Miles in the Mirror
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

The Story Behind the Story

After a year living in my camper named "The Betty", I've decided to take those adventures and make it a lifestyle.   From the first day of the journey to the launch of my business I've kept a journal here at "Miles in the Mirror".
If you want to go back to the beginning, click the link below and it'll bring you to day one.

Putting It All Together

24 Hours of Death Valley

10/6/2014

4 Comments

 
I am still trying to catch up on all the posts.  This one goes back a few weeks cruising through Death Valley from Mammoth to Las Vegas.
Picture
I have put over 8000 miles on The Betty( II) since the end of June.  Of all the places I've been to, National Parks, unnamed side roads, Death Valley was the most beautiful and unique part of the trip.  I think part of it was it was just different than what the rest of the trip had been.  The usual scenery of endless forests, snow capped peeks, and ski resorts had transformed to desolation and intense heat.
Picture
Before departing from Mammoth Lakes, CA I did a thorough mechanical check of the truck.  Checking all the fluids, greased the chassis, checked the differentials, and picked up extra coolant and oil.  I didn't want any break downs in the brutal conditions that exist here.  I filled up both fuel tanks and my spare can before entering the park, knowing that gas stations were nearly non existent.  Even with that much fuel I did end up getting some fuel in the park just to make sure I could make the last leg out. Clearly some simple economics of supply and demand were prevalent.
Picture
I spent the evening driving through the valley, planning to hit Badwater Basin in the morning.  With a summer of crossing high alpine passes I also needed to cross the lowest elevation in North America.  I  missed my turn and ended up just outside of the park on the east side.  It was late when I figured this out and decided to camp the night in a little "one horse" town.  I thought I had hidden The Betty pretty well for the night but when I woke she was hanging out a bit.  Oh well.  I got an early start to beat the 115 degree high for the day and back tracked 40 miles to catch the turn to Badwater.  I'll admit it, this was not the first time I've been lost or missed a turn.
Picture
282 feet below sea level and 115 degrees.
Picture
The Betty handling the heat without skipping a beat.  Making the drive through the park in just under 24 hours.
Picture
Taking in the views in 20 Mule Canyon
The video below is another "Over the Hood" edit of the overland adventure through Death Valley.  The off road portion was filmed in 20 Mule Canyon.
The next posting will be up shortly covering the flash flooding and cliff hucking adventures of Red Bull Rampage!!
4 Comments
Gene Schoonmakerfranczek
10/6/2014 05:21:36 am

I envy you Matt. Are you following all that you learned in OSHA classes?

Reply
Matt Reichel
10/6/2014 06:03:47 am

Hey Gene! It's been an adventure for sure. As far as following the OSHA rules and regulations...not as much as I should haha.

Reply
Gail Hays link
12/14/2020 11:01:41 pm

Great read, thank you

Reply
Fire Restoration Lexington-Fayette link
7/9/2022 03:49:40 am

Very creative post.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About the Author
    For more day to day updates, follow me on Instagram!!

    Archives

    May 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Biking
    Bonfire
    #breckenridge
    Brecklife
    Camperlife
    Montana
    Mtbiking
    MTBParks
    New Mexico
    Off The Grid
    Powder
    Rio Grande
    Rvlife
    Skibum
    Summer
    Summitcounty
    Taos
    Tinyhouse
    Truckcamper
    Winter

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly