The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

I don't see it as off topic. OK, a little. But you learn from these things and that's the better part of deviation. I didn't mention a lot of darpa "success" because it's not immediately understandable to many. Maybe you can argue that some of the tracking companies like TRX do is relevant to our world.

But since you mention RFP's. I might suggest writing grant proposals is more wasteful cause you're asking for money that you will use to fire up a program you would never spend your own money on and which might not last unless grant money keeps coming.

 

One of the high points of my earlier career was landing a darpa contract to do an outdoor technology demonstration at White Sands. We had lined up an experimental license and I was designing a lab in a conex that we would haul out there. Would have funded a small team for over a year, requiring only a 10% cost share or something. Unfortunately the company where I was working abruptly imploded before the ink had dried on that contract; thus the ice cream cone never started self-licking.

Haven't been able to sell them on anything I've proposed since.

 

Likely problem is that you've been proposing things that have at least some chance of actually working. Most of them don't like that.

 

Weekend post cards from the 395:

 

What? No photo's of climbing Pratt's Crack? lol

 

Oh, they’re coming.

 

Queen Canyon and Coyote Flats last week. Had never been to the former, have been to the latter many times but the last time was 10 years ago. Was great to get to our favorite campsite until we opened our doors to be greeted by carnivorous insects the like of which I'd never experienced in all my Sierra wanderings. Mosquitoes are easy. Thanks to @turbodb for tips on the southern route up to the flats. Had hoped to visit the airstrip since I'd like to land there one of these days, but the bugs drove us away.

 

Airstrip is no more. Not legal to land there but you know rules and things. Like the guy who landed on the racetrack and didn't think anyone would know where he was. I guess it's good when you N-number is small and black on an OD green paint scheme.