What
CORPScamp DeathValley features five days and up to 400 miles of epic, one-of-a-kind cycling in and around “Mother Nature’s Greatest Sports Arena,” Death Valley National Park, plus daily yoga classes, hikes, two group dinners with programs, and more. Come join the folks at AdventureCORPS along with fellow athlete-adventurers from around the globe for five fabulous days of cycling and camaraderie in beautiful, one-of-a-kind Death Valley!
Registration
The registration link for the 2009 CORPScamp Death Valley will be posted to this webpage at 8am, California time, Monday morning, December 1, 2008. One hour prior (7am), the registration link will be sent out via our email newsletter, giving a small headstart to newsletter subscribers. (Note that delivery time varies for the newsletter - no system can send out 7,000 emails simultaneously.) SPECIAL NOTE: Those who register for CORPScamp Death Valley will also be able to register for the Spring Death Valley Century and Double Century ride at the same time (giving CORPScampers a two day headstart on registering for that ultra-popular ride).
When
CORPScamp Death Valley will be held Saturday, February 21 through Wednesday, February 25, 2009. Participants should plan to arrive the 21st and then depart the 25th or stay longer, perhaps to ride the Spring Death Valley Century and Double Century on February 28, 2009. Stay tuned for more even info about the the 2009 camp!
Who & How
Up to 75 cyclists. The registration fee includes each entrant's Death Valley National Park entrance fee*, route sheets, water bottle, t-shirt, hat, goodie bag, daily yoga classes (outdoors, and therefore weather-permitting), Monday night dinner and program, Wednesday evening pizza party with raffle and slideshow, and SAG support on the course each day. Participants are responsible for their own accommodations, meals, and some of their cycling nutrition. Registration is limited to 75: First come, first served. There is no discount for attending less than the full five day camp.
Where
CORPScamp Death Valley is held in Mother Nature's Greatest Sports Arena, Death Valley. this is also the venue for the annual Furnace Creek 508 bicycle race, Badwater Ultramarathon running race, the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes, and the biannual Death Valley Century and Double Century, all also hosted by the CORPScamp Death Valley organizers, AdventureCORPS, and its Chief Adventure Officer, Chris Kostman. CORPScamp is based in Furnace Creek in the heart of Death Valley. Participants may stay at the host hotel, Furnace Creek Ranch, or at the Furnace Creek Inn, at one of the campgrounds in Furnace Creek (tent or RV camping), or 25 miles away in Stove Pipe Wells. The Furnace Creek Ranch has just 40 rooms available at the special CORPScamp rate. The reservation code will be provided to each CORPScamp participant when they register (not posted here, so that only CORPS Campers can use it).
Images from 2008
Click here for the 2008 CORPScamp report and five slideshows!
Daily Destinations and Schedule
Check-In: We will have check-in on Saturday from 11am to 1230pm at Room 516. This is on the right, in the one-story row of rooms on the way to the far back of the whole Ranch property (last room on the right). Please come there to sign the waiver and pick up your goodie bag, t-shirt, route sheets, and such. At 1pm, right by Room 516, we will do a five minute off-the-bike warm-up routine created by Ron Jones, then we will depart on the ride. If you arrive in the afternoon, and thus miss that ride, look for us about 4pm at Room 516 instead to check in.
Each day's ride (except Saturday) will begin at 7am from Room 516 at the Furnace Creek Ranch. All distances are round-trip. All rides are non-competitive and can be shortened by simply turning around sooner. Civil twilight is at 610am each morning. Sunrise is at 630am and sunset is 530pm. We would really like to see us all depart together and spend 10-20 miles each morning getting a proper warm-up and getting to know one another, before we eventually "go at our own pace" and spread out - that means we stay together as a group for at least ten miles each morning.
Saturday, Feb 21 (1pm): 30 mile ride towards Badwater, then up and over Artist’s Drive to Artist’s Palette.
