Just in case, I am getting a set of chains this weekend. Just in case the northern attack plan turns snowy.
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San Francisco to Death Valley: suggested overnight stop on the way?
- Thread starter e-FTW
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aesculus
Still Trying to Figure This All Out
You won't need the chains. Its officially spring in the Sierra's for the next several weeks at least. Was up yesterday and it's already getting slushy in the afternoon.
BTW we took our ICE SUV to DV exactly this time last year for it's last venture with us. We swapped my daughter for her beater pickup. While we were in DV Tesla called to tell us the car was done and asked how soon we could get over to Fremont to get it.
BTW we took our ICE SUV to DV exactly this time last year for it's last venture with us. We swapped my daughter for her beater pickup. While we were in DV Tesla called to tell us the car was done and asked how soon we could get over to Fremont to get it.
@aesculus good to know, thanks for the report. But with some roads still closed, I'd rather have the chains in the car just in case. And this will not be our only trip over the Sierras: we want to go skiing in Tahoe and visit Yosemite in the next year.
As for the extension cord suggestion, am about to order one of these: Heavy-duty NEMA 14-50R extension cord for Tesla, 20 ft.
(I should really rename this thread)
As for the extension cord suggestion, am about to order one of these: Heavy-duty NEMA 14-50R extension cord for Tesla, 20 ft.
(I should really rename this thread)
aesculus
Still Trying to Figure This All Out
Those closed roads will be closed until way into July. BAU
Let me know how you like it. I have a need to plug into an old style dryer that is about 20 feet from the car once a year. This looks optimal.
Let me know how you like it. I have a need to plug into an old style dryer that is about 20 feet from the car once a year. This looks optimal.
cpa
Active Member
Monitor Pass (SR89 south of Markleeville at the junction with SR4 south to its terminus with US395) is closed, and it will likely remain closed until Memorial Day at the earliest, depending upon how many more storms we receive and how fast the temperature heats up in April and early May.
Well, if you are going to go through South Lake Tahoe on the way to the Gardnerville Supercharger then I'd recommend the shortcut over Kingsbury Grade, NV Hwy 207. It is a fun road with commanding views as you descend into the broad valley that 395 runs through. It cuts off driving all the way to the south end of Carson City and is a first class two-lane road. Using your navigation will help picking your way through various rural roads getting to 395. The Gardnerville SC is at the Topaz Lake casino. It's been too many years to make a recommendation, but it was reasonably good when I ate there.
With the best snow in 22 years, getting lodging in Mammoth is doubtful. It would be good to have reservations for either Mammoth or Bishop before you leave home. I'd recommend the Creekside Inn in Bishop.
Ken
With the best snow in 22 years, getting lodging in Mammoth is doubtful. It would be good to have reservations for either Mammoth or Bishop before you leave home. I'd recommend the Creekside Inn in Bishop.
Ken
You probably already checked this, but my "old dryer" (1983 vintage) outlet uses a 10-30 type plug, which this won't work for. If that's the case, you can probably build an adapter, but you might check with Tesla to see if you can get a proper one (which is what I did for my Roadster) so that the current is automatically limited to 24 amps.
aesculus
Still Trying to Figure This All Out
Ah good catch. It was a different one than I thought it was.
Somewhere I thought I saw a cable that had a rotating male end that could do both 10-30 and 14-50. Can't find it now.
cpa
Active Member
The Kingsbury Grade is a good choice too; it would be fun. Or, you could take highway 89 south from Meyers (about 3 miles west of the SLT "Y"). That will take you over Luther Pass to Pickett's Junction (SR88). Turn left at SR88 and keep on that road until you reach Minden. Then south on 395 to the Topaz Lake SC.
If you decide to go the Kingsbury Grade route, then make a soft right off US50 at Pioneer Trail, about a half mile or so beyond the turnoff for SR89 at Meyers. This road bypasses all the congestion driving through SLT. Pioneer Trail will return to US50 about 3/4 mile or so west of the Nevada line.
If I had to guess, the Kingsbury Grade route is shorter but slower. Highways 89 and 88 are longer but straighter. And once you are past Woodfords, the road is straight with no one on it.
Problem is that Tesla has discontinued and recalled the 10-30 adapters. The extension I am looking at claims to have a modified plug that would allow for connection to 14-50 or 10-30. I'll definitely be careful with the amps the car requests if trying with a 10-30, as the UMC plugs into the extension with the Tesla 14-50 adapter.
Great info! Was going to do 50->89->88->395. If going for 207 does not add too much time, will try that.
Good call on Mammoth, it is packed and expensive right now.
As recommended by yourself @Ken395 and @JasonA-EV we have booked that first night night at Creekside Inn in Bishop. Thanks guys!
