Landsandcrab

2nd trip this season in the bag, clear and practically windless, good unless you're a wind farmer or a glider. After 3 years of the little dunes, it's time to move it on over to the Bigs. Great choice, lots more action, although the restrooms are an absolute disaster. I don't throw that term around lightly, but come on, where are our season pass funds going to.....no toliet paper, dookie on the seat, floor, in the piles of sand/paper....I've seen more "attractive" bathroom situations in a public park in Barstow. Again, wow, guess that's how it goes but come on, it's a few weeks after Halloween. Anyway, on with the report!

You guys/ladies where correct, there's no bad camp spot. I arrived on Wednesday night after work, quick night ride and camp set up before campfire. There were about 15 rigs come morning light. About 10 more arrived before sundown. Friday morning they started pouring in, more people then I expected midweek/Thursday. 8 buggies came from a camp on the ridge overlooking the pay station and were a blast to see shredding comp hill. The wonderful noises and turbos remind me of the drag racing days. Not to mention the smell of good ol race gas. A few side by side groups, mostly quads though, and even a few fellow 2 wheelers. A duece too, plus a very busy Mercedes Benz testing team outfitted with the latest full size luxury selection in white, black and gold. They were literally trying to destory these SUVs, side hill testing in full sand mode, up in the big dunes, little dunes, actually a bit impressed they didn't roll or get stuck much. A quite the entertainment!

The contrast to the sights from last month were mostly in the water levels. You'll get your tires wet but it's nice to see just enough water still. Those historic floods were epic though, glad I was around last month to witness it. Temps were in the high 60's Thurday, cool but not cold into the evening. 76 deg was the temp when I departed 1:30 Friday....yes, just about perfect. Not bad at all for mid Nov. Loved it. Did lots of riding but was hitting it with reserve since I'm riding a new to me bike. Ahhh, so much happier with a 450 than my old 250 smoker. Just following the natural progression....eventually that ends with a long travel v8 buggy if I'm not mistaken.....

Here's the pics:

Thursday sunset ride

Lake Dumont was nice and glassy

"Quicksand", anyone seen him before? Car has 4 paddles in the back and climbed like a beast

All things sand: Board, bag, dunes

Benz sand testing team

Dune score! Gotta keep your eyes open for the treasures. Works fine. Anyone missing a tape?

Easy access

Minimal tracks Thurday am

"Florence". Belongs to the Gypsy Timetravelers and lives currently in Tecopa. Good people and worth the trip to see all the fabs/metal work

BTW, who goes out midweek? It would be great to meet some fellow DDRs and I'm not one to just rush up on someones camp. Cheers!

Man that looked like a great weekend. That's what I get for showing up early. I should have showed up on friday night like I usually do.

edit pics and video..

Turn the volume down Pete

Haha! I just saw your YouTube video about 3 days ago! Nice set up, not bad for 2wd!

Man that looked like a great weekend. That's what I get for showing up early. I should have showed up on friday night like I usually do.

edit pics and video..

Turn the volume down Pete

Hey didn't I just see ur video on YouTube? Just a few days ago.....not bad for 2wd! Nice camp spot, the soft sand is the best eh??

Good thing I have Verizon. I've seen riders at top of the small ridges and figured that's what they were doing. Thanks for the info! Actually, the soft sand is my favorite, that's what 4 wheel drive is for.....hope those aren't FLW (famous last words)!

Not being able to do T day this year, got to get in a DD trip this month. I have a few joining me, first timers to DD, looks like the weather is steady and nice in the 70's. So, I've been riding here for the past 3 seasons and camp at the little dunes, but for now we are moving up and over to the Big Dunes. How is the cell coverage (reception is good near hwy, that's one of the reasons we are usually over there) in camp? Does anyone have any suggestions on best camping area? If any of y'all are around, look for our camp of 2-4 trucks with a gray enclosed trailer/white pop ups/camo netting. We ride dirt bikes, love a good time and hope to meet some more great folks this trip. Stop on by for a beer & say hi!

