Bicycle camping in and around Death Valley National Park 2007
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Bicycle camping (bikepacking) in and around Death Valley National Park 2007 Day 3: 47.5 miles from Gold Valley Road camp site to Furnace Creek Campground, Death Valley National Park
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Bicycle camping (bikepacking) in and around Death Valley National Park 2007

1. Map of... 2. Day 0: 1.3 ... 3. Day 1: 55.5... 4. Day 2: 34.3... 5. Day 3: 47.5... 6. Day 4: 27.4... 7. Day 5: 31.7... 8. Day 6,... ... 16. Day 13: 55 ...

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Outside the men's "cool pool" at Tecopa Hot Springs campground

Outside the men's "cool pool" at Tecopa Hot Springs campground

Date: April 19, 2007, 08h30

Day 3: 47.5 miles from Gold Valley Road camp site to Furnace Creek Campground, Death Valley National Park

I enjoy the cool, cloudy morning around my camp site in the mountains on Gold Valley Road at about 4700 feet.

I ride back down the dirt of Gold Valley Road some eight miles to rejoin the gravel Greenwater Valley Road that I left yesterday at about 3000 feet.

After a slow ten-mile climb on Greenwater Valley Road's gravel to reach 4000 feet, the final 29 miles of the day are mostly paved and downhill toward Death Valley's Furnace Creek Campground (280 feet below sea level).

My digital camera breaks down on the way down Gold Valley Road, so there aren't many photos today.

Date: April 20, 2007, 10h00
Size: 11 items
It's a bit cloudy this morning up on Gold Valley Road

It's a bit cloudy this morning up on Gold Valley Road

The nice thing about this is that I didn't wake up baking in my tent from hot morning sun, like I do on so many desert-camping mornings.

Date: April 20, 2007, 08h01
Nice view back down toward Greenwater Valley from the tent

Nice view back down toward Greenwater Valley from the tent

I sit inside drinking coffee and eating granola and dried fruit. I also have a bowl of instant miso soup.

Date: April 20, 2007, 08h41
I go for a short walk up to the nearby summit of Gold Valley Road and look back down at the tent

I go for a short walk up to the nearby summit of Gold Valley Road and look back down at the tent

I'm camped out so close to the top of Gold Valley Road that I can't resist going up to see what I missed yesterday.

Date: April 20, 2007, 09h46
A little higher up on Gold Valley Road

A little higher up on Gold Valley Road

... my tent is now barely visible in the distance.

Date: April 20, 2007, 09h54
Gold Valley Road gets a bit steep as it rises to the top

Gold Valley Road gets a bit steep as it rises to the top

I would have needed to dismount my bike and drag it up this part last night had I gotten this far.

Date: April 20, 2007, 09h55
The fork at the summit of Gold Valley Road

The fork at the summit of Gold Valley Road

Here, I would have turned right last night to descend into Gold Valley to Willow Spring, if I had more time and confidence.

Date: April 20, 2007, 09h47
After the right fork, Gold Valley Road winds across the plateau, then drops down into Gold Valley

After the right fork, Gold Valley Road winds across the plateau, then drops down into Gold Valley

I stare longingly at this scene on top of the mountains, really wanting to follow this dead-end road to its end five miles further, down in Gold Valley.

Date: April 20, 2007, 09h50
Time to break camp on Gold Valley Road and begin the long ride down to Furnace Creek Campground

Time to break camp on Gold Valley Road and begin the long ride down to Furnace Creek Campground

However, it appears that I'd rather just stand here and take in my surroundings than pack up.

Date: April 20, 2007, 10h24
Leaving my Gold Valley Road campsite

Leaving my Gold Valley Road campsite

I start coasting down the gentle downhill back to Greenwater Valley Road, to continue on from where I left off yesterday afternoon.

Date: April 20, 2007, 11h41
On the way back down Gold Valley Road, I pass through the burned area again

On the way back down Gold Valley Road, I pass through the burned area again

My camera makes a strange sound when I turn it off after taking this photo. The next time I turn on the power, it doesn't turn on.

Date: April 20, 2007, 11h45
Near the bottom of Gold Valley Road, looking north up Greenwater Valley

Near the bottom of Gold Valley Road, looking north up Greenwater Valley

OK, I took this photo yesterday on the way up Gold Valley Road, but my camera doesn't work any more.

Date: April 19, 2007, 16h59
 
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Other bicycle camping trips on drycyclist.com:
  • Mojave National Preserve Lanfair Valley Loop Bicycle Camping, Fall 2012 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2012 (15 days)
  • Cady Mountains, Sleeping Beauty and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bicycle Camping, Fall 2011 (8 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve and Area Hiking and Bikepacking, Spring 2011 (15 days)
  • Route 66 and Kelso Dunes Wilderness Bikepacking, Fall 2010 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2010 (14 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping and Hiking, Fall 2009 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bikepacking and Hiking, Spring 2009 (16 days)
  • Henry Coe State Park Bikepacking 2008 (eight days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping and Day Hiking 2008 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Mountain-Bike Camping Xmas 2007 (one week)
  • Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping 2007 (eight nights)
  • Henry Coe State Park Mountain-Bike Camping 2006 (four nights)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2006 (two weeks)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 2000 (11 days)
  • Mojave National Preserve Bicycle Camping 1999 (one week)
Contact deathvalley2007 at priss dot org