Almost two miles in a day.

[Old Henry]

Vertical miles, that is, from 10,000 feet up the side of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the 48 contiguous states (14,505 feet), down to 282 feet below sea level in Death Valley, the lowest point, only 278 feet short of two vertical miles. This is our story.

Wednesday we (Little Lady, Chihuahua, Old Henry, and me) left to drive "The Loneliest Road in America", US 50, across Nevada to Virginia City of "Bonanza" fame to stay in the historic Silver Queen Hotel. (Previous trip there at: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098&highlight=loneliest)

The next morning we headed south toward Death Valley, along the face of the Alabama Hills, a very popular motion picture setting. Took one little side trip to drive by four beautiful mountain lakes, Grant Lake, Silver Lake, Gulf Lake and June Lake. This is Silver Lake.

Stayed in Lone Pine for the night. Next morning headed up Mt. Whitney Portal Road that ends at the trailhead to climb Mt. Whitney. Mt. Whitney elevation - 14,505 feet. Whitney Portal 8,000 feet. In this picture, Mt. Whitney is the pyramid shaped peak with the two spikes left of it.

That is the road that Dezi Arnez and Lucille Ball pulled "The Long Long Trailer" up in the movie of the same name in 1954. Here's my video of our climb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdRdEuuoYZc

South of that road is the road to Horseshoe Meadow that climbs up to 10,000 feet to a camp ground under Mt. Whitney.

Here's the video of that drive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEXLwa0uqAs

And some pictures:

My sweet little traveling buddy, Little Lady, loved every minute of the trip. (AnnaRae was on a four day quilt retreat.)

From there we headed to Death Valley, crossing Panamint Valley, kind of a miniature Death Valley, on the way.

Then into Death Valley, passing sea level,

Down to 282 feet below sea level at Bad Water.

Next day we took a little side trip to the great old ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada. A most interesting town that sprung up overnight with the opening of the gold mines in 1906 then as quickly died 5 years later when the mines played out in 1911. More about Rhyolite here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhyolite,_Nevada

School:

Cook Bank Building:

Detail of top of bank wall:

HD&LD Porter Building:

Detail:

Glass house made totally of liquor bottles:

And, the very picturesque old train station:

To see it all in full color, watch the video: https://youtu.be/VdzHGG8MDOo

Then headed home through Tonopah and Ely, the longest stretch of road I've ever driven with no services whatsoever - 168 miles between the two. There are 23 miles of straight road without a bend in this picture, just north of what used to be the only gas station between the two towns, Warm Springs, now just a ghost town.

Total distance driven: 1,665 miles over the four days. Not a hint of mechanical trouble.

Good time had by all.

Previous Trips:

Alaska May 2016: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196219

Idaho and Montana Rivers February 2016: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=190776

Red Canyon, Utah February 2016: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=188740

California Highway 1 November 2015: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182600

Great Basin National Park and City of Rocks October 2015: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=181134

Pike's Peak September 2015: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ht=peak&page=2

Uinta Mountain Range, Utah, August 2015: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173539

Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower, July 2015: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173539

Pony Express Trail in April 2015: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=166241

Mexico and around in February 2015: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162633

Ghost towns of Modena, UT and Pioche, NV in November 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155331

Million Dollar Highway, Durango to Montrose, Colorado in June 2014 http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=142975

Transcontinental Railway Grade in May 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139471

City of Rocks, Idaho in April 2014:http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137684

Capitol Reef National Park in March 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133018

Grouse Creek and the AAA garage in February 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130966

Grand Canyon in January 2014: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=128820

Moab, UT in December 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=127222

Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument November 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123694

Across Nevada on US 50, "The Loneliest Road in the Country", October 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=120098

Mount Evans (the highest paved road in North America) August 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115013

Canada in June 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109872

Monument Valley in March 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99523

Bryce Canyon in February 2013: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97822

Milford, Utah in December 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93137

Nevada and Idaho in November 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89080

Rocky Mountain National Park in September 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83966

Yellowstone National Park in May 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72864

Death Valley in February 2012: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62705

Pike's Peak in July 2011: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19141

Route 66 in April 2010: http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57511

 

[Lawrie]

Once again Henry, you have excelled ,we sooked out and only do 50 miles in the 33 today,out to the retro cafe for lunch.
Lawrie

 

[Mart]

Great trip, Henry. I've been to a few of those places, Death Valley many times. Beautiful scenery.

