For those who have done Heave (Pikes Peak) to Hell Badwater Basin what did your timing look like?
What considerations did you plan for time wise when setting up your route?
I know that the Pikes Peak uphill gate opens at 9:00am and last vehicle through the uphill gate is 3:00pm. I also know that Timed Entry is now required in the summer (May 26 – September 30). Not sure how much of struggle it will be getting a timed entry pass in early June on a weekday.
I feel like a starting my decent no later than noon would be about right. That would put me into Independence Pass early afternoon. That puts me into Ely a little after midnight but there is a Loves Travel Stop open 24 hours in Ely so fuel, food, restrooms, and a DBR there at such a late hour should not be an issue. Then on to Death Valley for a 8~9 am arrival. Everything should be open by that time in Furnace Creek but it would still be before the heat of the day.
On paper that seems like fairly sedate plan with several hours to spare and no really hard pushes. Only issue I really see is a bit more overnight riding that I would normally prefer. I could do a bit of an extended rest near either along the Independence Pass to Ely segment or in Ely itself which would put me doing more of the Ely to Death Valley segment from just before sunrise to late morning.
I am assuming most everyone gets the DBR for Badwater Basin in Furnace Creek since there is nothing actually at the Badwater Basin trail head and parking area.
What considerations did you plan for time wise when setting up your route?
I know that the Pikes Peak uphill gate opens at 9:00am and last vehicle through the uphill gate is 3:00pm. I also know that Timed Entry is now required in the summer (May 26 – September 30). Not sure how much of struggle it will be getting a timed entry pass in early June on a weekday.
I feel like a starting my decent no later than noon would be about right. That would put me into Independence Pass early afternoon. That puts me into Ely a little after midnight but there is a Loves Travel Stop open 24 hours in Ely so fuel, food, restrooms, and a DBR there at such a late hour should not be an issue. Then on to Death Valley for a 8~9 am arrival. Everything should be open by that time in Furnace Creek but it would still be before the heat of the day.
On paper that seems like fairly sedate plan with several hours to spare and no really hard pushes. Only issue I really see is a bit more overnight riding that I would normally prefer. I could do a bit of an extended rest near either along the Independence Pass to Ely segment or in Ely itself which would put me doing more of the Ely to Death Valley segment from just before sunrise to late morning.
I am assuming most everyone gets the DBR for Badwater Basin in Furnace Creek since there is nothing actually at the Badwater Basin trail head and parking area.