The RAF is sponsoring a Work Party at the Chicken Strip Feb 23/24 2013. We need to lower the high spots and take out the Whoop-Dee Doos. So If you’re looking for something to do on that weekend load up your Rakes and Shovels with your camping gear and come on out. The Park Service will be there and has volunteered to tow the drag with there truck. Please remember the Saline Valley and especially the Chicken Strip are under review by the Park Service so we need to show them our best and why the Chicken Strip is a vital part of our Backcountry flying here in the Southwest. If you plan on coming out please e-mail me as I need to prepare a list of workers for the Park Service.

Rick Lach
California Liaison
The Recreational Aviation Foundation
[email protected]
Cell: 661-345-7755
Home: 760-378-3870
Airport: 760-376-2852


With a forecast of rain in the desert and the Chicken Strip area the work party set for Feb 23/24 has been rescheduled for the following weekend of March 2/3. The following weekend looks like much better weather of mid 70 in the day and 40 at night. If you can reschedule please do. It should be a good time for all. The Park Service has asked for a list of volunteers so if you can make it please e-mail me or call.

Thanks for your help.

Rick

Rick moving the high spots to the low spots will be quite a challenge any suggestions? I most likely will be able to attend.

I was there at the new strip in late Nov. in my car, strip was excellent, brought a bunch of firewood, must have had some rain since then. Won't make it this month.

Can we fly in?

Yes this is a fly-in event. At this time there are no major issues with the Chicken Strip. This is just a maintenance weekend. In addition to the Whoop-tee-doos I have a new wind sock to put up and some paint for the rocks lining the runway. IF anything else is needed now is the time to speak up so I can try to make arrangement to get it done.


Rick

I was there last weekend and aside from the whoop-dee-do's, it is in good shape. It's time for the annual condition inspection on the plane so I'm not sure if I'll make it.

On the way out, we bought fuel and had a fantastic breakfast in Lone Pine; we used the taildragger strip right next to the gas pump to cut down on the taxi distance. A month or so ago we stopped there for breakfast and toured the Film Museum. It is well worth the $5 price of admission.

A lot of old westerns were made in the Alabama Hills right behind town as well as other movies. Lone Pine is definitely worth the stop when you're in the area. Del, the airport manager can give you a lift into town which is only about a mile walk anyway. He has a couple of bikes, too, I think.

There were 3 tie-downs there when I was there, perhaps it would be productive to enlighten us as to the best specs. for future tie-downs, so we could bring a few more whenever we happened by. Pretty easy to make at home and bring a sledge with us next time. Awkward if they are all occupied in case the wind ever came up.

macktruckfarm wrote:There were 3 tie-downs there when I was there, perhaps it would be productive to enlighten us as to the best specs. for future tie-downs, so we could bring a few more whenever we happened by. Pretty easy to make at home and bring a sledge with us next time. Awkward if they are all occupied in case the wind ever came up.

Bring your personal set up. I recommend Abe's Tie Down Systems.
http://www.abesaviation.com/

If the wx is good I'll try to make it.

G'Day

I watched the video, good info, I carry my own adequite tie downs with me, I was thinking of 3 es. .75" re bar to be permanently driven in for everyone to use.

With a forecast of rain in the desert and the Chicken Strip area the work party set for Feb 23/24 has been rescheduled for the following weekend of March 2/3. The following weekend looks like much better weather of mid 70 in the day and 40 at night. If you can reschedule please do. It should be a good time for all. The Park Service has asked for a list of volunteers so if you can make it please e-mail me or call.

Thanks for your help.

Rick

[email protected]
760-378-3870
661-345-7755

If Weather is good and all goes well will see you on the 2nd.

Wondering if anyone has experience bringing a nose dragger rv (rv9a) into the chicken strip? I've been there once in a 182.

Thanks,

Ryan

fuddmonkey wrote:Wondering if anyone has experience bringing a nose dragger rv (rv9a) into the chicken strip? I've been there once in a 182.

Thanks,

Ryan

Ryan,
Three of us (one Zenith 750 wi big tires and two Zodiac 601XL-Bs) stopped in for a visit on our way back from Copperstate last Oct. Obviously no problem for Doug in the 750 (heck, he doesn't need a strip) but no prob for the 601s either. We send Doug in first on these missions as he's also a 601 owner, and can give us a pretty sit rep. Our nose wheels are the same size as our (and your) mains, and I think our nose gear may be a bit more robust, but you should be OK if you're good at landing slow and keeping the nose wheel off until you're really slow. There's a pretty good whoop-de-do if you land "at the numbers," so, as third man in, I took the other's advice and landed a bit long (opposite the wind sock). Fairly soft uphill run-out made slowing no issue. I touched down at about 40KIAS YMMV as they say.

I agree with Blackrock that Lone Pine is worth a visit. If you can manage an overnight in Lone Pine, the sunrise is spectacular as it lights the east face of the Sierra.

Cheers,
Woody

Woody,

Thanks for the info. We are planning to land in Bishop and take a Jeep in. Hope we can make it work. Would love to help out in preserving such a unique place.

Ryan

fuddmonkey wrote:Woody,

Thanks for the info. We are planning to land in Bishop and take a Jeep in. Hope we can make it work. Would love to help out in preserving such a unique place.

Ryan

just curious. Have you made that drive down that dirt road before?

I have not driven from Bishop to Chicken Strip. Last time I was there we talked to some ladies that came in from the north. If I remember correctly they were in a Chev Trailblazer. My understanding is that this is a shorter route than coming in from Furnace Creek. Last time I was at the strip we flew up to Bishop. The road looked good from my point of view. If anyone has experience with this route please let me know.

Thanks

Ryan

fuddmonkey wrote:Woody,

Thanks for the info. We are planning to land in Bishop and take a Jeep in. Hope we can make it work. Would love to help out in preserving such a unique place.

Ryan

Why would you drive when you could fly? It's minutes by air hours by car.

Well, my rv9a is not exactly a bullett proof backcountry plane, I have received no reports of other vans nosewheel models coming into the strip. Because the strip is going to be worked on this weekend, I am assuming that it needs to be worked on. I might drop in after the maintenance is done.

Thanks,

Ryan

Ryan,
Driving in via the North Pass can be hit or miss this time of the year depending on how much it's snowed. North Pass has shaded areas where the snow collects.

Two places you can check for SV / DVNP road conditions are:
Morning Report (halfway down page) http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
Death Valley Talk: (Lot's of Pass info updates) http://www.deathvalley.com/dvtalk/dvtalk.shtml

I'm sure others in the area can add more relevant info...

Alec

From a recent March trip - South Pass Road condition Pics:

That would make things interesting. Thanks for the additional information

Ryan