4bd204d5   
   From: lumpy@digitalcartography.com   
      
   miso@sushi.com wrote:   
   > I have a book on Death Valley. The Mason ranch is supposed to be a   
   > pretty nasty drive. I think I will do it only if I can get another 4WD   
   > to follow.   
      
   To get up into Barker Ranch (Manson's old place)   
   you have to negotiate a relatively rough canyon.   
   I've done it in a 2wd Chev S-10 pickup and in a   
   '56 VW bus. Probably easier in 4wd or motorcycle.   
      
   Barker ranch is at -   
    N35° 51.575'   
   W117° 05.331'   
      
   The sheriff was up there last summer doing forensic   
   searches with cadaver dogs and sniffer instruments   
   after they heard reports of more bodies buried there.   
   That probably means they improved the road a bit.   
   The 4x4 clubs and the NPS seem to fight over who   
   should have and not have access. Both of them   
   will deliberately knock boulders into the   
   roadway to make it more difficult to travel.   
      
   The die hard 4 wheelers continue on east from   
   Barker ranch and take the REALLY rough and steep   
   route down into Death Valley, entering the valley   
   from the west rim.   
      
   But to enter China Lake, you can just stay on   
   the main dirt road (Wingate Road) and drive south.   
   You could do it in a family sedan.   
   Border at -   
    N35° 47.72'   
   W117° 08.73'   
      
   North is county/BLM/NPS depending on where you're at.   
   South is China lake.   
      
   The RVs sometimes camp at -   
    N35° 44.846'   
   W117° 01.643'   
   Which is the abandoned airfield. It's on the grade   
   of the abandoned mining train track bed.   
      
   The whole area is pretty populated with tourists   
   in 4x4s, RVs and family/road motorcycle clubs on BMWs   
   and Goldwings.   
      
      
   Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke   
      
   www.n0eq.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)