Supplies for the springs which are always in demand include liquid bleach, grass seed, lawn fertilizer and toilet paper. Other needs arise, but it's hard to know ahead of time what they'll be.

I generally just bring supplies for Lee. His caretaker position is unpaid and without him the springs would likely have been bulldozed years ago, so I'm happy to help support him. Things he always likes are bacon (with lettuce and tomatoes if possible), crab, whole milk, chocolate chip cookies, good bread and good pastries. He can also use CR123 lithium batteries, especially during the winter.

It's not like people need to bring him a weeks worth of groceries when they visit, but a little love from the supermarket is well invested.

On occasion Lee has need for flight services, either to check things out in the valley or to go to Furnace Creek or Big Pine. If you're willing and able, offering flight time is a pretty good thing to do. Bear in mind that Furnace Creek may not have av-gas any more.

Some folks last weekend left a really nice fire pan at the strip, but if you want a fire you need to bring your own firewood. There is no communal firewood left at the springs, either.

Hammer wrote:Supplies for the springs which are always in demand include liquid bleach, grass seed, lawn fertilizer and toilet paper. Other needs arise, but it's hard to know ahead of time what they'll be.

I generally just bring supplies for Lee. His caretaker position is unpaid and without him the springs would likely have been bulldozed years ago, so I'm happy to help support him. Things he always likes are bacon (with lettuce and tomatoes if possible), crab, whole milk, chocolate chip cookies, good bread and good pastries. He can also use CR123 lithium batteries, especially during the winter.

It's not like people need to bring him a weeks worth of groceries when they visit, but a little love from the supermarket is well invested.

On occasion Lee has need for flight services, either to check things out in the valley or to go to Furnace Creek or Big Pine. If you're willing and able, offering flight time is a pretty good thing to do. Bear in mind that Furnace Creek may not have av-gas any more.

Some folks last weekend left a really nice fire pan at the strip, but if you want a fire you need to bring your own firewood. There is no communal firewood left at the springs, either.

Thanks for the info. I'm assuming the firepan that was left is at the strip. There was a discussion on another thread some time back about campfires and that they weren't allowed in non-designated campsites. So is one ok up there? It sure would be nice. And bringing wood isn't a problem.

The FRS LATT (low altitude tactical training) is slightly different now. Saline and Panamint valleys are the only authorized LATT training areas. Very few instructors / students are aware of the Chicken Strip and none of them are monitoring VHF, they're all up the R-2508 UHF low level freq. The hot springs are still referred to as the "nudie camp" and most IP's (instructor pilots) believe that to still be the case. The hot springs, being the only significant landmark within the valley, are frequently overflown by hornets traveling in excess of 500 knots at 200' AGL. I would be VERY careful flying in or out of the strip between Monday and Friday. If so, and I were flying my Pacer, I'd stay at or below 100' AGL in the Saline Valley and I'd ask Joshua on the way in if there was any military low level activity taking place in Saline at the time. In addition to the LATT activity you also have LAT (Low Altitude Training) taking place. To differentiate, think of LAT as low and fast flying a route, LATT low and fast within a small area (saline or pnamint) making frequent and abrupt changes in heading, angle of bank, G, altitude, etc. The LAT traffic should be on a route known as the Sidewinder and will all be up the UHF low level freq. The route starts essentially at the Kern Valley airport and goes north up the river before turning east towards Monache and near the town of Cartago. From there the traffic can either go east and parallel the north border of the R-2505 into Panamint or turn north and fly up the far east side of Owens Valley all the way to the north end of the R-2508. Once at the north end of the 2508 the route turns east briefly before turning south, over a ridge, and right over the Chicken Strip on the way into Saline. From there it proceeds south into panamint, over the Trona airport, back to the west, and terminates just south of Ridgecrest. Be very afraid.

