Probly worth reviewing and commenting if you have an option about closing Stovepipe Wells airport.

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=297&projectID=72747&documentID=107887&fbclid=IwAR2hmYmo9VvkRioBDhnnYkFqh5l0LUqMllUedvGQJTvu_xh0NuK5a2yu0SQ

Sent my comments in . ..wow , they want to remove the airstrip to make a night sky viewing area ?! People can view the night sky from literally anywhere in the park . What a waste of money that would be . Park Circus is really getting creative these days with these terrible ideas .

Or put a night sky viewing spot in along with the runway, the two are used at very different times. Its even what looks like a nicely paved 3200ft strip. Why would you want to remove that?

Commented. How ludicrous.

Airnav.com lists it as paved, in poor condition and "Pavement heaving, rough surface". They also report an average of 83 operations per month. I only landed on it once a few years ago, but it didn't seem to bad then. Has anyone here used it in the last year or so, and what does it really look like now?

It’s fairly apparent that the park management just want to close the strip and are using stargazing as a beneficial use for doing so. They say they don’t track how many operations occur annually at Stovepipe but are stating that the “ballpark number is less then 40 airplanes per year.” One guy stated during the 5 years he worked there (1986-1991) that 1 airplane landed at Stovepipe and it was another park employee.

I drove past it in January 2019, there were 2 planes on the ground that day.

The RAF is on the job. Our California liaisons will be going to the meetings and will let everyone know what needs to be done and how to respond.

If RAF holds a work party for it, we need a few weeks to plan so those of us 4 hours away by air, or 10 by car if the weather sucks, can be able to get there.

Bonanza Man wrote:The RAF is on the job. Our California liaisons will be going to the meetings and will let everyone know what needs to be done and how to respond.

It’s great that RAF is aware but that does not negate the need for everyone that cares to submit comments. Public comments play a major role in the decision making process.

I’m sure you didn’t mean it this way but the way you phrased your statement makes it sound like people don’t need to comment because RAF will take care of it. Yes, RAF has political connections but don’t mistake those connections as a substitute for public comments.

Comments submitted. Not sure why anyone on this forum would care that the runway surface was in poor condition.

I "discovered' Death Valley in January when I rode the park with some motorcycle friends. We saw Titus Canyon, Ubehebe Crater, Race Track and a few more spots. We camped at Furnace Creek and made day trips with lightly loaded machines.

Spectacular. I vowed to return by plane when I learned there were runways.

We're planning a different section this next February.

For anyone who likes a good read, I can suggest you look up "Death Valley Germans", written by a guy who located an SR-71 crash site and later helped to solve the disappearance of the Germans. Just reading how he makes a hike in to leave water so he can come back on another trip gives you a good idea of how unforgiving Death Valley can be.

aftCG wrote:...
For anyone who likes a good read, I can suggest you look up "Death Valley Germans", written by a guy who located an SR-71 crash site and later helped to solve the disappearance of the Germans. Just reading how he makes a hike in to leave water so he can come back on another trip gives you a good idea of how unforgiving Death Valley can be.

It's a powerful story that has lots of very valuable lessons for any reader. Trusting our GPS is a big leap of faith... unless we crosscheck it against an independent navigation source.

Next year I plan to fly south past Death Valley. I sure hope the strip is still open Does anyone want to post their comments for the benefit of the Forum?

FWIW, I just submitted these comments:

Topic Question 2: I find it very odd that a night sky viewing area is a preferred use for the Stovepipe Wells airstrip. The airstrip offers US residents who live hundreds or even thousands of miles away from Death Valley direct access to the wonders of that beautiful landscape. 3500' of runway doesn't seem like much, but it offers direct access to cities, towns, and homes far away. Surely a better use of this unique resource, this doorway to every state in the union, is to retain it as an operational airport. The night sky can be viewed just about anywhere in the Park. Unimpeded access to anywhere in the country? Nope. Please keep this gem as it is. An airport.