Sunday, Feb 22 (7am): 85 mile ride past Stove Pipe Wells to the summit of Towne Pass (elev. 4956 feet).
Monday, Feb 23 (7am): 105 mile ride to Jubilee Pass, the route of annual Spring Death Valley Century. More info and map.
Tuesday, Feb 24 (7am): 50 mile ride up to Dante’s View (elevation 5475 feet, the viewpoint from which one can see all of Death Valley, high, high above Badwater). First thing in the morning, on our way up Hwy 190, we'll stop and take a group photo at Zabriskie Point. This "short," but very challenging, route today will enable us to return earlier to the Ranch, at which time we will carpool drive to visit the nearby ghost town of Rhyolite.
Wednesday, Feb 25 (7am): 108 mile ride to Scotty’s Castle, the route of annual Fall Death Valley Century. Evening pizza party and camp slideshow. We encourage everyone to walk to and from the FC Inn for the party. The group walk is a really nice way to stretch out our legs after five days in the saddle, plus it's a pleasant chance to talk with fellow cyclists and enjoy the sunset. This evening's get-together official concludes CORPScamp Death Valley for 2009.
Thursday, Feb 26, and Friday, Feb 27: If you're staying to ride or help at the Spring Century and Double Century on Saturday, Feb 28, we'll have a 30 mile or so ride each morning, plus the afternoon Yoga Social each afternoon on Thursday and Friday.
Schedule for the Restaurants and Cafés in Furnace Creek: Breakfast at the buffet is from 6-9am, lunch buffet is from 11-2 and dinner at the Steakhouse is from 5pm - 9:30
Breakfast at the Café is from 7-11am, lunch is from 11-4pm and dinner is from 4-9pm.
Inn breakfast is 7-10:30am, lunch is 12-2:30pm and dinner is from 5:30 to 9 or 9:30 (weekends).
Pre- and Post-Ride: Each morning, we will do a five minute off-the-bike "Ron Jones' Dynamic Warm-Up", then we will depart on the ride. (This is done while standing, so no towels or props are needed.) Each afternoon we'll enjoy and benfit from "The Yoga Social" - a nice yoga class followed by quality chit-chat time on the lawn. We won't all finish together, but we'll do our best to schedule it so that most everyone can attend. Bring a yoga mat or big beach towel for the afternoon. Both these very important pre- and post-ride activities will take class on the grass between Room 516 and the pool.
 
Hincapie Sports Jerseys
We are excited to offer a selection of short-sleeve jerseys, plus a vest and arm warmers, by our new garment supplier, Hincapie Sports. Please note that we have used Louis Garneau for our gear in recent years. Reference the Hincapie Sports Sizing Chart to be sure you know your correct size before you order the new gear. You may see large versions of the above images here.
All of this gear may be ordered when registering for the 2009 CORPScamp Death Valley Century and Double Century via Active.com on December 1, 2008.
This gear may also be ordered by anybody - prior to June 2, 2008 - with this downloadable order form. (Please note that you can type in ALL the relevant sections in your computer when you open it; please do so).
What Else: Goodie Bag, Raffle, and More
Dynamic Warm-Up each morning. Yogic stretch class each afternoon. Wednesday evening pizza party with retrospective slideshow of the camp and raffle. Social time. Goodie Bag includes:
- AdventureCORPS 100% Organic Cotton t-shirt and hat
- AdventureCORPS water bottle and keychain lanyard
- The AdventureCORPS Map of Death Valley National Park, plus route slips and maps
- Hammer Nutrition samples and catalogue
- Other special bonuses
We will also have a drawing at the Wednesday evening soirée where we will raffle off a variety of cool stuff, including the Grand Prize, a wool jersey of the winner's choice made by Earth Wind and Rider.
