Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Death Valley Nat'l Park


Char

Recommended Posts

Char Apprentice

Hi all,

This is my first posting! I'm going to Death Valley National Park in a few weeks, and am very worried about the gluten-free situation there. Does anyone know of anything vaguely nearby that might serve gluten-free food?

Thanks!

-Char


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



winki4 Apprentice

I went there last year and the prior year with a group of 9 friends. Sadly you will have to be careful with all of the restuarants in and around the park. Nobody speaks our language in Death Valley. Bring food with you, a cooler with snacks etc. Bathrooms are no problem until you leave the park.

I was as careful as could be and still was badly glutened the last day. If you can imagine a large van, with seating for 10, I'm in the back last row. It is a long drive to civilization on the way out of the park, 2 1/2 hours. I need to use a bathroom for a big D coming on and all there is around me is desert. No trees, no bushes, no bathrooms, and a van full of men and women to watch if I jump out to relieve myself in a hurry in the desert.

I manage to hold it in for 45 minutes, we get to a gas station, I pile out of the van like I am shot from a cannon. The bathroom is closed! The line is for a one stall mens room and there are 7 people in line for it. I push through them all and get relief. It sounds funny now, but it was a disaster when it happened.

Go anyway, just bring your own food with you. Death Valley is not to be missed.

Char Apprentice

Thanks for your post, winki4. It's disappointing, but expected... so sorry about your experience!

  • 3 weeks later...
Char Apprentice

Hi all, I just wanted to let you know about my trip.

We stayed for two nights at the Shoshone Inn (Open Original Shared Link click on "Lodging"). Our room had two burners, a microwave, and a fridge, so we ended up cooking our dinners (and packing a lunch) - though note, we had to bring our own pots and dishes. It's pretty cheap, with the corresponding problems (e.g. I spent the first half hour on my hands and knees scrubbing out the shower because there was some oddly-colored gooey stain in the shower (blech)).

We stayed one night at the Ranch House Inn (Open Original Shared Link), which I can't recommend highly enough -- it's absolutely fabulous! Cynthia, the inn owner, is great, the rooms are homey and cute, and the location is absolutely incredible. With a two-week notice, you can order dinner, and she'll accomodate gluten-free diets (and other dietary restrictions) -- she made us brown rice with veggies, grilled pork chops, and a spinach salad with pinenuts and strawberries. I'm sending her more materials about "hidden" sources of gluten, but she herself rarely eats wheat, and says that she bakes with rice flour (!!).

-Char

4getgluten Rookie

Char - It sounds like you had a good trip. I haven't been to Death Valley in years. I like the sound of the Ranch House Inn. Thanks for sharing.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      130,741
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    mazza1976
    Newest Member
    mazza1976
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):




  • Who's Online (See full list)


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      In general with pharmaceutical products cross-contamination is a much lower risk.
    • Scott Adams
      Here is more info about how to do a gluten challenge for a celiac disease blood panel, or for an endoscopy: and this recent study recommends 4-6 slices of wheat bread per day:    
    • trents
      Just so you'll know, once you have been gluten-free for any length of time, it will invalidate testing for celiac disease.
    • QueenBorg
      Yes. I have not been tested for celiac. It took forever to get diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. lol. I have an appointment with my regular GP later this month and will convey my findings on improved symptoms and see what his thoughts are. Thank you. 
    • knitty kitty
      @Grahamsnaturalworld, It's never too late.   Have you been checked for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth?  SIBO can cause ongoing symptoms.  Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Histamine Intolerance (HIT) can also be the cause of ongoing symptoms.  The AIP diet can help with these by starving out SIBO bacteria and calming the immune system. Do you include dairy in your diet?  Casein in dairy can cause an autoimmune response the same as to gluten.  Have you been checked for lactose intolerance?  Some people lose the ability to produce the enzyme, lactase, needed to digest lactose, the sugar in dairy because the villi where the lactase enzyme is made are damaged.  AIP diet excludes dairy. Do you include grains in your diet?  Gluten free alternative grains and ancient grains can be inflammatory and cause symptoms.  Some people with Celiac react to corn and oats.  The AIP diet excludes all grains.  Lectins in grains can be inflammatory and cause symptoms. Do you eat nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant).  This family of plants produce glycoalkaloids, chemicals that promote Leaky Gut Syndrome.  The AIP diet excludes nightshades.   Are you on any medications?  Some medications can cause gastrointestinal symptoms.  Do you take any supplements?  Some herbal teas and supplements can cause digestive symptoms.  Medications for diabetes, antidepressants, and other pharmaceuticals can cause digestive symptoms as side effects. Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?  Malabsorption of essential nutrients can occur with continued symptoms.  Deficiencies in Niacin, Thiamine, and other B vitamins can cause digestive symptoms.  Gastrointestinal Beriberi and Pellagra are often overlooked by doctors because they are not familiar with nutritional deficiency disease symptoms.  Nutritional deficiencies can worsen over time as stores inside the body are depleted.   Have your doctors checked for all these?   I had a horrible time getting my symptoms under control.  I had to answer all these questions myself.  Yes, it's frustrating and exasperating because doctors don't have to live with these symptoms everyday. Interesting reading: AGA Clinical Practice Update on Management of Refractory Celiac Disease: Expert Review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36137844/
×
×
  • Create New...