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.

 

Let’s just say that I know someone who has a friend who heard about a guy who reported landing there in the recent past. But that was on bush tires, which my plane lacks. I do check the small N number box though. And it has the requisite high altitude capability. The remains of the airstrip is still readily apparent from a distance. I drove it at speed the last time I was up there but that was 10 years ago and in my early Bronco on 35” tires and very long travel suspension. I don’t recall what year the Forest Service bulldozed the hard surface and hauled it off but it was several years before that.

 

Last time I did a high speed pass on an old airstrip it resulted in some cursing on the side of Panamint Valley Rd trying to correct my alignment...always a fun time trying to get the truck back together as the sun is setting and it's 105°

 

My first trip to Coyote Flats was in the early 80s -- the strip was still in use, along with a hanger and some humans. After that, the friend leading us took us off the mountain via Bishop Creek. End of exciting story.

 

It's been quite some time since the Bishop Creek exit has been used. It's still there if you know where to look. It got closed because of a fatal rollover. Honestly, I'm surprised the FS hasn't done the same thing to the Big Pine entrance. Instead they're gonna move it. For those of you interested here's a link to the final FS decision on Coyote Flat

https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/file/1830566850919

 

We found the Bishop Creek access 10 years ago, didn't push our luck. Was hoping for a look this time but the evil bugs had other ideas. Had no real issue with the Big Pine entrance this time other than a thoroughly crushed tailpipe on my Taco (I seem to specialize in that; my Bronco has suffered the same indignity a couple of times) but it's not a beginner trail, for sure. Thanks for the link. Reading now.

 

I wish they hadn't dozed it and I really don't know the legality of landing up there. It would be a great place for backcountry aviation. As far as the racetrack I have pics somewhere but it doesn't matter since it was years ago. There's so many other "playas" to land legally on I'm not sure why someone would do the racetrack.

 

It would have been nice to give it unmaintained status and periodically grade it. I've seen photos of backcountry strips with three or four people camped. Man, wouldn't that be nice!

 

Well, I'm diving way off-topic into the weeds here, if this is inappropriate please advise and I'll delete.

Backcountry airplane camping. Not exactly 395 and environs but close. First is Alvord Desert, second is McKenzie Bridge airstrip on the Willamette Valley side of the Cascades due west of Bend. Have considered landing on the access road to Fish Lake Valley Hot Well (I wouldn't be the first) but haven't worked up the nerve yet- a low wing thing. The road is smooth enough.

In general the BLM seems to have completely different rules about off-airport landing compared to the USFS. In the former case it's ok unless specifically prohibited, in the latter, the opposite. Since Coyote Flats is in the Inyo NF, I'd consider landing but would be uneasy about sticking around.

 

I'm following this guy on IG who built a Zenith CH750 with the airplane equivalent of 40's . @wairworthy. I just find it fascinating that when in Alaska, you're just as likely to run into your neighbor at some markets driving as flying--when I was up near the Tangle Lakes, I did see a couple of folks showup at this small market in planes. Then you have seaplanes and fishing/camping/hunting.

 

The USFS map of that route:

 

Have any of you ever taken any of the trails in the network outside of Darwin (on the way to Death Valley between Lone Pine and Panamint Springs). Drove on the offshoot road last Spring because I just had to go to see this town first hand). Decent trail network. But my main go to is TrailsOffroad and they don't have nay of the trails mapped or rated and I was solo. Wasn't about to explore, especially with some of the town folk I saw.

Can anyone with On X or similar state if the trails are scouted on those platforms?

 

Like the road past China Garden Spring for example? I've been there a few times but it's been years.