 
What to Bring
Riders must come prepared for any possible mechanical failure or contingency. At the very least, all riders should carry a spare tube, tire, pump, patch kit, basic tools, water bottles, money, personal and medical identification, cell phone (though it will usually not work), money, credit card, and a good attitude. Add to that the necessary fuel and fluid for your each day's adventure (each day, a SAG vehicle or two will park at one or a few locations along the route to provide fluid recplacement and access to personal drop bags). We also recommend a yoga mat or large beach towel for the afternoon stretch class.
Fueling
 We highly recommend the fueling, hydration, and supplement products from Hammer Nutrition. Prepare yourself a "four hour bottle"* of Perpetuem, Sustained Energy, and/or HEED each day, bring along a flask of Hammer Gel and a container of Endurolytes and Anti-Fatigue Camps, and all you''l need is more water as your day unfolds out there.It's a simple but extremely effective way to sustain yourself for long days in the saddle. (We'll have a SAG van to provide water, but it's a good idea to bring a CamelBak, too. See below)
*My "four hour bottle" includes four scoops of Perpetuem and four scoops of HEED. This provides 920 extremely tasty calories, including 24 grams of protein, eight grams of fat, and a nice selection of electrolytes and more, not to mention lots of great, long-lasting carbo energy. I drink this mix slowly (hence the name, "four hour bottle") and drink plain water at the same time (about one bottle an hour).
Hydration
Death Valley got it's name because it is a place were living things go, get dehydrated, and die. Death Valley has the driest climate on this planet. Most of the time there is practically no moisture in the air at all. This means every breath goes in dry and comes out wet. When you are sleeping in Death Valley your body processes about a pint of water an hour by breathing. This means at the end of 8 hours sleep you have consumed about 1 gallon of water. You must hydrate and replace your electrolytes even when you are not cycling. Therefore we suggest you bring a Camelbak!
Personal SAG Vehicles
Not allowed! Death Valley is a beautiful, generally traffic-free place to ride, so why spoil it with more cars? The definition of a personal SAG is any non-staff motor vehicle that is providing any type of aid, assistance, or motivation to any rider. No RAAM crews in training, personal cheering squads, photographers, video crews, or the like, please! A limited number of spouses / significant others / friends may be recruited to serve as SAG for the entire group, depending on field size and need. Please email us before the Camp if you have somebody who would like to lend a hand and who is available to accompany you on your trip.
Weather
In February each year, the average daily low is 46 (8c) and the average daily high is 72 (22c). February is the "wettest" month in Death Valley with a whopping .35" or 9mm of rainfall on average. For historical, typical, and average information about the weather in Death Valley, click here. For the current weather and road conditions in Death Valley, read "The Morning Report" from DVNP by clicking here.
 Official Charity: Challenged Athletes Foundation
Click here for the "Race For a Reason" program - You can personally participate in our events on behalf of CAF - and even earn cool incentive prizes in recognition of your efforts! The Challenged Athletes Foundation was created on the belief that people of all abilities should have the opportunity to pursue a life full of physical activity and of sports. Be they recreational or in pursuit of a gold medal at the Paralympic Games, people with a physical disability are limited only by their access to funding. Click here to donate to CAF right now through a secure and easy-to-use webpage.
Special Park Service Regulations
The National Park Service requires that we ride single file at all times. We must also ride as far to the right hand side of the lane as is safely possible. Always use front and rear lights while cycling at night. Do not turn them off! Remember, your behavior on the road dictates whether or not we get to host this event again. Take this seriously. We do!
*Death Valley National Park requires us to pay the park entrance fee on behalf of each entrant. The park depends on this type of income to support what they do there. It's a great place and much cheaper than a movie! When you check in for the Camp, we'll give you the Park Entrance Fee ticket for your car window.
Important Registration Details and Policies
- All entrants are required to sign the Accident Waiver at check-in (before beginning the event). The waiver may not be modified in any manner.
- All riders must pay the event entry fee, except those with a Volunteer's Ride Credit.
- Entry fees are non-transferable. (No rider exchanges.)
