The short paved section is on a steep hillside that stays wet for a lot of the season. A dirt road there would be a difficult uphill mud climb. And such roads get wrecked when vehicles claw their way up - deep difficult ruts. The paving has been there since I first traveled there in 1970. I have always assumed that it was put only there because of the water and mud problem.
Hey there! I have a 2 wheel drive Mitsubishi Mirage, do you think it will be fine on this road? It has 14 inch wheels, but also it has 6 inches of ground clearance, so not as low as a sports car. Higher than a Prius.
This is one of the harsher environments in the world it is below freezing most of the year but you can get brief hot spells during the summer. Its very dry the little bit of snow that falls is blown away/sublimates and summer downpours are infrequent so there is hardly any water in the ground. The wind can also exceed hurricane force during the stronger winter storms. Its no wonder that not much can survive up there and the few small wind twisted trees you see are able to live thousands of years mostly because of lack of pests. The Sierra Nevada mountains wring out storms so by the time the storm reaches the white mountains it is just mist and wind no meaningful precip. I've been amazed to see this area only have thin patchy snow in Febuary when the Sierra Nevada 20 miles west are thickly covered in snow.
@@SwedishVideoGuy Camping in the Whites is pretty restrictive. You really can't camp anywhere off the main road. No camping in the Bristlecone Area, for example.
You can disperse camp in the lower area below Sierra Vista. There is also a primitive campground with tables and pit toilets (Grandview). There is a lot of nice dispersed camping in that area. There are many short side roads when the area had a network of small radio telescopes (think of it as the Not Very Large Array). They are all gone now, but the little spur roads remain to nice spots.
Is Campito (the wild solitary horse) still alive? Last time I went I did not see him? BTW, do NOT take any of the appealing side roads straight down to the Owens Valley or Deep Springs unless in strong a 4 WD convoy.. The shale is well known to shred tires. The cost to your VISA for assistance out of Bishop will cripple your credit card.
That is one of the coolest drives in Cali! Awesome video... 🤙
Like being on a different planet!
Nope, you start hiking around 12,000 feet! The peak is 14,250.
The short paved section is on a steep hillside that stays wet for a lot of the season. A dirt road there would be a difficult uphill mud climb. And such roads get wrecked when vehicles claw their way up - deep difficult ruts. The paving has been there since I first traveled there in 1970. I have always assumed that it was put only there because of the water and mud problem.
Hey there! I have a 2 wheel drive Mitsubishi Mirage, do you think it will be fine on this road? It has 14 inch wheels, but also it has 6 inches of ground clearance, so not as low as a sports car. Higher than a Prius.
This is one of the harsher environments in the world it is below freezing most of the year but you can get brief hot spells during the summer. Its very dry the little bit of snow that falls is blown away/sublimates and summer downpours are infrequent so there is hardly any water in the ground. The wind can also exceed hurricane force during the stronger winter storms. Its no wonder that not much can survive up there and the few small wind twisted trees you see are able to live thousands of years mostly because of lack of pests. The Sierra Nevada mountains wring out storms so by the time the storm reaches the white mountains it is just mist and wind no meaningful precip. I've been amazed to see this area only have thin patchy snow in Febuary when the Sierra Nevada 20 miles west are thickly covered in snow.
Do you think I could get my Ford transit up to the locked gate if I went slow?
Maybe, take charge. No more than 2mph.
Yes
I wouldn't, but people get away with driving all sorts of junk up there.
Absolutely. The road is well made and maintained. Any basic two wheel drive can can do it. I have been on that road frequently since 1970.
Can you disperse camp over there?
I think you can do camping ...
@@SwedishVideoGuy Camping in the Whites is pretty restrictive. You really can't camp anywhere off the main road. No camping in the Bristlecone Area, for example.
You can disperse camp in the lower area below Sierra Vista. There is also a primitive campground with tables and pit toilets (Grandview). There is a lot of nice dispersed camping in that area. There are many short side roads when the area had a network of small radio telescopes (think of it as the Not Very Large Array). They are all gone now, but the little spur roads remain to nice spots.
Is Campito (the wild solitary horse) still alive? Last time I went I did not see him? BTW, do NOT take any of the appealing side roads straight down to the Owens Valley or Deep Springs unless in strong a 4 WD convoy.. The shale is well known to shred tires. The cost to your VISA for assistance out of Bishop will cripple your credit card.
Sensitive if you drive on their road.
Digest the propaganda.
Experts only.