Chicken Strip is now open (I think). I will fly out and post a report.
"Chicken Strip" is in Saline Valley near Bishop Ca. in Death Valley N.P.

Woohoo,

Keep us posted!

Mark

Is it on the sectional?

No, it's in the Saline Valley and I have not landed it yet although last fall I did overfly it. It's got quite a colorful history as I have said before. Charles Manson hangout for awhile, clothing optional hotsprings, some sorta' mystic center of the cosmic something or another...

Sounds like a good place to visit

Mark

Could someone post the coordinates of the strip? Without some way to locate it other than driving directions, this thread is useless to me!

Jim Clark has some footage of it in Out There Flying I think. What gives it the name? It is hairball?

N 36* 48.5' W 117* 46.9'

Well... now that you have the Lat/Lon you will probably need a bit more info.
The strip is one way, about 1200' long, a little uphill, best to land to the north, early morning is best because of the wind. It is not very rough or difficult. I have seen a 337 there. 210's use it. The valley is very hot in the summer. You can camp at the strip or at the hot springs.
I have been there about 20 times so if you have any questions just ask.

I was there today. Temp about 80. The airstrip (Chicken Strip) is in very good condition. The parking area needs a little work but overall things look very good. Almost no one at the springs.

The "lower" springs have no hot water only cold. Park Service says water go By By. "Sunrise Pools" have lots of hot water. It is about 15' walk from plane to Sunrise.

This is a view of the strip looking south at the approach end. The windsock is at the approach end on the left (West) side of the runway.

DR,

Thanks for the information. I may have to play hookie one day this week and check it out.

Mark

Karl Spielman of the RAF and Steve Deurtchi of the UBCP met with officials from the BLM in Ca last Tuesday the 21st of Feb to formalize a use agreement where the pilots will mainain Chicken Strip, Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells for our future use of these strips. Look for more details on the UBCP website and the Recreational Airport Foundation site soon.

It would be the NPS. Did you hear the results of the meeting. I haven't heard a word. I am in that 10% that never gets the word....

Update... I got the word...All looks good...

We are blessed. The Park Service says we can use THEIR airstrip.

Karl told me that it went extremely well and you guys close should gear up for some maintance.
I'm going to check them out this June either to or from Columbia for a 180/185 fly-in.

Let me know when your coming to Columbia and I'll make sure and get out to the airport...

Mark

Mark the 180/185 Columbia fly in is on June 30 thru July 2.
See you there.

This is an airstrip S/E of Chicken Strip at about 5,000'. The springs and Chicken are at the left of the Pix. in the valley. The strip is very steep but short.

It's been used for years (still is). There is another one higher on the ridge but I can't find a pix. of it.

Good thing you can't read the tail # on that outlaw. I always carry a piece of Camo. netting if I leave for a while or stay overnight.

This is one of probably 20 that are now illegal (per NPS).

Lets see:
Them... 3.4 million acres + one airplane.

Me....... 20 airstrips + Park Radio (they are very good about position reports) "catch me if you can"


Of course if you do. "man it was a good thing this emergency strip was here....etc."

This was the crosswind strip at the Warm Springs in Saline Valley (near Chicken Strip). Note the tents etc. They wanted to close so they could create.... NOTHING. They even put a line of rocks across the runway in case someone wanted to use it in an emergency (I moved them three times and the replaced them two times). Rangers don't tote no rocks....Count on the Park Service to keep you safe.

The strip was used when you wanted to camp near the tub or when there was a North wind. It was a bit rough but as you can see it was well used.

I think Ed F. (NPS pilot) wanted it closed because he couldn't land the Park 182 there.

I'm glad that you posted the picture of the alternate strip at Saline. I always wondered why that was "closed". It looked ok to me - in fact it seemed longer than Chicken Strip, if I remember right, though without the slope. So is it currently being used without hassel from the NPS?
Thanks for all your tips. Berk

Berk:

It has been closed by the NPS. For no good reason other than that THEY CAN.

When it was closed by the Park Service I was told that if no one objected to the closing then "Chicken Strip" would be left open forever. Well... It seems that , as usual, their word ain't worth a cr.. The "Chicken Strip" is still open but has one foot in the grave. We forget that they will be here forever and, unlike us, they never give up. Lets hope the MOU on the "Chicken Strip" works out and it can stay open.

Oh well, after all, we do work for them and must take what they dish out.

Before the massive expansion of Death Valley N.P. there were about twenty (20) small airstrips that were on BLM land. I have been to every one of them. According to the Park Service they are all now closed . All except "Chicken Strip".

I am not about to go there and say "please sir can I have a little more food". Can I use one airstrip. I will be good.

I don't accept their authority to close these airstrips. They are on public land and are mine to use. I am a legitimate user of public lands just like hikers or horseman.

I would never use one of these airstrips if I thought my airplane would bother someone on the ground. I would go somewhere else.

A friend of mine is a city attorney working on a small expansion of a small airport. They want to lengthen one runway. Some people don't want it expanded. I can easily see their point. But...
They don't come to the city with "hat in hand" looking for a favor. They come with a BIG stick. They challenged the validity of assumptions made in the EIR. He said they asked 900 questions that will probably take the city a year and almost a million dollars to answer.

Just checked the weather for Inyo Kern for this Saturday. Looks like I will be at Mom's in Burbank to giver her a hand with her bills etc on Friday. Then on Sat morning a quick flight to Death Valley. May spend the night then fly home on Sunday.

Anybody been there lately. What should the strip be like this time of year as I have never been there before. I am assuming that it is still open.

Tim