We checked out various routes to Bishop, CA from Las Vegas. The Death Valley route looked the best, as there are no one lane roads and 7,000 foot high passes involved. We had driven this route last year on our Death Valley sojourn, and were aware of the 9% downgrade heading out of Death Valley towards California Highway 395 which runs along the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was as steep as I remember it! I kept the truck in second gear and used the brakes intermittently. We also had to negotiate two 5,000 foot passes on narrow two lane roads. Gas mileage was terrible on this leg of the trip – less than 9 miles per gallon. (When we filled up in Death Valley, gas was $5.45 per gallon – by far the most expensive fuel on this trip. We needed less than 5 gallons.)
Death Valley was around 90 degrees, which is very cool for this time of year. The main lodge had already closed for the summer season, as temperatures can go as high as 130 degrees.
Bishop is a pleasant 78 degrees. Tomorrow, we will drive to Susanville, CA, which is another 300 miles or so. We are almost home!
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