Current Hornet LATT instructor

Here is a description of the Sidewinder route:
http://www.edwards.af.mil/shared/media/ ... 28-047.pdf
and a map:
http://www.edwards.af.mil/shared/media/ ... 28-048.JPG

It is basically head-on into landing traffic at Chicken Strip. Not that it matters, head-on or not.

There is a wealth of info at
http://www.edwards.af.mil/shared/media/ ... 03-052.pdf

section 5.2.1 features a map with the reporting point "nudy camp" that is the chicken strip.

section 5.2.2 confirms the DoD has decided to "standardize low altitude training" in the area around the Sidewinder route, such that it passes over Chicken Strip as mentioned before.

The good news is that aircraft using the route are supposed to notify Joshua.

The section on Saline MOA suggests that where VR1205 passes over the south edge of Saline Valley is an especially good place to avoid.

.

.

The Chicken Strip isn't officialy considered an airport. Aside from staying low (100' agl) you could also hug the east or west side of the valley. 99 percent of the ridgeline crossings in Saline are conducted north / south or vice versa. The "saddleback" that connects saline & panamint is a very high traffic area & is extremely dangerous. That being said it's probably best to enter the valley from the east or west as well. As for the position reports and joshua, radios are line of sight which doesn't work well in mountainous terrain. The reason for the separate low level freq is because joshua wouldn't be able to hear us 99 percent of the time anyway.

I have never met Lee. I want to bring him a few things. I assume he lives in the old permanent looking trailer by the hot springs? I'm asking.
This trailer?


Cheers...Rob

OregonMaule wrote:I have never met Lee. I want to bring him a few things. I assume he lives in the old permanent looking trailer by the hot springs? I'm asking.
This trailer?


Cheers...Rob

Rob I'm not positive but I think that's his abode. I'm thinking he'd like fresh fruits and vegies, If you don't want to fly them down from Portland they have loaner bikes at KBIH and it's about a 1.5 mile ride to the Vons in Bishop. There's also a Kmart for all your camping needs

Gas at KBIH is $5.11
$4.87 @ Tehachapi Municipal Airport KTSP

Hammer wrote:Supplies for the springs which are always in demand include liquid bleach, grass seed, lawn fertilizer and toilet paper. Other needs arise, but it's hard to know ahead of time what they'll be.

I generally just bring supplies for Lee. His caretaker position is unpaid and without him the springs would likely have been bulldozed years ago, so I'm happy to help support him. Things he always likes are bacon (with lettuce and tomatoes if possible), crab, whole milk, chocolate chip cookies, good bread and good pastries. He can also use CR123 lithium batteries, especially during the winter.

It's not like people need to bring him a weeks worth of groceries when they visit, but a little love from the supermarket is well invested.

On occasion Lee has need for flight services, either to check things out in the valley or to go to Furnace Creek or Big Pine. If you're willing and able, offering flight time is a pretty good thing to do. Bear in mind that Furnace Creek may not have av-gas any more.

Some folks last weekend left a really nice fire pan at the strip, but if you want a fire you need to bring your own firewood. There is no communal firewood left at the springs, either.

Hey Rob,

Hammer provided the above earlier in the post. This should give you some ideas.

Cory
you gonna make it there? if you do ill bring my vernatherm wrench if you need it.

Made a trip to the store tonight and got Lee some fresh fruit, BLT make ens, steak, and bleach. Now watch he won't be around. hahaha

I spent the night at CS last week. Runway is in great shape! Lizard Lee was not on premises. Not sure which inmate is running the asylum in his absence.

Safe travels and enjoy this great strip and location.

DoubleUgly wrote:I spent the night at CS last week. Runway is in great shape! Lizard Lee was not on premises. Not sure which inmate is running the asylum in his absence.

Safe travels and enjoy this great strip and location.

Thanks for the report DoubleUgly

Cheers...Rob

Thanks for the report! Im really looking forward to it.

Yes, Russ, we are planning on being there, wx allowing, on January 1. If I've not gotten it out by then maybe I'll take you up on that offer. I'll let you know.