Pirep on the condition of the landing surface at Black Rock City this year...

"report from point 5 - its a mess (the surface) we will be busy
making it usable ....for you pilots with very small tires - do not
recommend(sorry)"

svanarts wrote:Pirep on the condition of the landing surface at Black Rock City this year...

"report from point 5 - its a mess (the surface) we will be busy
making it usable ....for you pilots with very small tires - do not
recommend(sorry)"

I wonder what they think "very small tires" are.

I was out that way a couple days ago and it's not very friendly. BW's were fine but I would not go there with a set of 850/10's...it's been raining every day for the past couple weeks.

Had my own mud bog adventure yesterday at Walker lake...turned into a 6 hour dig job. I knew better.

Akt

Any pics of the "dig job"?

Bender wrote:Any pics of the "dig job"?

Haha. I was gonna ask the same thing...

A1Skinner wrote:

Bender wrote:Any pics of the "dig job"?

Haha. I was gonna ask the same thing...

Only one...I put it on FB...Wish I had more. I was just so pissed off about the whole ordeal I could not wait to get out of there. Landed in a number of places yesterday, lake beds, lake shores and this time I turned around in a spot too close to the shoreline. I knew it to. Just as I thought I better not go any further the right tire sank 3 inches over the 31's. Made a huge "T" slot anchor and used my come along to get out, inch by inch, foot by foot. The whole process was 3-12 inches at a time and then re-setting the ropes, drift wood and re-digging only to repeat, over and over for about 6 hours. I was lucky as only one tire was buried. The other tire was in the good sand still. As I always say, dark is danger...and I knew very well how much rain we have had. The playa's are actually in pretty good shape. If we get some sun the desert where BM is will be very good and hard. It just needs to dry out. Anyhow, yesterday was quite the "experieince" to say the least. I was a muddy mess from head to toe as was my plane. I went in several times up to my thighs, even fell over a few times. I dont think I have ever been that muddy...

The mud on the cowling is from my hands and shirt trying to get under the plane as I dug and kept sinking


AKT

Wow Kevin. Wingtip must've almost been on the ground. Not to mention your prop. Glad you got out of there.

A1Skinner wrote:Wow Kevin. Wingtip must've almost been on the ground. Not to mention your prop. Glad you got out of there.

Wingtip was about 2 inches off the ground and prop had a lot of room given the other tire was still on solid ground. Had that tire sank I would have been looking for a helicopter...

AKT

Wow Kevin, glad things worked out after a long day of digging/pulling. That looks very gooey!

aktahoe1 wrote:I was out that way a couple days ago and it's not very friendly. BW's were fine but I would not go there with a set of 850/10's...it's been raining every day for the past couple weeks.

Had my own mud bog adventure yesterday at Walker lake...turned into a 6 hour dig job. I knew better.

Akt

I was out there a few days ago.... Spidey Sense was tingling big time. Glad I didn't land.

Gump

.

glacier wrote:Wow, that is a big airplane in a big stuck to get out by yourself. I'm really impressed. What kind of come along do you carry? And, how long have you been carrying it? Have you ever needed it before?
I'm occasionally by myself in my 180, on soft or wet spots that spook me with the thought "what if I get stuck here, can I get it out by myself?" Its a whole different game than getting a smaller plane stuck, even with a nice light 180.
Any other "get unstuck" gear besides the shovel and come along?

Piling on here - And what did you use for your aircraft attach points for the rope/cable on the come-along?

You need a Cub...

CapnMike wrote:

glacier wrote:Wow, that is a big airplane in a big stuck to get out by yourself. I'm really impressed. What kind of come along do you carry? And, how long have you been carrying it? Have you ever needed it before?
I'm occasionally by myself in my 180, on soft or wet spots that spook me with the thought "what if I get stuck here, can I get it out by myself?" Its a whole different game than getting a smaller plane stuck, even with a nice light 180.
Any other "get unstuck" gear besides the shovel and come along?

Piling on here - And what did you use for your aircraft attach points for the rope/cable on the come-along?

Just saying "come along " here was a simple answer but to go a bit deeper, with my business I am fortunate to have some good rope and rescue skills learned over the years. Creating a 9-1 mechanical advantage is very simple with some rope, pulleys and whatever else yo can come up with to create it. Heck a heavy screw driver can work as a very good pulley. The anchor is also very simple. Dig a T slot and burry a log. All requires extensive digging and proper set up but its very basic really. As for the tires and the track out that to just required extensive digging. This process was a constant repeat and dig over and over and over and really the most time consuming part of the whole deal. The mechanical advantage was a constant with not much re-setup after the initial phase. Being on the beach there was a lot of drift wood and such even found old bones from a cow. Anyhow, you can google mechanical advantage and really its not that big of a deal once you know how. I carry rope and pulleys that amount to maybe 5-8lbs in my tool box. I also used some creative tools to add to the advantage. As for the attachment point, that varied but really it stayed on the end of the stinger. This would be a pretty cool demo during out fly-in if folks were interested.

Anyhow, thats about it. I wish I had more photos to share. My focus was getting out and not really capturing the moment.

AKT

.

aktahoe1 wrote: I wish I had more photos to share. My focus was getting out and not really capturing the moment.

AKT

I know exactly how that feels. I've been in a less than ideal situation by myself out in the middle of nowhere. I never even thought to take pictures. Like you, I was frustrated and mad at myself for getting there. Glad you made it out only a little muddy.

aktahoe1 wrote:Heck a heavy screw driver can work as a very good pulley. The anchor is also very simple. Dig a T slot and burry a log.

I'd love to read the next level of detail on this.

rw2 wrote:

aktahoe1 wrote:Heck a heavy screw driver can work as a very good pulley. The anchor is also very simple. Dig a T slot and burry a log.

I'd love to read the next level of detail on this.

Google "dead man anchor" and "climbing haul system"

Zzz wrote:Google "dead man anchor" and "climbing haul system"

Perfect, thanks.