John, Thanks for the insight on your write-up of Mazorka Canyon. Am still deciding on what trails and posted up those idea's to get everyone thinking about what they'd like to run especially those who had been there before.
I am fine with whatever route you choose, Ray. Just keep in mind that we will have families and we need to sleep, to have some rest and to look around.
Technically, the Swansea route is not part of Death Valley. In my books, it is described in the book "Inyo-Mono SUV trails" by Roger Mitchell. He is saying that this is a Class III trail, with few Class IV sections and two Class V sections (on 6-grade scale).
My personal feeling is that the DV mountain trails (like Roger Pass, Pleasant Canyon, South Park Canyon, Mengel Pass, Goler Wash) provide more scenery and more technical driving. But I am fine with any route. We probably can somehow connect several trails to get everything - I mean both the desert driving and the mountain trails.
Ray, you have to sit with the map and with the books and realistically draw the route <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Oleg, thanks & don't worry. I don't plan on doing every trail under the sun. Just throwing out ideas to gauge interest so I can plan a route that the most possible can enjoy.
As for the location relative to the park, most of the trails in the Wells Guide (which I'm using right now) are outside of DVNP proper with the exception of the Racetrack via Hunter Mtn.
The Wells guide does show an overview map and I'll post a pic when I get home tonight. I do note that there's a section of DVNP that's not shown on his maps so I don't know the trails in that area. I tried downloading and printing the Nat Park maps but they haven't figured out that most folks who might want to download their maps don't have 36" wide printers. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Ray <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> the dates mention earlier set, so I can schedule the time off. Due you think a stock SUV (my Armada) with decent tires can handle the trail? I did not go through the links provided, but will this be a base camp style?
Nick, I'm not 100% sure but it seems so. Most say a stock high clearance SUV with skid plates & 4x4 will make it through. The most difficult of these (Swansea-Cerro Gordo) notes... "Suitable for agressive stock SUV's with high clearance, low range and skid plates."
Bruno, I'll post the overview map I've been basing the plans on tonight and we can plan further from there. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
