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ri~e was aborted and a slow painful trip was made back to camp. The day was not a total loss as several riders explored nearby canyons. As the lame laid in the hot pool, they discovered a couple of wispy waterfalls. To see them it requires a bit of a hike. Climbing around the falls can be tricky and it is not the place for motorcycle boots. For your body's sake, take other f.ootwear. After four long months a return trip was made to complete the route. To save a repeat of the Saline Valley side, my regular riding partner and I took our vehicle and bikes to the base of the Eureka Valley Sand Dune and proceeded to ride to Steele Pass. A loop from Palm Springs and return can be made if your bike can go 102 miles on a tank of gas. For the gas eaters a fuel drop could be made at the intersection of the Waucoba and Saline Valley Roads. A loop will require 15 miles of pavement, but traffic will be slim to none. I've been on the paved route three times and have not seen a vehicle. The loop is interesting as you start at 1200 feet, climb to 5200, drop to 3000, climb again to 7600, and then decend back to 1200. In the last 30 miles you drop 6400 feet. The ride down through Opal and Whipporwill Canyons is scenic and road conditions sometimes make it exciting. For a shorter ride, an out-and-back of 58 miles round trip can be made. I'd do the loop if possible. . From the end of the graded dirt road we picked up a two track trail that takes you around the north end of the dune. After two miles you bear right and head south. There are some sandy patches that can catch the unwary. The road is easy to follow. Six miles from the graded road the most difficult spot on this half will appear. In a narrow pass, two sets of rocky stair steps must be climbed. We parked the bikes and walked the route to pick our line up through the rocks. I made it both ways with only one dab and that was due to the camera clicker getting in the way. Some drivers of four-wheelers are said to run this route. If they do it, it really must be something to see. After the steps its a freeway compared to the Saline Valley side. A couple of spots are deceiving as this writer did an endo changing lanes and received a skinned chin. We reached Steele Pass in about an hour. At the pass is a rock cairn with a register. We signed in and had a laugh or two reading some of the comments relating to problems encountered. One signer, had doubts abot two riders on Honda 50s trying to make the pass. If they were coming from Saline Valley, lots of luck! If a loop is made, reverse the above mileages. With the super weather and other conditions I'd rate this part of the ride at least a nine. My wife thought I was crazy to drive 629 miles round trip to ride 28.2 miles to complete the loop. Crazy she said, but who ever said scooter riders were sane? Maps that will be helpful are: the Auto Club map of Death Valley and the following USGS topo maps: Waucoba Wash, CA; Last Chance Range, CA-NV; Dry Mountain, CA; Waucoba Spring, CA; Soldier Pass, CA-NV; Waucoba Mountain, CA; Ubehebe Peak, CA; New York Butte, CA; and Darwin, CA. Also several BLM maps can assist you. The three you will need are, Eureka, Saline and Panamint. Even though the ride took four months to complete it was worth every minute. The scenery, the challenge of the route, made it a super trip. Making it with friends, and the view of Janet in the buff, made all the cuts, bruises and the pain worth it. 'iliry iJ~. ,e I •• : ' •• J' IN CALIFORNIA SEE YOUR LOCAL DEALER! o C.O.D. NAME 0 MASTERCARO _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ PHDNE ADDRESS CITY 0 VISA STATE QUANTITY ITEM VISA/MC MIN. 10.00 _ ZIP $IZE TOTAL _ PRICE _ O'NEAL U.S.A. 9555 Owensmouth Ave .. Chatsworth CA 91311 (2131 998-1049 '83 HUSKY's, MAICO's, K'M's HERE! Conp'atulatlons For Another Fine Year To: Dan Smith -19820-37 Oe..rt Open ExPert Dave Sweeney - 1982 0-37 Vet. Am. Rendy Lewis -1982 A.M.E. Vet. Expert Bob Murrey - 1982 0-37 Vet. Novice Terry Williams - 1982 A.M.E. Vet. George Cook - 1982 A.M.E. Vet. Richard Jackson -1982 SCORE 8& 0-37Vet. Expert Larry Brown - 1982 0-37 250cc Expert Watch These Guys Go In '83 Dave Sweeney Randy Lewis Ted Hunnicutt Larry Brown George Cook Ken Chamberlain nm Champness Bob Murray Kevin Olen Busqvarna IIIIAICO Ii#H Get Your Best Price Quote Then Call Us For The Lowest Prices (80S) 324-6266 KERN SPORT CYCLE 307 19th Street Bakersfield, California 93301