Death Valley Encounter day 2. Photo by Steve Bradley.
Questions? Call Karen: 775-790-2241 or Dave Duck: 907-209-881 or Ann: 907-821-1819.
DEATH VALLEY ENCOUNTER
A MULTI DAY RIDE INTO DEATH VALLEY
DECEMBER 28TH,29TH,,30TH,31ST,2011
Thanks for your entry to the 2011 Death Valley Encounter. Your on line entry is sufficient to hold your place for the ride. You may take care of financial arrangements and sign the appropriate release forms at ride check in on your day of arrival.
We continue to work on the routes to improve the overall ride experience and to try and stay a step ahead of the government. This year the entire ride will be conducted out of the Valley Wells camp. You will not have to move camp for the entire ride. The Valley Wells location provides us with a warm clubhouse for evening meals and meetings as well as a nice camping area,just off the pavement on good solid ground. The camp for the horses is located south of the paved road on property owned by Searles Valley Minerals. Please do not camp in the Valley Wells Country Club,which is at the end of the paved road.
The first day is a new ride into Goler Gulch,location of the Barker Ranch,where Charles Manson was captured. Years ago,when the Death Valley Ride actually went through the valley we “escaped” the valley through Goler Gulch. We are still working with the Park Service to try and re-establish that route. The second and third days start from the Valley Wells camp and uses different sections of the single-track trail down the spine of the Slate Range,offering spectacular views of the Panamint Valley. We use many of the Manley and other Pioneer Escape Routes through the Panamint and Searles Valleys. The final day will be a series of loops around Searles Valley with no significant climbs. This year the rides will start from camp and loop back into the same camp. However,the LD riders may have to trailer a short ways out of camp on one day. We will do everything possible to assist those riders in the logistics of that maneuver. A number of entrants have indicated their willingness to offer rides to those unable to move their LQ rigs. The traditional New Year’s Eve party will be held in the well-lit and warm Valley Wells Club House. We will supply garbage bags for cleaning the camp but we ask that you bring necessary tools for cleaning your camp. There is a person who will be available to clean your camp for a reasonable fee if you don’t want to be bothered. Lunches are included each day and dinners are available each evening of the ride for an additional fee of $10. We will feed the people with reservations before we allow others to eat. Hot soup,fruit and candy bars will be available at the lunch stops. In addition,on a couple of the days Annie will also try and serve bbq’d hot dogs and bbq beef sandwiches. There are two conditions for partaking of the club dinners. The first is that you let Annie know in advance by email to annie@xprides.com and second that you acknowledge these meals are prepared by club members in camp circumstances and are not catered. Fellow members offer them as an aid to riders,and are only charging enough to cover expenses. You eat at your own risk. We will have music for the New Year’s festivities in the form or CD’s or possibly from a live band.
Late News Flash: The gas and fuel situation in Trona has changed. The Chevron is now closed and the mini mart is out of gas and may not have gas until after Jan 1. The mini mart and other services in Trona remain as they have been.
Valley Wells Camp
1. Leave Ridgecrest on Hwy 78 (The Death Valley Highway),which is the road to Trona
2. You will cross a railroad track in Trona. Continue on Hwy 78 (Death Valley Highway) for another 6.45 miles to the entrance to Valley Wells Country Club.
3. Turn right and camp in the large parking on your right. Do not camp with horses in the parking lot of the golf course. The correct location is to the right of the paved road. Don’t pull in there before noon on December 26th. If you are arriving in the area earlier than that you can find nice accommodations at the fairgrounds on the east side of Ridgecrest. There are also numerous open areas in which you can camp in the desert. You are welcome to call us at 907 209 8881 when you get to town and we will help you with your needs.