Great Outdoors San Diego Chapter
presents
Death Valley National Park
January 17 – 20, 2014
Trip lead: George Lapole, [email protected], 619.917.7056
eath Valley is one of the lowest areas of land on Earth;
Furnace Creek is at an elevation of 196 ft. below sea level.
The region is generally sunny, dry and clear throughout the
year. Winter (November through March) is the park's peak season;
temperatures are mild with occasional winter storms, and visitors
should bring warm clothing and light or medium jackets. Summers
are known for their extremely hot and dry conditions; temperatures
can soar up to 120 degrees.
D
Furnace Creek Campground is in a central location in Death
Valley National Park. A visitor center, bike path, hiking trails and
an abandoned borax mine are nearby.
We hope you’ll join us for what we hope will be a clear, beautiful weekend of camping, hiking,
campfires, potlucks, stargazing, games as you like, and relaxing. Read on for details…
Recreation:
Explorers can enjoy educational programs and exhibits at the visitor center adjacent to the
campground. Birders may have luck spotting local and migratory birds around the campground
and along Airport Road, especially in the cooler months. Visitors can access a paved bike path
within the facility. Trails to a natural bridge, the Golden Canyon badlands and the salt flats of
Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, are a short drive away. Some of these
attractions are reachable via a dirt road.
Natural Features:
Death Valley has sunk below sea level through geologic processes over time. It lies within the
Mojave Desert and is the hottest, driest and lowest location in North America. Yet despite its
extreme conditions, the park boasts a diversity of ecosystems, including colorful badlands, snowcovered peaks, desolate sand dunes, rugged canyons and flat, dry basins called playas.
Furnace Creek is on the edge of a playa at the bottom of the valley floor. It is fairly open with
sparse vegetation, though some sites do have trees that provide shade. The facility offers a wide
view of the mountains to the east and west, which glow with hues of orange, red and yellow
during sunrise and sunset.
Facilities:
Furnace Creek has 136 campsites with drinking water, picnic tables, flush toilets and a dump
station. RVs can get drinking water at the dump station, while tent campers can get it in the
campground. Each site has either a campfire ring or grill. A campground host lives on the grounds
during winter.
Nearby Attractions:
Visitors can bike or walk along a one-mile bike path to an interpretive trail leading to the
Harmony Borax Works, an abandoned borax refinery from the late 1800s. The Borax Museum is
also nearby Furnace Creek Ranch.
Activities and Amenities
Within Facility
Accessible Trails
Grills
Biking
Host
Campfire Rings
Parking
Drinking Water
Picnic Tables
Dump Station
RV Parking
Flush Toilets
Ranger Station
Within 10 Miles
Hiking
Museum
Historic Sites
Small Grocery Store
Liquor Store
Two Restaurants
Know Before You Go
Gathering firewood is not permitted in the park. BRING FIREWOOD!
In addition to the camping fee, there is an entrance fee of $20 per vehicle per seven days.
Coyotes and ravens frequent this area; visitors should avoid leaving pets or food unattended.
Getting There:
GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 36.46306, -116.86778 or 36°27'47"N, 116°52'4"W
Death Valley is in eastern California on the Nevada border, 130 miles west-northwest of Las
Vegas, Nevada and 106 miles east of Lone Pine, California. Furnace Creek Campground is a halfmile north of Furnace Creek Visitor Center on State Highway 190.
Fees:
We will be in Tent Only sites 123, 124 and 125 (click here for map). Each site holds a maximum
of 8 people. We will be making shared tent site reservations and your camping fee on page 4
covers your campsite fee, but you must pay your own park entrance fee direct to the park.
Unfortunately the group site was not available and the RV sites were scattered. If you are
bringing an RV, please visit www.recreation.gov and book your own site (and pay a nominal
registration fee as stated in page 4). I apologize for the inconvenience; I got these sites the
morning the government went back in session. It was slim pickings.
Itinerary:
Friday, 1/17
1 PM ...................................................................................................................................... Check-in
8 PM ........................................................................................................................... Group campfire
Saturday, 1/18:
9 AM ............................................................................................. Hike (Detailed Info Forthcoming)
7 PM ........................................................................................................................................ Potluck
8 PM ........................................................................................................................... Group campfire
Sunday, 1/19
9 AM ............................................................................................. Hike (Detailed Info Forthcoming)
6 PM ........................................................................................................................................ Potluck
8 PM ........................................................................................................................... Group campfire
Monday, 1/20
12 PM .................................................................................................................................. Check-out
Bring your ten essentials (listed on GO website at: www.greatoutdoorsla.org/essen.html),
camping/cooking gear, firewood, food, warm/cool weather clothing and swimming suits if you
plan to do water activities or sun bathe. Carpooling is recommended to help reduce gas cost and
parking.
Register:
Register online (click here) or complete this registration form on page 4 and send with check
(payable to Great Outdoors) to George Lapole, 4317 ½ Dawes St., San Diego, CA 92109.
Great Outdoors San Diego Chapter
presents
Death Valley National Park
January 17 – 20, 2014
Registration Form
I am carpooling with:
____________________________
Name (please print) _________________________________________________
G.O Member # ________________ Chapter: ___________________________
FEE
Phone: _________________________________________________________
Applicant
TENT/Member
TENT/Non-member
RV Mem/Non-member
Fee
$30
$35
$5
Do you need a ride? Y __ N___
Can you offer a ride? Y ___ N___
If yes, leaving from ____________
How many passengers? ________
____________________________
Email (will be kept confidential): _________________________________________
Emergency contact: _______________________________________________
Relationship: __________________ Phone: __________________________
Medical Insurance Carrier:__________________________________________
Grp/Policy # ____________________________________________________
(Individual travel and accident insurance is available from your local travel agent)
Trip leader's use:
Date: ____________________
Check #: _________________
Amt: _____________________
Physician: ______________________________________________________
Physician’s Phone: _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Health Problems/allergies: It is the responsibility of participants to carry on their person a record of
significant allergies, medications and medical history in the event of a medical emergency.
WAIVER OF LIABILITY, MEDICAL RELEASE AND ASSIGNMENT
I am aware that my participation in this GREAT OUTDOORS Inc. trip may include potentially hazardous activities, and I am
voluntarily participating in these activities with the knowledge and understanding that I will use my best judgment to avoid injury
to others and myself. I agree to follow the directions of the trip leader and abide by the rules of the facility I am using. I hereby
release GREAT OUTDOORS Inc. including its officers, trail or trip leaders, agents or other persons working with GREAT
OUTDOORS Inc. from any liability for injuries, physical or mental, which I may suffer by reason of participation in these activities.
I recognize in waiving this liability that i assume sole responsibility for my actions and cannot blame any injuries or losses on any
other persons connected with GREAT OUTDOORS Inc.
I hereby agree to assume full financial responsibility for any bills incurred by me for medical treatment as a result of my
participation this GREAT OUTDOORS Inc. activity. In the event that I am unable to consent to medical care, I hereby authorize
the trip leader to consent to emergency medical treatment for me, including hospitalizations and surgery, as may be determined
under the circumstances.
Sign by the X ________________________________________
Date:
_______________________________
Contact: George Lapole, [email protected], 619.917.7056
Send registration and check (payable to Great Outdoors) to:
George Lapole, 4317 ½ Dawes Street, San Diego, CA 92109