Glad Little Lady enjoys the travelling, I remember Pepe wasn't so comfortable.

Thanks for the write up.

Mart.

 

[48-710]

Henry,was Little Lady keeping an eye on you in the last photo. Or was she saying" hurry up we still have some miles to do today". This production is up to your usual high standard so keep um comin.
Gary

 

[dumb person]

Looks great!

 

[dwick01]

Great pictures Professor!

 

[turnpikecrusier]

Awesome!

 

[Sal]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us, it is always a pleasure to watch your videos. Have a safe trip!!!

 

[Bored&Stroked]

Thanks for sharing and for taking such great pictures and videos - makes it really seem like we're with you. You've done the best "capturing" of old Ford trips of anybody I know - simply wonderful!

 

[ricklove]

Many thanks for sharing (to our senses) your great trips. Pictures and videos are always so vivid and adds to the total enjoyment of your ventures. I'm thinking many of us actually envy your adventures and wish we could/would do the same.

 

[ricklove]

That 1st video actually scared me hoping that deer would "git outta there pronto"!! Yikes; a lump in the throat moment.

 

[JSeery]

Some really nice photos on this trip!

 

[Ol' Ron]

What a fantastic ride, breathtaking. how did the carburetor like the 2 mile ride? I know you want to leave the engine stock but if you consider the use of two carbs on a close spaced intake. You could have one carb for under 5,000 feet and one for over. What really scarea me is the brakes. 47 Fords didn't have the best brakes in the industry. However, Everything worked out very well, loved every inch of it. Thanks Ol Ron

 

[Old Henry]

What a fantastic ride, breathtaking. how did the carburetor like the 2 mile ride? I know you want to leave the engine stock but if you consider the use of two carbs on a close spaced intake. You could have one carb for under 5,000 feet and one for over. What really scarea me is the brakes. 47 Fords didn't have the best brakes in the industry. However, Everything worked out very well, loved every inch of it. Thanks Ol Ron

My carburetor is jetted and timing set for 5,000 feet where I live. Everything was fine until I got below 2,000 feet. Then I got a little pinging when pulling up a grade. All I had to do was nudge the choke out just until the pinging went away. Didn't affect power any. Of course, power was noticeably greater in the denser air of Death Valley. That is always a joy to experience that extra power down near sea level. Didn't use the brakes a lot coming down grades but did have to hold my ****** in second gear as it kept popping out. Kinda tricky trying to video, steer, and hold the ****** in gear coming down. Needed an extra hand.

 

[ricklove]

Is the road all paved from Horseshoe Meadows to Death Valley? Looking to add it to a future m/c trip. Many thanks!!

 

[Old Henry]

Is the road all paved from Horseshoe Meadows to Death Valley? Looking to add it to a future m/c trip. Many thanks!!

Yes. It's 143 miles between the two points, all state and U.S. highways. Travel time per Google Maps 2 hours and 50 minutes. I lollygagged along the way so took way longer than that. The actual "as the crow flies" distance between Mt. Whitney peak at 14,505 feet and Bad Water Basin at -282 feet is only 86 miles. Pretty amazing.

Interactive map: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Las...1e6!2m2!1d-116.8185076!2d36.2460841!3e0?hl=en

 

[RalphM]

Sounds like you need a dash hook for your shifter!
Great trip as usual, love the videos!

 

[corvette8n]

Great trip and pictures, watched the videos, looks like you almost had some venison for dinner. I hope to visit southwest next summer/fall.

 

[Old Henry]

Sounds like you need a dash hook for your shifter!

As I was sitting there trying to juggle three handed tasks between two hands I was trying to figure out that very thing - where to hook the other end of a short strong bungi cord to hold the shifter in 2nd gear. If I don't get the transmission fixed before my next road trip I'll take along a variety of bungi cords to try them out, hopefully hooked to the mirror will work.

 

[RalphM]

In the old days they would just screw a simple hook to the bottom of the dash right where the shifter would sit in second gear. A little upward pressure and you can work around it to get into third.