I have vivid memories of my parents driving our family to Stovepipe Wells from our home in South LA. Almost every trip ended well after dark as they took turns driving after a full day of work. Years later, after I learned to fly and got my ratings with the GI Bill I learned about the Stovepipe Wells airstrip. What better gift can I offer my grandchildren than to show them the stark beauty of Stovepipe Wells, and perhaps even fly them to that beautiful airstrip I've dreamed about visiting.

Comments: It is disappointing to me that outreach about plans to destroy a working airport were not shared widely with media that serves personal aviation. Flying Magazine and the General Aviation News are just two publications that speak to a national group of stakeholders. Additionally, the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (http://www.AOPA.org) and Experimental Aircraft Association (http://www.EAA.ORG) have hundreds of thousands of members, many of whom would be keenly interested in NPS plans to destroy an airport that sees substantial numbers of transient aircraft. I hope you will reach out to these media and organizations to assure that the views of all stakeholders are made known!

I'll submit comments and I'll volunteer to RAF. I use this airport every year, usually spring and fall, as a base to visit Death Valley NP. It was in good shape last spring. Walking distance to RV park, store, motel, restaurant, bar.

Pierre

Here is my submitted comment to question two:

You've got to be kidding! The whole area is a great night sky viewing area. The little bit of black asphalt with no lights that is the airstrip does not detract from night sky viewing.

Twice while flying a small plane between the Las Vegas and Tahoe areas, I diverted to, and landed at Stovepipe Wells to wait out a dangerous line of thunderstorms. It was reassuring to know that I could walk to a motel and restaurant.

I also use the airport as a base to tour Death Valley NP every year, generally in spring and fall.

Please do not eliminate this vital airstrip!

We've used Stovepipe for 20+ years to access the canyons and dunes. It's fantastic country. It' s long hike or bike to the canyons, but well worth it. Stovepipe Wells lodge is also nice--basic and unpretentious. I recall talk of the NPS grinding the asphalt into gravel rather than paying to repave it. I suspect that expense is the issue.

The "night sky" proposal is absurd. The NPS removed the beacon and lights from Furnace Creek, but there have never been lights at the Stovepipe strip. In fact, you can see the lights from the Stovepipe motel from the strip at night. There's an enormous desert all around that anyone sober and motivated enough can take advantage of to look at the night sky. Duh. Who comes up with this stuff?

Wouldn't it be nice if the NPS would consider ways to enhance the benefits of having the strip? A trailhead shuttle at both Stovepipe and Furnace Creek would make it easier for visitors to get out if their cars and see the park, and would be a huge boon for pilots. Adding pilot camping to Stovepipe would be great. The regular campground at Stovepipe is just an RV parking lot with tent camping in the sand off the edge. It's pretty scabby. A shelter, table and fire pit at the strip would be great.

CAVU

I commented but only on question #2 re the airstrip.
The NPS site makes it easy to do this, took me less than 5 minutes.
As said by others, don't just depend on RAF to do the heavy lifting--
everyone should comment, maybe together we can keep that airstrip open.

I commented, and will be there in a couple days and could give a condition report

Here was my response.
Topic Question 1: Please install airplane camping sites. Shade shelter, picnic table, firepit, water, bathroom.
Topic Question 2: We think that's absurd! The very thought of that is unthinkable. An absolute waste of money and recourses. That airstrip needs to remain an airstrip! There is so many places around there that offer a great view of the night sky but only one place to land a plane.
Topic Question 4: Please make improvements to the airstrip for camping!
Comments: Our family loves flying and airplane camping. It is such a family treat to go to places like Stovepipe Wells and enjoy the park. Especially Mosaic Canyon. It is also comforting to know its a safe place to land in the event of nasty weather.

I posted my comment as well... but I'm afraid it won't do much. Once officials get the idea of closing down an airstrip that only a small part of the population is using it I rarely see that get reversed - but maybe I'm jaded over what is going on with KRHV. Hope we can make a difference.

Comments do make a difference. Comments need to address the core values of the park in a meaningful way. Access to parks for the public is a core issue worth protecting and it is one the NPS takes seriously.