I camped at Mahogany Flat CG some years ago, in whatever Vanagon I had at the time,
probably the '82 diesel. The AAA Campbook says 4x4 recommended, but I made it.
Primitive, only 10 sites, but you can hike to the top of Telescope Pk. 11,049'.
Jerry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Geza Polony" <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 11:18 PM
Subject: Death Valley

> For Death Valley knowers-and-lovers, I have a question.
>
> What are the Thorndike and Mahogany campgrounds like, specifically for a 2WD
> Westy? I know they're up over 8,000 feet at the end of a dirt road, but are
> they, like, easily accessible, not too dangerous to get to?
>
> My wife and I visited Death Valley earlier this month, and the campgrounds
> on the valley floor weren't quite, uh, wilderness enough. Being enclosed on
> both sides by 40 foot "Bounder" motorhomes, each towing Wranglers with bikes
> on the  back, and running Honda generators to power the 42" projection tv,
> isn't your ideal way to groove on natural beauty.
>
> So I was thinking maybe the National Park Service purposely left the roads
> to Thorndike and Mahogany impassible to over-25' vehicles just so that we
> Vanagon types, along with tenters, could find some peace out there and gaze
> at the stars at night without Ms. Middle America in the Bounder staring at
> us as if we're fleas while she fries up the hubby's dinner.
>
> Anybody been there? Anything too rough for a 2WD Vanagon?
>
> What a beautiful place it is! I want to go back.
>