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Death Valley National Park, CA

Mar 15 - Mar 23, 2022 -- $1350 ★★★

Death Valley National Park is a land of superlatives. Whether it's the highest recorded temperature (134°), the lowest elevation (Badwater Basin -282' below sea level) being the driest or the most beautiful (OK, that one is totally subjective), Death Valley delivers.


Unlike previous years where we offered a base-camping only trip, This year we will backpack the so-called Marble Canyon Loop over 4 days and surround it with 3 nights of base-camping / day-hiking to see other park features. Our frontcountry nights will be in Furnance Creek and either Stovepipe Wells or Sunset Campgrounds, where we'll shuttle to some of the park's featured areas such as Badwater Basin, the Devil's Golf Course, Corkscrew Peak and Ubehebe Crater.


This is an excellent (and temperate) time of year to visit this amazing graben. (What the hell is a graben?) So why not sign up now?



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the high 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 90 and as low as 30, with almost no chance of rain (more likely Virga when rain evaporates before hitting the ground). Here is the historical March weather. Be prepared with lots of sun protection and water containers that add up to 8 liters of capacity.



Probable Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Danielle Piscatelli


Cost

$1350 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 2 hotel nights. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Las Vegas (LAS), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, round-trip ground transportation from Las Vegas to Death Valley National Park, 7 days of trail meals, National Park permits, campground fees and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Difficulty

Death Valley can be very hot during the day or very cold at night. The amount of water necessary to carry during the Marble Canyon backpacking portion may be as much as 2 gallons .



Important Notes


No important notes


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Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Packing List
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Itinerary


Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Fly into McCarran Airport Las Vegas (LAS). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, if you can save a substantial amount on your flight by arriving at say, 11AM or 5PM, then do so.

We will pick you up (hopefully with other participants) and take you to our local hotel The Orleans Hotel & Casino, 4500 W Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV, 89103, 702-365-7111

Equipment shakedown

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Make-Your-Own Trail Mix from our selection of ingedients

Go to REI Las Vegas, 710 S. Rampart Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89145, (702) 951-4488, for last minute or forgotten equipment

Go out for group dinner (Dinner not included in trip cost)



Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Early (6AM) wake-up

Second set of "before" body composition measurements taken

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage. Try to keep this to a small amount of stuff.

Free breakfast at Hotel

Car shuttle 3 hours to Death Valley

Drive to Furnace Creek Campground (most central campground with the most amenities)

Set up camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #5

Have lunch at camp

Shuttle to Badwater Basin

Day-Hike 1.0 round trip miles to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, elevation -282'

Day-Hike 1.0 round trip miles to Natural Bridge, elevation 834'

Driving Tour to the Devil's Golf Course with a stop at the end, no real hiking here

Driving Tour through Artist's Palette Drive with a stop near the multi-colored palette

Day-Hike 0.3 miles at the Harmony Borax Works, elevation -200'

Camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group site #5, elevation -196'

Miles today: 2.3. Total miles: 2.3

Possible bailout: Stovepipe Wells Campground


Thursday, March 17, 2022

Wake up 2 hours before dawn in anticipation of arriving at the trailhead at dawn.

Drive to Daylight Pass Rd., elevation 2500'

Day-Hike 8.0 steep round trip miles to Corkscrew Peak, the "most beloved peak in the park", elevation 5804'

Frontcountry camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #5, elevation -196'

Miles today: 8.0. Total miles: 10.3

Possible bailout: Stovepipe Wells Campground


Friday, March 18, 2022

Break / Strike Camp. Fill all water vessels with 8 liters of water as there is none tonight.

Shuttle to Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop, elevation 300'. Our high clearance vehicles may get us only so far, so we may have to hike an extra 2 miles over the Jeep road.

Here is a topo map of the Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop,

Hike 2.0 miles to the trailhead (if no 4WD vehicle) to Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Junction, elevation 1175'

Hike about 5.0 miles along Marble Canyon Road.

Dispersed Camp along Marble Canyon Rd., elevation 1880'. There is no water here.

Miles today: 5.0 or 7.0. Total miles: 15.3 or 17.3

Possible bailout: Cottonwood-Marble Canyoon Rd


Saturday, March 19, 2022

Hike about 7.0 miles to Cottonwood Springs, elevation 3600'

Dispersed Camp at Cottonwood Springs, elevation 3600'. Water here is as reliable as any place along this trail.

Miles today: 7.0. Total miles: 22.3 or 24.3

Possible bailout: 1 day away


Sunday, March 20, 2022

Hike about 6.0 miles to Deadhorse Springs, elevation 3300'

Dispersed Camp at Deadhorse Seasonal Springs, elevation 3300'. Water here is fairly reliable but if it's a dry year we will need to carry 8 liters from Cottonwood Springs

Miles today: 6.0. Total miles: 28.3 or 30.3

Possible bailout: 1 day away


Monday, March 21, 2022

Hike about 8.3 or 10.3 miles back to the shuttle vehicle(s), elevation 1175' or 300'

Shuttle to Furnace Creek

Frontcountry camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #3, elevation -196'

Miles today: 8.3 or 10.3. Total miles: 36.6 or 40.6

Possible bailout: Stovepipe Wells


Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Pack up everything and break camp

Shuttle to Ubehebe Crater

Day-Hike about 2.0 miles around and into Ubehebe Crater as well as Little Hebe Crater

End of hiking

Miles today: 2.0. Total miles: 38.6 pr 42.6

Shuttle 3 hours back to Las Vegas

Check back into our local hotel The Orleans Hotel & Casino, 4500 W Tropicana Ave, Las Vegas, NV, 89103, 702-365-7111

After measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony. Dinner not included in trip cost.

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Wednesday, March 23, 2022

We will make 2 runs to the airport to drop you off


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