Not my trip, this was found on Jalopnik, but seems relevant. Not sure that all the details add up, but it's a good read and there are lessons to be learned.

"Oh hey, do you guys know how far the nearest gas station is?" The guy was sunburned, clearly dehydrated and living in a fantasy world as he staggered into our hidden campsite, 25 miles or more from the nearest road. With a flat tire and no ability to read a map, gas was the least of his worries. His...companion, sassily sipping on a PBR in the background, seemed to agree.

Saline Valley - one of my least favorite places - a former hang-out of the Manson gang. My advice for visiting that rat-hole: Don't, or if you must take a least a .40 cal pistola and maybe a 12 gauge shotgun (for self-defence, not for shooting rabbits); plus lots of clean water, and enough tools and stuff to fix your car.

S.V. is the scene of murders and mysterious disappearances, but it has a certain off-beat charm, like --- a two-holer tiolet, complete with blue and pink toilet seats of course, an ejection seat handle from a Navy fighter next to the blue hole, and a "flush handle" that actually rings a bell outside, so the everyone knows you were there. But...maybe the Parkies have cleaned it up since I was there...on a SAR search and body recovery. It's also a great place for plane-spotters; the military likes to use it as a low (low-low-low) altitude training area.

Good read. What a moron. Just goes to show you how it IS possible for people to drive out there and die.

I'm skeptical of that article. Something about it seems phony. The photos seem staged.

I agree with your assessment of the article. The picture of their campsite doesn't look like either of the two camping areas in Saline Valley: the Warm Springs and the Palm Springs. Except for the long-distance shot at the Saline Valley road junction, every other picture is a close-up, which could have been taken anywhere in the desert.

Besides, driving a Chevy Impala into Saline Valley would be the height of stupidity. They might have been able to get their car over the south pass, but they might not have made it over the north pass. The article said, "Then, somehow, it was over a mountain range (on incredibly tough dirt roads, mind), in the rental car, before making a wrong turn to head into the most remote corner of the park." You can't get to Saline Valley directly from Death Valley; the south pass starts on the road from Olancha to DV, and the north pass road starts near Big Pine. I guess they were really lost!!!

"Not sure that all the details add up, but it's a good read and there are lessons to be learned."

Hey, it's Jalopnik & besides the headline was marvelous.

Sounds like from Racetrack they went over Hunter Mountain and made a wrong turn down South Pass into Saline Valley.

Unless of course they took Lippincott Road and then made their wrong turn on the Saline Valley Road heading further into the valley.

I personally really like Saline Valley. It has tons of beauty and lots of places to see. There are only 4 ways in and I have seen them all. The Warm Springs are always filled with really nice people and it's maintained by volunteers only and as a result is in allot better shape then most other places in the park.

A friend and I once made the drive over South Pass to the springs in a Chevy minivan without even knowing if the thing had a spare.

I tend to agree, Saline Valley can be beautiful and places like this can be an amazing experience if your timing is right, but just like life itself, it's a crap shoot depending on weather and who is there. The facilities are actually quite impressive for a volunteer effort. The composting toilet was stocked with TP, cedar chips, powdered lime and a candle. It did not smell bad at all. Expect something you've never seen before like strange naked people on unicycles, have a good laugh, and enjoy the awesome soak under the stars.

Link to organized volunteer group

Thanks for the update on S.V. From your description, the Park has helped civilize the place a bit. It is still a wild, desert environment that demands respect and caution.

I never saw a naked person riding a unicycle but I have never seen someone go in the springs with clothes on. As long as your not afraid of nudity the springs are a nice place to go.

The only thing that really struck me as odd is when I saw this boy that was probably 7 years old walking naked using those assist walking arm crutches that stop at the elbow. He was probably headed back to camp but he had along ways to go across the desert without anyone around at all. Where was the poor kids parents is all I could think.