Any thoughts on Saturday drive out vs traffic? From San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe, to 395 in NV down to Bishop.
Maybe we're looking at different cords, but the one posted earlier was for a 14-30, not a 10-30. The 10-30 is an older design, and has the two Hots angled at about 45 degrees. Unless they're on a swivel, I don't see how it will work.
A few of my favorite Death Valley sights on the paved roads (I have been 4 times - love the park!)
1. Zabriskie Point sunrise. - Sunrise is absolutely gorgeous here and a must do. There are also a lot of neat trails exploring the badlands below the overlook. If you want to avoid the crowds and are in good shape, there is a small rock scramble near the badlands trailhead that leads to a ridgeline trail that gets a different angle from the standard overlook: Red Cathedral : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost Note that footing can be dicey with loose gravel, so a good set of hiking boots is needed.
(pimping my stuff - the view from the trail):
2. Badwater salt flats - obvious choice for the -283ft below sea level selfie. If you are a photographer, the less trampled salt polygons are usually south of the parking lot around the corner of the alluvial fan. You can park along the side of the road and head right into the salt without walking as far.
3. Mesquite Flat Sand dunes - photographers tip: to get to untraveled dunes, its much easier to park well east of the parking lot near the large black hill. Its a longer walk to the dunes, but mostly over hard pack before you get to the sand. There is NOTHING like standing on top of a dune with no one else in sight watching the sun rise (or set - both are great there).
4. Dante's Peak - Might be iced during the winter, but still a great view that was used in the first Star Wars Movie (the overlook to Mos Eisley space port, LOL).
Speaking of Star Wars, there is a fellow who has put together a Death Valley Star Wars tour which can be fun if you are a fan: Star Wars in Death Valley
And if you are a hiker, that same guy has a very extensive list of hikes in Death Valley: Steve Hall's Death Valley Adventures
Oh, and wildflower reports are here: Death Valley Wildflower Report - DesertUSA
1. Zabriskie Point sunrise. - Sunrise is absolutely gorgeous here and a must do. There are also a lot of neat trails exploring the badlands below the overlook. If you want to avoid the crowds and are in good shape, there is a small rock scramble near the badlands trailhead that leads to a ridgeline trail that gets a different angle from the standard overlook: Red Cathedral : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost Note that footing can be dicey with loose gravel, so a good set of hiking boots is needed.
(pimping my stuff - the view from the trail):
2. Badwater salt flats - obvious choice for the -283ft below sea level selfie. If you are a photographer, the less trampled salt polygons are usually south of the parking lot around the corner of the alluvial fan. You can park along the side of the road and head right into the salt without walking as far.
3. Mesquite Flat Sand dunes - photographers tip: to get to untraveled dunes, its much easier to park well east of the parking lot near the large black hill. Its a longer walk to the dunes, but mostly over hard pack before you get to the sand. There is NOTHING like standing on top of a dune with no one else in sight watching the sun rise (or set - both are great there).
4. Dante's Peak - Might be iced during the winter, but still a great view that was used in the first Star Wars Movie (the overlook to Mos Eisley space port, LOL).
Speaking of Star Wars, there is a fellow who has put together a Death Valley Star Wars tour which can be fun if you are a fan: Star Wars in Death Valley
And if you are a hiker, that same guy has a very extensive list of hikes in Death Valley: Steve Hall's Death Valley Adventures
Oh, and wildflower reports are here: Death Valley Wildflower Report - DesertUSA
I can't rate this post informative, like and love at the same time. Awesome!
aesculus
Still Trying to Figure This All Out
You are correct, I mixed up 10-30 and 14-30. This 20 foot extension I am getting does NEMA 14-30 and 14-50.
My wife and I went to Death Valley yesterday. Out of a dozen or more previous trips, this was the first one in a Tesla. As other reports have indicated, the wildflower show on the valley floor was nonexistent. However there was a good variety of wildflower plants along the road to Beatty from Furnace Creek. There were some blooming, with many yet to start. Good specimens were found above milepost 2, and somewhat more prolific above milepost 7. My favorite, the Desert Five Spot, hadn't started to bloom yet. Somewhat late this year, but in greater abundance than many other years. There was quite a variety of 'belly flowers' already blooming -- can't see those without getting out and bending over. My wife found one plant about a half-inch across with a red blossom less than 1/16" in diameter. We hadn't seen that one before. Take a magnifying glass and get a Mojave Desert wildflower guide book at the visitor center gift shop.
The Beatty supercharger isn't that far out of the way. We got a fast charge, over 100kW up to 60% SOC. It was a very good trip, all the more enjoyable in our Model S.
The Beatty supercharger isn't that far out of the way. We got a fast charge, over 100kW up to 60% SOC. It was a very good trip, all the more enjoyable in our Model S.
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