Has anyone been into chicken strip in the last 10 days? I was thinking about heading that way this weekend and I was wondering what the runway conditions are like. Any info would be appreciated.

PM OregonMaule, or look at his destination thread. He was just there before HSF.

Will do. Thanks!

I was there a couple weeks ago and it's in fine shape, though soft.

The chicken strip washed out several times this year and would be completely unusable by any aircraft if not for the efforts of Lizard Lee, the volunteer caretaker at the springs. He made a crude but effective device for dragging the strip and keeping it open, but it does leave the surface very soft.

One horses-ass thought the strip was being over-maintained so he buried the drag in rocks. I apologized to Lee on behalf of all aviators and he just shrugged, said it'd take him a couple hours to unbury it, and then he'd drag the strip again for good measure. Lee's a pretty funny guy.

Someone else pulled out all the tie down anchors a couple years ago. (Lee says it wasn't the Park.) In any event he went over and put in new tie down anchors. They're bombproof, though the tail anchor is a bit far back...perfect if you fly a Twin Otter.

Ten hour after this:




Comes this:


Lee really bends over backwards to keep the strip usable and safe, and he doesn't get paid a dime for it. If you use the strip and appreciate it being there, give Lee some cash for his efforts. He deserves it, and as pilots we all benefit from folks showing their appreciation, especially in light of some of the knuckleheads who also use the strip.

I was there on the 16th. It was perfect for 29s. After I left they had some very heavy rain at Furnace creek and Scotty's Castle so I am no help.

Cheers...Rob

Thanks for the info, I may just plan on flying into stovepipe for the day. I'll see what chicken strip looks like from the air. I'm on little tires and I don't want to have any issues. They may be getting some rain right now, so I imagine it will be soft there. I was just free this weekend and I wanted to go somewhere lol.

Ben

Small tires and good technique will work fine if you're tempted.

Hammer wrote:Small tires and good technique will work fine if you're tempted.

If it looks dry I may decide to land. I'll be light on gear and fuel, I just don't want to deal with mud lol.

.

glacier wrote:keep in mind it is one way, no reasonable go around, so you are committed once you commit.

Im thinking its going to be wet out there, im going to save it for another day.

I came up HWY-14 today from Mojave and got dumped on by rain. I turned off at HWY 178 so I never got any farther north than the Ridgecrest area. BUT, it was VERY dark and rainy over the Owens valley and the Saline valley where the Chicken strip is. So if you go in be CAREFUL. I will give the park ranger a call tomorrow and see if they have an update on conditions at the strip.

Rick Lach

pacerpilot wrote:I came up HWY-14 today from Mojave and got dumped on by rain. I turned off at HWY 178 so I never got any farther north than the Ridgecrest area. BUT, it was VERY dark and rainy over the Owens valley and the Saline valley where the Chicken strip is. So if you go in be CAREFUL. I will give the park ranger a call tomorrow and see if they have an update on conditions at the strip.

Rick Lach

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Thanks Rick, I decided to scrub the trip that way until I'm certain it's ok to land there. Btw, I'm actually based not too far from kernville, I go in there time to time. I'm out of DLO.

Ben

Just got back from bacon strip ranch, went there yesterday and stayed the night. The airstrip was solid, no mud. Whatever moisture they must have gotten when the last system went through must have been just enough to keep the dust down. Winds were calm and temps weren't bad at all. I'll definitely be back.

Ben

Flew to furnace creek yesterday, the weather was perfect. On the way over I went by monache meadows, the snow that was there covering the area had melted since last monday. I could see the X on the south end. I wanted to go by chicken strip but I knew I would run out of daylight. Depending on my work schedule I may heat to chicken strip this weekend and stay overnight.

Bdiazair wrote:Flew to furnace creek yesterday, the weather was perfect. On the way over I went by monache meadows, the snow that was there covering the area had melted since last monday. I could see the X on the south end. I wanted to go by chicken strip but I knew I would run out of daylight. Depending on my work schedule I may heat to chicken strip this weekend and stay overnight.

Just a heads up, thanksgiving at the springs is an absolute zoo. There are several times a year when people descend on the springs with a pack mentality akin to burning man, and thanksgiving is one of them. If that's your thing fine, but if you're looking for quiet and solitude good luck. I was 47 before I figured out that some people actually like crowds...it was a real revelation to me...something I'd never even considered before.

Just a heads up, thanksgiving at the springs is an absolute zoo. There are several times a year when people descend on the springs with a pack mentality akin to burning man, and thanksgiving is one of them. If that's your thing fine, but if you're looking for quiet and solitude good luck. I was 47 before I figured out that some people actually like crowds...it was a real revelation to me...something I'd never even considered before.[/quote]

Thanks for the heads up, I figured I would just camp under the wing of my plane. Not really interested in being around the naked hippies at the springs lol. I just want to get out of town and fly somewhere.

wanted to confirm the ctaf for chicken strip is 122.9?

Bdiazair wrote:wanted to confirm the ctaf for chicken strip is 122.9?

Yup, that's it. But the traffic you want to avoid is the F-18's. Look at the chart and you'll see their route...it goes right over the springs. Turn on all your lights, stay close to the black mountain west of the strip, and hope for the best.

finally flew into chicken strip today. Weather was perfect, wind sock looked great and the strip was in great shape and not as rough as I thought it would be. I walked around the hot springs and saw things that I will never be able to unsee ha ha.. so I got the heck out of there. Some people should keep their clothes on lol.

landing and taking off from chicken this last sunday. The beginning is a little long.. sorry. its my first video edit.