I went up to Gravelly Valley yesterday. As I mentioned in a previous post, the best time to go to Gravelly is after Labor Day and before Memorial Day. (The campgrounds are closed and no one is around so you can do what you want.)

We were setting up camp at the south end of the runway, and got a visit by the 'Regional Campground Manager'. He was a friendly fellow, but made it very clear that we had to obey the No Camping signs. He even intimidated us with the 'law enforcement may come by' threat. He also offered up a spot in the campground that had one spot occupied. You guessed it, he was the sole occupant of the camground and maybe he wanted company. Not really, he seemed to enjoy his position of telling us we needed to leave.

The no camping signs are new and prominent. They also have several pages of regulations posted at the intersection of the road and rwy. I guess they are going to start enforcing the regulations which include - No Camping except in permitted campground. No Shooting. GD tree huggers!

We hung around for a few hours watching the Campground manager stress about it, and then deprated and spent the night in Columbia (where we were welcome).

That's too bad. Joey and Emmet had a real nice stay up there.

Another good place to camp is Georgetown (E36 )[url]http://www.airnav.com/airport/E36

Steve: Thanks for the reply.

We were up at Georgetown a couple of weeks ago. The campground is nice, but they have filled the pond and make you carry your gear across the runway. It looked like they are still under construction and maybe they have plans to let planes get on the campground side of the airport.

We couldn't find anyone to ask, so I guess we will just have to go by again to check it out.

Rich

I looked up Gravelly Valley and they made no mention of no camping -seems to be public airport ---
I think that's where they are looking for "Big Foot" maybe you met him or his lover and he didn't want share ##### .

Gravelly is a pretty place this time of year. We camped all the way at the lake end of they runway. I think we were there later in May though.

Rfinkle:

Sorry for the thread creep, was that you leaving out of Columbia this am around 9 or so? Saw a 205/206 type bird leaving out on the grass runway. Looked like it was loaded with camping gear. I was there in the blue/white 180. We just had a quick pit stop in the middle of some pattern circuits. Good to see other BCPer's out and about!

Flynengr

flynengr wrote:Rfinkle:

Sorry for the thread creep, was that you leaving out of Columbia this am around 9 or so? Saw a 205/206 type bird leaving out on the grass runway. Looked like it was loaded with camping gear. I was there in the blue/white 180. We just had a quick pit stop in the middle of some pattern circuits. Good to see other BCPer's out and about!

Flynengr

Yep, that was me. I saw you in the pattern too and commented on your plane. It looked great and you seem to handle it quite well. I'm N8427Z and hope we cross paths and can share some stories.

Rich

emflys wrote:Gravelly is a pretty place this time of year. We camped all the way at the lake end of they runway. I think we were there later in May though.

Hey Emmet:

Hows things. That is the best campsite up there and I just love it. It is now posted that we can't camp there anymore. Just watch me after Labor Day. We will be back there after all the yahoos and 'camp mgrs' are gone.

Rich

I'm N8427Z and hope we cross paths and can share some stories.

Hey Rich -

That'd be great. Sorry we missed the opportunity to meet there at Columbia! Sure was nice watching your pretty bird climb out on such a beautiful day - Wish I had my camera out. Sorry your trip to Gravelly Valley didn't work out as planned, I was hoping to make a trip up there in the near future!

Take care,
Scott

Scott,

Are you saying you want some more dirt practice and we need to fly up to Gravelly Valley??? Well,.... ok then, after you nail your spot landings!!! I throw you a couple fun dirt landings,... whats next? hahahhaha

Rich S

Take m to the Island!

I am confused as to the camping issue.

I flew in 2 years ago and there is a huge camping area to the northeast. Is the issue that somebody wants you to use those facilities rather than next to your plane? (I'm a Calfornia chardonnay guy that thinks roughing it is the Hilton rather than the 4 Seasons so camping in a sleeping bag next to my plane is not up there on my desires.)

I was disenchanted by the grass that was growing there. If I brought my dog in and she didn't snort a foxtail, I would at least be spending several hours getting the burrs out of her.

At the northwest end of the runway, there were lots of evidence of recent firearms use when I went there. I think it would take a man with not much sense to go there and tell the people to shut it down.

-Dick

Scott,

Are you saying you want some more dirt practice and we need to fly up to Gravelly Valley??? Well,.... ok then, after you nail your spot landings!!! I throw you a couple fun dirt landings,... whats next? hahahhaha

Rich S

Hey Rich:

Absolutely!!!!!!....Been daydreaming about wheel landings in the dirt at Copperopolis Int'l since Wednesday.....I'm ready to disavow pavement.

I will be good boy and do my 3 points at KCPU if the wind cooperates, however.

Gravelly Valley is loooooong! Even my inability to hit a spot wouldn't be much of an issue there. I overflew it in the 172 a couple years ago coming back from Shelter Cove but it looked a little rough for the sissy wheel pants, and I didn't want to buy my partners replacements. Didn't USFS used to fly tankers out of there? Seem to remember my dad going over on a fire contract there one time when I was a kid.

Take m to the Island!

Hey Mike:

Ya, I heard about the island.......Think I'm gonna have to leave that strip to you guys for a while until I can hang........I gotta focus on just keeping it between the runway lights at this point, on all 3 wheels and off the wingtips.

Great meetin ya!

Take care,
Scott

Im not sure I would call it an actual strip.All I've to say is thank god most of it will be underwater so there is no temptation to do it again yea good to meet you and we will have to go for a shred soon......

Like the new Avatar, Scott!

Thanks Matt! I have had a s&#t eating grin on my face this past month, and no one can figure out why. It's kicked my rear end and humbled me considerably, but it's been a fun experience so far. Thanks to Rich (Splashpilot) I might actually be able to fly it worth a darn one of these days! If he can teach me to fly a 180, he can teach anyone!

Scott

Everyone is welcome at Kernvalley "L05" 365-days a year . It's not real back country flying but it's darn close. Because I'm the guy that run's things, no body that fly's in gets run off from the camping area .

If you stop by ask for Rick.

Looks like a spot worth visiting!




Google Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 3&t=h&z=12

I'm camping at the Lake Isabella KOA next week. I'll have to check out the airport while I'm there. Why don't I fly there? Because the wife, the kids, the bikes, the pop-up tent trailer, the food, the luggage, the useless crap we drag along won't fit in my Coyote. And I don't want her to wreck my tent trailer if she drives down by herself.

I've flown and camped at Gravelly Valley several times, but never under the wing there. I usually tie down near the road so any nefarious characters could be seen if they mess with the plane, and camp at the campgrounds nearby. As far as I know shooting at the end of the strip against the hillside is legal and I've done that many times. We use it as a fly in shooting range and so far all the other shooters I've met there have been nice folks and careful with there weapons.