That road was covered n smothered as of Thursday morning. Flood water was still rushing. A day can make a big difference, sure by this morning it's passable but don't expect to keep your truck clean! I'm still blasting the sticky mud off my jeep. A member of our group sunk his bike in a crossing in Death Valley, damn water came up to his chest and he almost lost the bike! Probably no sperry wash riding this time. On a plus note....the sand....was.....awesome!! Felt really good to be back at DD!!

How many vendors are usually there on the holiday weekends? My wife and I are thinking of setting up a booth for goods and/or services in the future.

Dune entrance viewed from south

I was at Dumont and Tecopa Tues am - Thurs pm and wow that was a lot of rain, great conditions though, you'll have a blast! No worries on the routes, the worst was Tuesday/Wednesday, water completely over the hwy at Little dunes with no "flooded" signs yet! I got there about 9:30am on Tuesday and the flood water from the Armagosa had just reached the entrance to the little dunes, with mini lakes forming around both sides and over the road in front of the kiosks. Pretty interesting scene! Hearing the sound of rushing water in camp was a change! I walked over to check it out while some catering trucks that had stopped checked out the water levels, only up to my mid calf, so they continued and about an hour later CT showed up to sign it. I'll post some pics!

Need a break from the sand? There are amazing places to see in the general area, easy to access also. Here's a sample of my trip from May 12-13th (mostly in Sepia tone, because....why not)

Some mine near Sheep Creek Springs, west of hwy 127

Very intact talc loading ramp

Same area geo wonders

Saratoga Springs area, west of hwy 127

Cool ramps/slides for talc mines, near Ibex Springs

Yet another mine waiting to explore, if you dare

One of my favorite shots of the trip

Ibex Springs, thirty?

Selfie within a selfie, double selfie!

Ashford Mill ruins, Death Valley

BIG mine, closed off, Death Valley warm springs camp

Death Valley warm springs camp, great area for taking photos, all building are intact and in great shape

Kinda lonely out here...

Death Valley warm springs camp, trail to the warm spring source. The green in the shot is a giant fig tree, birch and grapevines

Rusty machine

Had the feeling I was being watched, then I saw these fellas. 5 or maybe 6 Bighorns, waiting on the ridge

Tecopa Hot Springs, if you've not been you're missing out on some great therapy

See you in the Fall DD!! What an awesome season!!

Really nice, blue on black works well. We'll look for you out there.

Maybe Tuesday...schedule and weather keeps shifting. How long you out there?

Ugh. Bad mojo spilling over from Baker possibly. Maybe I'll start camping over at the big dunes....

Be there 6th-8th. The weather looks great, shoot, it could even be a little warmer if you ask me.

Mountain biking is quite nice right bout now in the Big Bear area, come on up! We rode the last two days, spring training, good stuff. You can even shuttle Cougar Crest! They open the bike park on easter at Snow Summit, woot woot (with a new trail supposedly)!

1-2 more dune trips, then thinking about getting our boat in the water (06 Tahoe). Summer dual sporting in the San Berdoo Mtns is epic too.

Great job picking up! You girls and guys on the sxs or quads have it much easier than us 2 wheeled devils, I hope they were hitting up the bowls were the most bottles/cans just get left behind. I understand how the wind can blow things around at DD, but when you see it in the big dunes, esp glass, you just know some idiot who doesn't even deserve to use this amazing place chucked it w/out a 2nd thought. I agree with the laterns, they were everywhere. Ugh, I hate those white ice bags too! They just shred apart when they are left out there. Can't wait to head back out either first week or 2nd of April to have fun and see the clean dunes!

Landsandcrab

Moto trash hauler

the bag that some nice person picked up before I could

free chairs?

treasure?