- Entry fees are refundable, less $100, until January 15, 2007, upon written request.
- We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
- These events ALWAYS sell out way in advance! There is no registration at the event. You may not ride unless you have pre-registered and therefore your name is on the event roster.
- There will be no mailing via postal service of any info, results, or entry confirmation before or after the event, however Active.com will email you confirmation of your entry when you complete the application process through their website. Keep that email on file as proof of your registration. We will keep you up-to-date via our email newsletter, but only if you choose to sign up for it.
- We ride rain or shine.
Rules for Riding in Death Valley
- All riders must be friendly and must always display a good attitude before, during, and after the event. Whining and/or a sense of entitlement will not be tolerated.
- All riders must carry proper personal identification and personal emergency contact phone number at all times while cycling. We recommend the fine products from www.RoadID.com.
- All riders must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet while cycling.
- All riders must obey all laws and all relevant aspects of the California Motor Vehicle Code and National Park Service regulations. Riders who break laws and/or ride unsafely will be disqualified from the event; they will also be banned from entering future events.
- "Bandit riders" will be banned from future events.
- All riders must follow the basic rules for safe cycling, including, but not limited to: Ride to the right, single file at all times. Stop at all stop signs and red signals. Protect and warn one another about road hazards and traffic. Don't overlap wheels. Practice safe paceline and group riding etiquette. Be courteous to and cognizant of motorists and other park visitors.
- All riders must carry and use legal bicycle lights and reflective gear when cycling at night.
Here is the coolest and most direct route from LA (or anywhere that passes through Mojave on the way to Death Valley): Reset odometer to zero in Mojave and take Hwy 14 north. At mile 20, veer right onto Randsburg Road. At mile 32.2, stay straight (not right). Go left at the t-intersection junction with Hwy 395 at mile 40.5. At mile 43.6, turn right on Searles Station towards Trona (easy to miss). At mile 50, a t-intersection, turn left to Trona. At mile 58.4, another t-intersection, turn right on Hwy 178 towards Trona. Pass through Trona, including its Chevron Gas and Mini Mart, at mile 71.0. (Be sure refuel here; They are nice people and have a remarkably clean restroom!) Trona must have been featured in The X-Files, don't you think? NEWS FLASH: One can now buy an espresso, latté, or chai in Trona at the Desert Holly Espresso at 82856 Trona Road. This is a bit after the Chevron, on the left, by the Rite Valu. Halleluhah! Tell them Chris at AdventureCORPS sent you!
At mile 104, you have two options. If it's nighttime or you don't like a little adventure, turn left towards Death Valley via Hwy 190. At mile 117.5, turn right at the t-intersection on Hwy 190 towards Death Valley. You will now ascend the infamous Townes Pass (elev. 4965'), known worldwide from its presence on the Furnace Creek 508 race route. You will go over Townes Pass, pass through Stove Pipe Wells (gas, mini mart, hotel, and restaurant), then arrive at Furnace Creek at mile 170.
Your second option back at mile 104 is infinitely more fun and interesting, as well as even quieter. It's truly epic and feels like going back in time a few zillion years. So, at mile 104, if it's daylight and you have a working spare tire in your car, stay straight towards "Death Valley via Wildrose" instead of veering left as in option one. You will ascend over Emigrant Pass (elev 5318'). But first you'll go over three very short gravel stretches. They are only a few tenths of mile each and are easily passable in a normal car (not to mention on a road bike), unless there's a storm dumping on you. Be sure to check out the neat little oasis-like canyon you'll pass through. At mile 113.5, go left at the t-intersection towards Stove Pipe Wells and Furnace Creek. At mile 121 you'll summit Emigrant Pass. At mile 134.3, turn right at the t-intersection with Hwy 190 towards Furnace Creek. You'll pass through Stove Pipe Wells at mile 143.5 on your way to Furnace Creek, which you'll reach at mile 168. Voila!
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