Backcountry Pilot

[Berk offline]

Hi, Tim;
I haven't been to Chicken Strip in almost a year, but it keeps coming up in my wish list of things to do. Let us know how it is, as well as the springs flow rate, and temperatures. Last May, the upper spring was plenty toasty, with a good flow rate, and very clean and welcoming. The strip then was good - just a tad rough - very nice.
I'm told that as part of the Park Plan, they are required to allow and accommodate "traditional use". As I understand it, the springs, and strip fall into this legalese category of being continuously traditionally used for at least the prescribed amount of time necessary to meet the criteria of the language of that policy.
Enjoy, Berk

[Desert Rat offline]

I assume you are asking about "Chicken Strip"...

Chicken strip is in good condition. It is much better to arrive in the morning as you will probably have a tailwind in the afternoon. You land to the North. A little uphill for landing.

It may be a little hard to find but if you have a GPS no problem. You can camp at the airstrip or over at the springs. The tub at the lower springs is dry (usually). The upper pools are good but they are about a mile from the strip.

[Desert Rat offline]

Hey Tim:

I was just looking over the pictures in this thread. Be sure you end up at the "Chicken Strip" and not the old strip South of the springs. The one with the X's is closed.

The picture with the airplanes on the ground is the strip that is closed.

[qmdv offline]

Landed at the Chicken Strip at about 9:15 on Sat Morning with bit of a tail wind. Was not that bad, a 182 B with fat tires is pretty forgiving. With as steep as that strip is, you would have to have a prety stiff wind to land downhill. When the urge to go back comes I will be sure to get there a bit earlyier.

Tim

[Desert Rat offline]

Tim:

How long did you stay?

Did you use any of the tubs?

We want pix.

[Zona offline]

I was the other airplane there when you landed, the Archer.
Saw you, but the three of us were walking up to the far upper spring in 100 deg heat. Worth it, but not by much on the walk back.

Runway is fine, and we took a few of the bigger rocks off to the side before we used it on the way out monday morning.

[Zona offline]

[Zzz]

Zona-

Those are sweet shots!! I fixed that above one for you. phpBBcode doesn't like anything after the file extension, so I trimmed the url and it worked fine.

You should post some more of those, they're definite marquee quality.

Z

[Zona offline]

[Zona offline]

I was getting nagged because the coffee was not on, and my brother saw that I was fooling with the fish eye again.

[Zona offline]

Sorry it is so big, but then you can Zoom in and see stuff about the surface if you want.

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

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.

You don't have to accept their authority. Just the ticket And perhaps the bill to have your fixed wind slung off whatever airstrip they finally catch you on You won't be the first, or the last, to find that out. Sigh.

[Desert Rat offline]

once&futr_alaskaflyer

I can't believe it. Who is next the CIA.

Well Ranger Jim:
How do you think they would catch me . Ride up on horseback. They can't land. They only have one airplane. Guns..Get real..

Oh well.. I guess it takes all kinds..Even Rangers....We got some of them too.

What the hell. In it for the bucks.

Hey Rocket Man... You better keep your head down. You could be next man.

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

Was expressing concern more than an opinion. We are all pilots here.

You're the one that posted the photo If I wanted to bust you, well...you're busted Boo

Anyway...how 'bout them supercubs?

[Desert Rat offline]

once&futr_alaskaflyer

Well now Jimmy. That sounds a lot like a threat to me. Must be something the NPS puts in the H2O.

I suspect that the lack of a date wouldn't detur your "BUSTING". efforts.

For your info:

AIM 7-4-6. Flights Over Charted U.S. Wildlife Refuges, Parks, and Forest Service Areas

a. The landing of aircraft is prohibited on lands or waters administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or U.S. Forest Service without authorization from the respective agency. Exceptions include:

1. When forced to land due to an emergency beyond the control of the operator;

2. At officially designated landing sites.


But...Let's just assume that I just give you the date and N- mumber and confess.

What part of "forced to land due to an emergency" do you fail to understand.

Man was I ever lucky that dirt was there...

Actually you can probably help me with one question.

The white wings are way too easy to spot from the air but putting on the camo netting with VG's is a pain. Snags the net. Got any ideas Jimmy.

[Zzz]

You're the one that posted the photo If I wanted to bust you, well...you're busted Boo

Desert Rat, is your sarcasm detector on the fritz? Your browser not showing the winky smiley? Did you ever actually get to play with other children when you were young?

[qmdv offline]

To much time in the desert. That sun will do every time. I remember Humphrey Bogart in the movie "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre". Didn't he go nuts in that film from to much sun. Somthing to do with large ball bearings. No that was "The Caine Mutiny". Well you get the picture any way. I have never met Desert Rat but I can see him now rolling those ball bearings in his hand.

Side note, Robert Blake was also in the Sierra Madre movie and look what happened to him.

The words of a famous thinker from LA comes to mind " Can't we all just get along?"

Tim

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

Maybe my humor is so dry it blows away. Wouldn't be the first time.

BTW I'm not Jim. New airplane. You were closer with "Ranger Rick."

Hmmm, the 'ole "emergency landing" thing:

I bet that worked once, a long time ago the first time someone pulled it. It cuts both ways though..

"An emergency landing, sir? Well thank goodness you were able to land here safely. And speaking of safety...we wouldn't want you to attempt to take off from here until your plane is checked out by an expert. Go ahead and call your mechanic. In the meantime we'll call the FSDO so that one of their inspectors can respond and give you and your plane a thorough going over, just to be safe. "

Ever see a plane more than five years out of the factory that was completely legal?

Anyway, sorry for twisting your tail a little, but you left yourself open by assuming everyone here agrees with your opinion on the NPS. Do you brag online about FAA violations too? Would you think that continued flagrant violations of the closures would tend to make the bureaucracy suspicious, and even hostile to all pilots even those who have enough respect to stick to the legal strips? Are we our worst enemy sometimes? You've assumed I made my comment because I happen to work for the NPS. Nope. I made it as a pilot who has to live with the fallout from the inappropriate behavior of other pilots.

Anyway that is my HO from my perspective, and I suspect this is way too heavy a topic for this forum I've been lurking a while and I am sorry I chose to make this my first contribution.I'm here to talk about great flying. Chicken strip (an open airstrip needing help) looks beautiful.

[Desert Rat offline]

"Ball Bearings"... Now that's cool. Got to get some of those.

Captain (Commander) Queeg:

"As anybody who knows me will tell you, I'm a book man. I believe everything in it was put there for a purpose"

I dunoo. Just don't sound like me. Anarchist Closer.

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

Oh well.. I guess it takes all kinds...