Silver,
Those two routes have been opened and closed at times depending on the water content and season.
Ya. For sure. The park Ranger registering your "4x4 back country permit" at Needles for
Salt really grill you on your 4x4 prowess and recovery equipment before handing you the permit LOL! The towing starts around $1400 and can get to well over $2000 if you
ruck up somewhere back there LOL!
We had some substantial under-body skid plates, but even with that, I was reaching under and grabbing twigs, handfuls of wet sand/muck, and all kinds of **** jammed into the wheels after exiting the swing-gate!
On edit: LOVE your photos from the '70s!!!! You're lucky you didn't get buried up to the windshield :B