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Las Vegas Boy Dies After Getting Stranded in Death Valley
Las Vegas Now ^ | Aug 7, 2009 | AP

Posted on 08/07/2009 6:59:42 PM PDT by driftdiver

Edited on 08/07/2009 7:03:19 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

An 11-year-old Las Vegas boy died after his mother's car got stuck in sand for five days on their way to Death Valley for a camping trip, officials said Friday.

Carlos Sanchez and his 28-year-old mother set out for an overnight trip to the area Aug. 1, but were stranded when their car got stuck about 20 miles east of Trona. The mother's name has not been released.


(Excerpt) Read more at lasvegasnow.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: deathvalley; desert; nationalparks; survival; vegas
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To: driftdiver

We have been to Death Valley but in April when the high was 88 degrees. It was a bit scary even then I thought though very beautiful in its own way.


21 posted on 08/07/2009 7:17:50 PM PDT by pbear8 (Praying for my beloved)
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To: cripplecreek

Desert is well outside my realm of experience.

I live in the desert and stay in as much as possible in August. I know I wouldn’t last 1/2 hour even with water.
I also wouldn’t drive on desert backroads without at least a second vehicle with me in any month of the year.


22 posted on 08/07/2009 7:18:05 PM PDT by Joan Kerrey
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To: pbear8

everytime I think of death valley I think of people going thru in in a horse drawn wagon.

well going part way thru it


23 posted on 08/07/2009 7:19:04 PM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: cripplecreek

Correct. Her cell phone did not get a reception.

The article states that she was off of the main road.

She became stuck in sand.

While staying on the main roads, like I do, my cell phone does not have reception throughout all of the park.

Cars go through their all the time going from California to Nevada and back.


24 posted on 08/07/2009 7:19:58 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: cripplecreek
I guess she either didn’t have a cell phone or couldn’t get a signal out there.

I believe that she tried but I have been there and it is seriously desolate.

25 posted on 08/07/2009 7:20:37 PM PDT by pbear8 (Praying for my beloved)
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To: omega4179

Welcome to the 21st cent.They call 911 when MCD runs out of nuggets.


According to the story the mom tried but could not get a signal. What next?


26 posted on 08/07/2009 7:20:37 PM PDT by deport
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To: driftdiver

Many science fiction productions were shot in Death Valley — Outer Limits, Twilight Zone and films.


27 posted on 08/07/2009 7:20:58 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: driftdiver

Correct.

One road in the park is called “20 Mule Team Road.”


28 posted on 08/07/2009 7:22:21 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: peeps36

I’ve done a lot of trips to Death Valley and some in Summer. Very hot ... intensely hot all night. Sometimes very high HOT winds. I would never go off road.

If you stay on the main road someone will come by in the cooler [but still hot season]. In the summer someone will come by but with long, long intervals.

Off road often means salt covered mud. Crusty and dry on top ... pock marked as it boils and dries. But muddy underneath.

There are no trees to speak of, so in the intense heat there is no respite.

The public bathrooms are few. I have seen giant lizards in some of them and was afraid to go in. Water that comes from the tap is boiling.


29 posted on 08/07/2009 7:23:53 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: driftdiver

Nobody goes camping in Death Valley in August. Many of the facilities shut down for the Summer after early May. I went there in early May, and it was 110. That’s freezing cold compared to July and August. May that poor kid RIP.


30 posted on 08/07/2009 7:24:33 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: pbear8

In fact, the Donner party died in the mountains surrounding IIRC.


31 posted on 08/07/2009 7:25:17 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: pbear8
No right-minded person goes to Death Valley in August

Plenty of people do, it's a popular camping location and it's open year round. Typically though you don't go off unprepared into the middle of nowhere where you can't be found, if you stick to the main roads you certainly won't be stranded for days on end.

32 posted on 08/07/2009 7:26:51 PM PDT by eclecticEel (The Most High rules in the kingdom of men ... and sets over it the basest of men.)
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To: driftdiver

Here is a great guide of Death Valley National Park:

http://www.nps.gov/deva/parknews/upload/Visitor%20Guide%202008.pdf


33 posted on 08/07/2009 7:27:56 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: BunnySlippers

Bunny the Donner Party was up near Tahoe and what is now I-80. Many miles north of DV. We once drove from LV to DV to Tahoe and stopped at the Donner memorial.


34 posted on 08/07/2009 7:28:55 PM PDT by pbear8 (Praying for my beloved)
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To: GOP_Lady
Pocked salt beds:


35 posted on 08/07/2009 7:31:30 PM PDT by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: BunnySlippers
BORAX!

Beautiful.

I will be there in a couple of weeks.

Thanks, BunnySlippers!

36 posted on 08/07/2009 7:32:37 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: BunnySlippers

I saw my first and only roadrunner in Death Valley as well as beautiful California Condors.


37 posted on 08/07/2009 7:33:21 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: BunnySlippers

I also love a Nevada State Park called “Valley of Fire” which is one hour north of Vegas. It’s awesome.


38 posted on 08/07/2009 7:35:22 PM PDT by GOP_Lady
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To: BunnySlippers

Dear God. That is about the most inhospitable looking landscape I have ever seen.

Wouldn’t want to get stuck there, that’s for sure.


39 posted on 08/07/2009 7:37:54 PM PDT by Prodigal Son
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To: GOP_Lady
I saw my first and only roadrunner in Death Valley as well as beautiful California Condors.

I ran over a roadrunner on I-5 near Lost Hills.

40 posted on 08/07/2009 7:37:55 PM PDT by pbear8 (Praying for my beloved)
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