?

the now clean valley

did I mention the conditions were awesome

The wet sand was awesome! Too wet....not so much. That's part of enjoying the dunes...the changing conditions challange the drivers/riders so after awhile nothing surprises you. Although I wouldn't want to be out there in a major sandstorm!

http://youtu.be/bB9mP_7DAI0

Copy n paste if above link gets sticky. (oh and sorry about the sh#t angle, next ones are much better)

First trip of the year to DD, first day, first ride, first time trying out GP on the sand. I was having so much fun but maybe a little too much, crusing up a great dune until the changing light got the better of me! That resulted in a nice 20 foot launch to uphill landing, luckily I let go and rolled off to the right for a clean exit. Bike was fine too. First "over the falls" crash for me. Sand is soft....

Might as well include a quick ride report from last week Jan 6-7th:

So Great to be back in the Sand! I was a bit bummed that my buddies flaked last minute, but I had an awesome time and met some new riding friends. Tested out the go pro, after getting the angle correct, so much fun and helpful to combat boredom at camp. It....was.....bumpy.....! Sheez, I guess I've been spoiled in the two years I've been going out to DD. This was by far the bumpiest, tracked out like 5 hours after opening on a powder day at Mammoth! It really made for those special moments when ya do find soft fresh sand! Mostly in the east dunes!

Also saw a military convoy of some sort along 127 in the middle of the night, a B2 (Stealth) with large white 4 turbine plane right next to it flying a practice refueling mission? Did an arch right over my camp, wish the video could have gotten a better image. Damn those Stealths are huge!!

Weather was great, little chilly at night but still in the 40's. Glad I brought the whiskey.

Next miss is next week!!! With buddies!!

Nice, great work! Headed out to DD Tuesday....this got me all pumped up

Contact lens!

Nothing really....yet!....but last trip somehow my friend ended up taking home my shovel, a book and I accidently stole his LED work light, 3 clamps, 2 poles and a 6 pack. That's what happens when you leave for home at 5am...

Next time more sand! We were toying around with the idea of a SXS but just picked up a new Jeep TH instead! after the break-in is done the (little) dunes await. I'm only able to come midweek, anyone else ride DD "non-weekends"? I'd like to meet some of the other folks here one day. Maybe even get a ride in an awesome sand car??

I wish I was there for Halloween but it's too fun where I live to miss, so I took off to do a group trip the week before. My buddy was able to make it out all the way from the southern low desert area/Anza Borrego but didn't bring out the 85 Toyota crawler, so we just kept it mellow by exploring the Tecopa & Shoshone areas. Of course a mandatory trip to the ol Crowbar! If you haven't checked out the Shoshone museum, it's a must. Good stuff, bet you'll see something you like. I bought a book one of my favorite authors wrote a decade or so back...Mr Bill Mann RIP, his guide books are the stuff, I've gotten to see so many amazing things and places because of this guy and his books. That's how I came across Dumont way back in 03. Anyway, i did get a good amount of dune riding in both days, the sand was amazing!!! It has been long way too long and it felt so good to ride those big boys and check out how my bike is running (she's frickin' running great) Good amount of people there...for a Thursday, it was surprisingly filled out with about 30 trailers or so.

The next day another buddy came in with his rail and bike then another with his bikes. They were just planning on doing a big loop on Friday and a bigger one on Sat...dual sporting it...but I had to head back for work before that. On a side note....the trip home took out my radiator!! That little sucker almost let me make it home...about 9 and a half miles from home with only 7 miles of free towing!! I'm not happy about it taking AAA 90 minutes to get there and still wanting to charge me for the xtra milege! Geeze Jerry!

Here's some pics of the fun, can't wait to go back! I may actually bring my wife next time!

Some people couldn't wait til the 31st!

Dune food rocks

The Crowbar

Relics in Shoshone

That was sweet, my Pops will be stoked to check that out and re-live some of his duning days in Pismo. Back in the mid eighties in a rail of course!