Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

Hello all. Gosh, we sure do enjoy reading the forum - what a wealth
of knowledge on a gazillion topics.

We're in the Tucson area and want to visit Death Valley. We have
heard about roads with long hills and campgrounds with small
spaces. Please, will someone share their experiences and advise us
on routes and campgrounds that will accommodate a 35' PT with a 6V
engine? We don't want to drive in at 22 mph and find all spaces too
small.

On a slightly different topic, we've spent the last 3 months in the
Tucson area - what a place for hiking and sightseeing. We've been
so busy we need to leave just to have time to rest up and read a
book. We're happy to share our experience with anyone thinking
about spending time here.

Thanks ahead of time for all your help.

Sad to leave but too pooped out to stay much longer.
Pen & Jim
'83 PT35
Benson AZ

Pen & Jim:

I went through Death Valley last year in a 2004 M380. I won't say
the roads are express ways, by any stretch of the imagination. The
roads are narrow, somewhat winding, and in places are steep and
winding. I am not saying that you shouldn't go but I have been and
won't be driving a motor home through there again.

Marv
2004 M380
Ocean Shores, WA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jimocon" wrote:
>
> Hello all. Gosh, we sure do enjoy reading the forum - what a
wealth
> of knowledge on a gazillion topics.
>
> We're in the Tucson area and want to visit Death Valley. We have
> heard about roads with long hills and campgrounds with small
> spaces. Please, will someone share their experiences and advise us
> on routes and campgrounds that will accommodate a 35' PT with a 6V
> engine? We don't want to drive in at 22 mph and find all spaces
too
> small.
>
> On a slightly different topic, we've spent the last 3 months in the
> Tucson area - what a place for hiking and sightseeing. We've been
> so busy we need to leave just to have time to rest up and read a
> book. We're happy to share our experience with anyone thinking
> about spending time here.
>
> Thanks ahead of time for all your help.
>
> Sad to leave but too pooped out to stay much longer.
> Pen & Jim
> '83 PT35
> Benson AZ
>

Hi Jim/Pen,

I found Death Valley NP to be one of the most surreal places
ever visited- A definite must in the list of life adventures. My
brother and I went in there from Amargosa Valley, NV with a Chevy
Suburban last year and left by going over the mountains into
Panamint Valley. I would have no problems getting my 40'PT in from
Amargosa, but don't even think of crossing westward into Panamint.
The steep grade will test even an SUV's cooling and braking ability.
By all means, don't go in after May. The heat is extreme. Check out
the National Park Service website- (www dot nps dot gov/deva/) and
look for their link to Death Valley NP. There are three campgrounds
that could accomodate you if they have sites available. Their links
are on the NPS webiste.

Shane Fedeli
85PT40
Hershey, PA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jimocon"
wrote:
>
> Hello all. Gosh, we sure do enjoy reading the forum - what a
wealth
> of knowledge on a gazillion topics.
>
> We're in the Tucson area and want to visit Death Valley. We have
> heard about roads with long hills and campgrounds with small
> spaces. Please, will someone share their experiences and advise
us
> on routes and campgrounds that will accommodate a 35' PT with a 6V
> engine? We don't want to drive in at 22 mph and find all spaces
too
> small.
>
> On a slightly different topic, we've spent the last 3 months in
the
> Tucson area - what a place for hiking and sightseeing. We've been
> so busy we need to leave just to have time to rest up and read a
> book. We're happy to share our experience with anyone thinking
> about spending time here.
>
> Thanks ahead of time for all your help.
>
> Sad to leave but too pooped out to stay much longer.
> Pen & Jim
> '83 PT35
> Benson AZ
>

> Please, will someone share their experiences and advise us on routes
> and campgrounds that will accommodate a 35' PT with a 6V engine?
> Pen & Jim '83 PT35 Benson AZ

Hello Pen & Jim,

While there last year I don't recall any problem with the roads being
to tight or to winding. However, we didn't travel the entire park.
Nor did we stay in a campground there, but did stay just west of Death
Valley in the Panamint Mountains, boondocking in a ghost town called
Ballarat California (population of 1, the Mayor "Rocky").

http://www.ghosttown.info/ca/ballarat/
http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/ca/ca.html

It is a beautiful place to stay and there are many canyons nearby to
hike or 4-wheel into.

Just north of here is an RV park with 50amp service if you prefer.
You can find the other camping facilities located in the park through
the links some of these sites provide.

http://www.deathvalley.com/reserve/accommodations.shtml

If you 4-wheel you might enjoy the trip up Gohler Canyon to the Barker
Ranch, where the law captured Charlie Manson.

http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/mar/stories/Goler.html
http://www.allthingsjeep.com/sid27112.html

Going into DV from here, you can go north to 190 east, but this is a
steep climb and the 6V will be somewhat slow. We then took the
"North Hwy" north to Scotty's Castle, which is interesting.

http://www.inn-california.com/deserts/In...otty1.html

These are some tall mountains, but worth seeing IMO. Should you end
up near Lake Isabella in this general area, I can assure you to not
take 155 to Hwy 99. It is a nightmare.

Ron
85PT36
Sacramento