2/19/2013

Due to weather in the area we are cancelling this weekends work party/fly in for Chicken Strip airstrip in the Saline Valley California.  It is rescheduled for next weekend, March 2nd and 3rd.  The details are below.

This is a fly-in work party for normal maintenance of the Chicken Strip airstrip in the Saline Valley California. The current condition of the airstrip is good, assuming no wash-outs .  The strip has some Whoop-Tee-Doos from previous rains. A Whoop-Tee-Doo is the result of rain washing across the runway taking a small bit of dirt with it. Then, when you smooth out the strip you have a wide low spot as compared to the high spots that lost no dirt from the rain. What we need to do is scrape off the high spots into the low spots and level out the strip, so bring your Rakes and Shovels. The Park service will have a Ranger in attendance and has volunteered the Ranger to pull the drag with their vehicle. So all we need to do is loosen up the high spots with rakes and shovels so the drag can smooth it out. In addition I have acquired a wind sock to replace the old one, hope it is the right size. Also if anyone has some old WHITE paint to paint the rocks lining the strip, that would be a needed effort also.

The weather at that time of year is usually very nice with temps in the high 60s. Nights will be desert cold in the 30 so if you decide to spend the night bring a good sleeping bag. Rain and high winds are always possible at that time of year.

If you plan on staying the night please bring something to tie down your airplane as there are only two tie-down available. So if you’re the third plane in, or later, you will need your own tie-downs. Camping is allowed at the strip BUT there are NO Toilet Facilities or Trash Cans, there are NO camping improvements either. The toilets are over at the hot springs area about a half mile away. If you want a camp fire bring your own wood. This is a desert so no fire wood. Remember we will be a group and we need to show the established hot springs community and the Park Service that we are a responsible group. So please help to keep our area clean.

Should you have any questions feel free to e-mail me or call at any time. This should be a fun day of work and great evening.  Because the Park Service would like a head count please RSVP to me and let me know that you will be joining us.

Chicken Strip Info

Location:               Saline Valley, Lat: 36°48'26.06"N, Long: 117°46'54.69"W

Length:                  1350ft

Altitude:                 1360ft

Surface:                 Dirt and Gravel

CTAF:                      122.8

Notes:  One way in and one way out, land to the North. There is an uphill grade when landing so you slow down quickly and a down hill grade when taking off so you gain airspeed quickly on take off.

Rick Lach

California State Liaison

Cell:        661-345-7755

Shop:     760-378-3870

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This is a fly-in work party for normal maintenance of the Chicken Strip airstrip (RAF or Shortfield) in the Saline Valley California. The current condition of the airstrip is good, assuming no wash-outs between now and Feb 23-24. The strip has some Whoop-Tee-Doos from previous rains. A Whoop-Tee-Doo is the result of rain washing across the runway taking a small bit of dirt with it. Then, when you smooth out the strip you have a wide low spot as compared to the high spots that lost no dirt from the rain. What we need to do is scrape off the high spots into the low spots and level out the strip, so bring your Rakes and Shovels. The Park service will have a Ranger in attendance and has volunteered the Ranger to pull the drag with their vehicle. So all we need to do is loosen up the high spots with rakes and shovels so the drag can smooth it out. In addition I have acquired a wind sock to replace the old one, hope it is the right size. Also if anyone has some old WHITE paint to paint the rocks lining the strip, that would be a needed effort also.

The weather at that time of year is usually very nice with temps in the high 60s. Nights will be desert cold in the 30 so if you decide to spend the night bring a good sleeping bag. Rain and high winds are always possible at that time of year so March 2-3, 2013, will be the alternate if things go bad on Feb 23-24.

If you plan on staying the night please bring something to tie down your airplane as there are only two tie-down available. So if you’re the third plane in, or later, you will need your own tie-downs. Camping is allowed at the strip BUT there are NO Toilet Facilities or Trash Cans, there are NO camping improvements either. The toilets are over at the hot springs area about a half mile away. If you want a camp fire bring your own wood. This is a desert so no fire wood. Remember we will be a group and we need to show the established hot springs community and the Park Service that we are a responsible group. So please help to keep our area clean.

Should you have any questions feel free to e-mail me or call at any time. This should be a fun day of work and great evening.

Rick Lach

California State Liaison

Cell:        661-345-7755

 Shop:     760-378-3870

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Chicken Strip Info

Location:               Saline Valley, Lat: 36°48'26.06"N, Long: 117°46'54.69"W

Length:                  1350ft

Altitude:                 1360ft

Surface:                 Dirt and Gravel

CTAF:                      122.8

Notes:  One way in and one way out, land to the North. There is an uphill grade when landing so you slow down quickly and a down hill grade when taking off so you gain airspeed quickly on take off.