Re: Saline Valley - question about winter access
Posted by Pugsly on November 19, 2001 at 15:03:04:
In Reply to: Saline Valley - question about winter access posted by Marek Cichanski on November 18, 2001 at 22:09:57:
I concur with the comments of others. It depends. My advice would be to ensure that whatever vehicle you take has the ability to leave via Lippincott, even if the other passes are open on the way in. This means a capable vehicle AND enough fuel to make it to Stovepipe Wells.
Last Presidents' Day Weekend we tried to enter by the North Pass, and had to swing all the way around to Lippincott. (Talk about a detour). On the way out we left by South Pass, but it took hours and hours because we were helping some other vehicles (Chevy 4x4s with independent suspensions) make it over the pass.
At that time, there were a couple of vehicles trapped in Saline that couldn't make it through the South Pass snow or clearance/wheelbase requirements of Lippincott.