Our project RTCC Frontier takes on the Death Valley terrain.
Continuing south on the Racetrack Road, we soon arrived at our lunch stop-the abandoned Lippencott lead mine. This mine was one of the few mines in the region that produced lead as its main ore; while most other mines often had lead only as a byproduct. When it was first put in to operation in 1906, it was known as the Lead King Mine, but was changed to its current name when George Lippencott took over operations for 13 years. With a nice wide pad to park vehicles and stunning vistas of Saline Valley, this was an ideal spot to take a break from the trail. There are plenty of ruins still worth exploring in and around the area.
We left the boundary of the park via the infamous Lippencott Mine Road (sometimes referred to Ubehebe Road), at times so treacherous that it is not even listed on the official Death Valley National Park Map. It is less of a road for Jeeps and more of a trail for llamas. Some of us had traveled this route before and promised a challenge to those who hadn't. Unfortunately, on this trip the road was in better shape than the warning sign that guards its entrance. Usually pocked with washouts and steep drop-offs, we were welcomed with a smooth road surface with minimal damage or trail repairs present.
Before heading out, everyone airs up for the highway ride home.
After our fairly quick descent on Lippencott Road, we connected with the fast and smooth Saline Valley Road, which winds through varying scenery as it loses elevation on the way toward Owens Valley. Good time can be made on Saline Valley Road, and evidence of a sprawling wildlife population is all around.
Losing sunlight fast, we arrived at the intersection of Saline Valley Road and Highway 190, which offered our group easy access to Owens Valley and points beyond. Before parting ways, we spent time airing up and saying our goodbyes. Amazingly enough, we traveled hundreds of miles in the dirt and no one suffered any flats or breakdowns, practically unheard of when you are traveling through the clutches of Death Valley National Park-one of the most spectacular and challenging wheeling destinations in the country.
Special thanks to all of our industry friends who made the trip enjoyable, including: 4WDProducts.com, ARB, Bilstein, Desert Racing Concepts, Fabtech, KORE, Off Road Warehouse, and Tera Flex.
Our favorite guidebook for any of our backcountry exploits in Southern California and Death Valley is Backcountry Adventures: Southern California by Peter Massey and Jeanne Wilson. Full of history and trail information, the guide offers explorers step-by-step trail directions and includes GPS waypoints. We also carry along the invaluable DeLorme Southern & Central California Atlas and Gazetteer, which is the most comprehensive map book we have run across. Both books are part of a series that includes other regions and are available at online retailers, such as 4x4books.com, or from your local bookseller.-Sean P. Holman