Major Tom
Moderator
Registered: 01/29/10
Posts: 102
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| | 03/09/10 at 06:29 PM | | #1 |
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Please post any up to date information on the south pass in this thread. Anything older than 30 days will generally be deleted as we go along. |
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yl21
Registered: 02/19/10
Posts: 6
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| | 03/20/10 at 07:40 AM | | #2 |
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Does anybody have a good website for current south pass/saline valley weather? I'm thinking of making a trip in sometime after easter, and just wanted to keep an eye out for snow.
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BigMc
Registered: 02/04/10
Posts: 16
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| | 03/20/10 at 07:52 AM | | #3 |
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UM. . . This one. It has all the best updates there are. It's all eye witnesses. Have a good trip in. |
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tronaborn
Registered: 02/01/10
Posts: 13
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| | 03/20/10 at 08:31 AM | | #4 |
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| For a 7 day forecast for SV, I use this site. Very useful. |
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| Unregistered |
| | 03/20/10 at 01:19 PM | | #5 |
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I will be able to make it to see Death Valley as an extention of a business trip. This is on short notice so I've little time to research and hope You all can help, you sound like a good group.
I would like to spend some time hiking and sight seeing, and I was hoping to make it to the springs, but I am not sure on the time involved. It sounds like a bit of an adventure to get to the springs. I guess what I'm asking is can this be a 1/2 day round trip to see the springs, in and out?
Cold Up Here
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tronaborn
Registered: 02/01/10
Posts: 13
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| | 03/20/10 at 03:40 PM | | #6 |
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| It's more than an hour from Furnace Creek to the turnoff on 190 to get to the springs. From there, it's around two and a half or three hours one way to the springs. Doesn't sound like you have enough time. |
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appletreasures
Registered: 02/14/10
Posts: 15
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| | 03/29/10 at 01:14 PM | | #7 |
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I am planning a trip to Saline Valley Warm Springs over the Easter weekend.
I'll be driving a 1990 S-10 Blazer 2-WD with P235/75R15 tires. I do not have chains. I am concerned about the weather report and road conditions. It appears a rain/snow storm is expected. I have considered swapping the 14" tires from my S-10 pick up. I believe I have chains to fit those tires. What are my options for roads to take into Saline Valley with my Blazer. I understand that North Pass has snow. I have always come in the south pass? Can anyone offer practical advice?
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Oobleck
Registered: 02/02/10
Posts: 22
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| | 03/29/10 at 03:02 PM | | #8 |
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Quote: Thanks for the input. Maybe I can make it on another trip if I get out that way. It sounds like summer is too hot and winter the roads are snowed in. What are the date ranges to consider a visit?
Thanksgiving week is a pretty good bet. Great weather, fire circles most nights, good music, clear passes, but I'm still betting on Easter week. The weather service is saying only an inch of snow.
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Stuck Chuck
Registered: 02/06/10
Posts: 27
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| | 03/30/10 at 05:21 PM | | #9 |
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appletreasures,
Makle sure you have good rubber on your tires. You'll want to air them down for the washboard. Bring 2 spares, plenty of water, food, beer, warm clothes, etc. South pass looks do-able per
Dusty's post.
Make sure your vehicle is in good running condition, you don't want top deal with busted water pump, tranny issues, bad battery, etc. Tows are expensive out of Saline.
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christoff
Registered: 04/01/10
Posts: 1
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| | 04/01/10 at 02:42 PM | | #10 |
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My girlfriend an I were planning on trying to make it up South Pass next Wednesday. All we've got is her little vw gulf though... We've got a full spare, chains, tire repair kit, etc, but normal low car clearance and 2wd. Is this a completely dumb idea or worth a shot if we take slow?
Would we be better off trying to hitch a ride?
Thanks in advance =)
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| Unregistered |
| | 04/01/10 at 04:16 PM | | #11 |
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My friend and I just returned from a weekend at the springs. It was out first time, and we went in a Chevy Impala (2WD sedan - not terrible ground clearance, but still it's a sedan). We made it in and out of the South Pass without any problem. It is also worth noting that several people at the springs were saying that the South Pass was in relatively bad shape lately. But like I said, we did it without incident. We went VERY slowly and carefully, and like someone said earlier on this thread, no one ever broke down by going too slowly. So yes it is possible. That said, I was pretty white-knuckled the whole time (coming out was less stressful because I knew the car could handle it). I kept thinking that we were going to run into problems, etc. If you have access to a 4WD, high clearance vehicle you should go with it if for no other reason than being able to drive with confidence that you won't run into a terrible problem. If not, go for it in the 2WD but budget 5 hours for the 40ish miles of Saline Valley Road and go nice and slow (as in human-walking-pace slow at times). I am living proof that it is possible!
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JoltinJim
Registered: 02/09/10
Posts: 45
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| | 04/01/10 at 10:12 PM | | #12 |
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well done "unregistered" just goes to show what can be done when you want to do something 
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Possum
Registered: 02/27/10
Posts: 4
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| | 04/02/10 at 12:26 PM | | #13 |
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The "4WD" effect: Too much confidence = wreckless driving. Are 4WDs more likely to be towed than sedans? There is nothing smarter than slow, cautious driving in whatever vehicle you have. I got a speeding ticket yesterday in my RAV4. What if I had driven my Camry?
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Dusty
Registered: 02/22/10
Posts: 18
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| | 04/02/10 at 04:50 PM | | #14 |
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40 miles ? I think Unregistered broke his speedo on the washboard  |
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JoltinJim
Registered: 02/09/10
Posts: 45
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| | 04/02/10 at 04:54 PM | | #15 |
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so Possum, is the message "do as i say, not as i do?" lol no speed limits off road. go slow if you want to, but pull to the far right
Toyota and Bilsteins..........Ivan cant be wrong
40 miles from the 190 pavement to the hot springs is about right isnt it?
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