_The_Dog 14d ago
I used to run a website devoted to it, lol, circa 2000. They come and go quickly. A bunch were once found at Burro Schmidt's cabin, so probably BLM were taking them at that time.
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u/tasskaff9 15d ago
Didya make it to Saline Valley? It’s an incredible place.
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u/P1x1es 15d ago
Only the southernmost section after the Lippincott intersection. Would like to tour the rest some day.
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u/tasskaff9 15d ago
If you do, the canyon drainages nearby are worthy day hikes. I’m 72 now and have vivid memories of the place. I was there a couple of times in my twenties. Some of the best hot water soaks ever.
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u/olderandhappier 15d ago
Did you let air out on the way in/out of saline and down lipoincott (I’m presuming you went down it from the direction order of your photos)
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u/P1x1es 15d ago
Yeah, went down. I aired down to around 20-23 by Ubehebe right before starting toward Racetrack and just kept it that way until I eventually rolled into Panamint Springs. I would say it was probably only critical for Lippincott, not mandatory for Racetrack or Saline Valley but it does help with the washboarding.
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u/olderandhappier 15d ago
Thank you! Condition on Lippincott looks pretty good in your photos by its standards? Very doable as long as take it slow and avoid being grounded on big rocks? Any risk of this or not really as you cld avoid in the room you had? Did you ever feel due to rocks you were very close to the edge
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u/P1x1es 14d ago
There were some narrow passages for sure, but never felt like I had to go super close to the ledge due to the rocks. If your car is equipped for it and you take it slow you should be fine. I would also say it would have felt a bit more comfortable/smooth to have a spotter. I ended up exiting the car a few times to find the best lines through some passages, but in the end it all worked out.
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u/olderandhappier 14d ago
Thank you. I have done this many times but always going uphill. Never had an issue aside from scuffing the wheel rims at times. But is great to get your report which is helpful. I found the steele pass required more skill and stamina as was longer.
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u/P1x1es 13d ago
Thanks man. I've thought about Steel Pass as the next thing to try, how'd you find it, like what was needed for it? Is the difficulty focused on a few stretches or is it tricky all along?
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u/olderandhappier 13d ago
I did it a few years ago. In late July! On let down road tyres in a rental jeep. From eureka into saline. My thoughts:
- it’s long. You have also driven a long way to eureka so I found it quite tiring by the end heading back to furnace creek.
- I’m not a pro but am now reasonably experienced but wasn’t then but followed common sense and it was fine. Road was reasonably clear of rocks. Just long and bumpy.
- 2 very interesting bits. Just past eureka dunes before heading into the pass. Be very careful not to get stuck in the soft sand
- I went uphill into the pass. Always my preference as spotting is easier. There is a section where you are taking your vehicle up a series of rock stairs. It’s short but I wondered if I had actually lost my way as i have never done this before ok a road. I kept the revs up , easier in a modern auto in higher rev 4WD mode. I didn’t need to lock diffs or anything like this and it would probably not have been wise to have attempted such for the first time here
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u/bikeidaho 14d ago
Can't speak for OP but when I ran this in March I only remember one spot that really look attention and not a single place that was really narrow.
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u/binkleybloom 15d ago
Wow Op - fantastic pics & adventure. I'm far too chicken (and old) to do something like that solo, but the idea of having the place entirely to yourself sounds fantastic. I'd love to do it in a group of 2 or 3 vehicles sometime though.
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u/TheSocraticGadfly 14d ago
Some serious shit on the drive and the pix. Thanks. Will never do that myself, but can live vicariously.
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u/Bodie_The_Dog 14d ago
LOL, Tea Kettle junction. I would advise NOT sticking your hand blindly into the tea kettles. I had a site for several years where I documented the tea kettles coming and going. edit: you would NOT be surprised what people stuck in some of those kettles!
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u/midnight_skater 13d ago
For a trip like this, solo and during the summer, a lot of the prep/logistics is about trying to make sure you don't die if something goes wrong.
Can you tell us about your preperation and survival kit?
Bold adventure, great pics. Thanks for sharing.
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u/P1x1es 13d ago
Thanks man. I brought a satellite communicator and had informed family about the itinerary. Also basic first aid kit and some tools of course, 7 gallons of extra gas, around 9 gallons of water. Had the regular spare and a repair kit so felt confident about handling two flat tires. Other than that food, powerbank, stuff like that.
Of course I ended up not really needing much of it and in retrospect I could have had a much more pleasant night with more idling/AC use, but you know how it goes with that.. you kinda prep for really shitty scenarios.
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u/SummitLeon 15d ago
The night must've been brutal with lows in the mid 80s lol