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03-10-2017, 03:31 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
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Sweetwater
I think the Sweetwater strip is technically in Nevada, but it is pretty close to the border. South of Wellington in the Smith Valley, on the way to the hwy that runs east from Bridgeport lake. Its at 6800 ft. Its gravelly dirt. Nothing there. Would be a good place to start a hiking trip up Sweetwater Canyon onto the east side of Mt Patterson.
__________________
Steve Smith
Aeronautical Engineer
RV-8 N825RV
IO-360 A1A
WW 200RV
"The Magic Carpet"
Hobbs 625
LS6-15/18W sailplane SOLD
bought my old LS6-A back!! 
VAF donation Jan 2020
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03-10-2017, 03:39 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
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Mercy Hot Springs
I'm pretty sure Mercy Hot Springs encourages fly-ins. Call for runway conditions unless you can find an update on a forum. They are open for a soak in the hot springs. Bring your own food. I think when I last checked you also had to bring your own water (to drink -- the hot springs water is fine for soaking in but not drinking). I think you can even stay the night.
__________________
Steve Smith
Aeronautical Engineer
RV-8 N825RV
IO-360 A1A
WW 200RV
"The Magic Carpet"
Hobbs 625
LS6-15/18W sailplane SOLD
bought my old LS6-A back!! 
VAF donation Jan 2020
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03-10-2017, 03:41 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
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Avenal Gliderport
A nice long well-groomed dirt strip, (unless you find a squirel hole) within easy walk of town to get a sandwich or burrito. Check the website at soaravenal.com to see about radio frequency, I think they use 123.3 in the pattern now, but it might be multicom 122.95
I used to land there regularly with my wheel pants on.
__________________
Steve Smith
Aeronautical Engineer
RV-8 N825RV
IO-360 A1A
WW 200RV
"The Magic Carpet"
Hobbs 625
LS6-15/18W sailplane SOLD
bought my old LS6-A back!! 
VAF donation Jan 2020
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03-10-2017, 04:10 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Davis, CA, USA
Posts: 540
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lars
I'm down for Gravelly Valley! Let's go camping.
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Yes!
Quote:
Originally Posted by scsmith
I think the Sweetwater strip is technically in Nevada, but it is pretty close to the border. South of Wellington in the Smith Valley, on the way to the hwy that runs east from Bridgeport lake. Its at 6800 ft. Its gravelly dirt. Nothing there. Would be a good place to start a hiking trip up Sweetwater Canyon onto the east side of Mt Patterson.
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That's charted as a military airport (USMC). Although, I'm not sure if anyone would ever know if you used it.
__________________
Jeff Caplins
California
RV7 N76CX
(started: Feb 2002 --> Completed: May 2016)
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03-10-2017, 04:38 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scsmith
I think the Sweetwater strip is technically in Nevada, but it is pretty close to the border. South of Wellington in the Smith Valley, on the way to the hwy that runs east from Bridgeport lake. Its at 6800 ft. Its gravelly dirt. Nothing there. Would be a good place to start a hiking trip up Sweetwater Canyon onto the east side of Mt Patterson.
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There is a phone number for Capt. Geisler here if you want to be legal.
It is marked as Private -
http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport....72&AptSecNum=0
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
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03-10-2017, 07:25 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ashland, OR
Posts: 2,573
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Sweetwater
Yes it was originally built as a marine training strip. There was rumor at one time that it was built for training in preparation for the (foiled) rescue attempt in 1979-ish in Iran. I don't know that that is true, I'm just perpetuating the legend.
In any case, we use it routinely for gliders, including towing gliders out with towplanes. And, I know a number of people that have visited there in their Skywagons and cubs. I doubt very much that anyone in the military would ever know, let alone care.
__________________
Steve Smith
Aeronautical Engineer
RV-8 N825RV
IO-360 A1A
WW 200RV
"The Magic Carpet"
Hobbs 625
LS6-15/18W sailplane SOLD
bought my old LS6-A back!! 
VAF donation Jan 2020
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03-10-2017, 09:14 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Battle Ground
Posts: 480
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If my previous job we used it to practice dust landings. I believe it is closed from April to August due to a specific migratory bird that nests in the area. At least we couldn't use it. The folks at the Marine Corp Mountain Warfare Center can tell you for sure.
The last time I landed there someone had driven a vehicle through it and left some pretty deep ruts. I believe the helio folks at Fallon have used it as well.
__________________
Scott
RV-7 N818BG (flying)
Bearhawk Patrol (building)
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03-10-2017, 10:42 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: San Rafael, CA
Posts: 101
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Well if you, or any pilot, have not been to Columbia (O22) go there anyway. The paved RW is fine, grass is great if open. Air tankers operate in fire season, be careful. The reason you want to go is that it is a short walk into "town", an "Old West" town. Now a state park. See link
http://www.visitcolumbiacalifornia.com/. Bring the kids, have a sarsasparilla. Good fun.
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03-11-2017, 10:27 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Davis, CA
Posts: 1,156
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Albery
Those wheel pants needed some repair after that trip!
That was several years and a couple of RVs ago. Last I heard the Chicken Strip was still closed pending repairs following the rains. Check with the Death Valley park service.
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The Chicken Strip got a bunch of work last September or so. Unless winter conditions closed it again it should be open.
Last I heard, Mercy is good too, though call to confirm.
Jeff if you want let's do a wheelpant removal session and go fly. I know of a couple strips to the west of us too, there is video on YouTube of a Mooney using one of them(!)
__________________
Lars Pedersen
Davis, CA
RV-7 Flying as of June 24, 2012
960+ hours as of June 30, 2020. Where did the time go?
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03-11-2017, 10:41 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Livermore, California
Posts: 146
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Crash at Mercey two week ago
Quote:
Originally Posted by scsmith
I'm pretty sure Mercy Hot Springs encourages fly-ins. Call for runway conditions unless you can find an update on a forum. They are open for a soak in the hot springs. Bring your own food. I think when I last checked you also had to bring your own water (to drink -- the hot springs water is fine for soaking in but not drinking). I think you can even stay the night.
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A Sonex landed short at Mercey two weeks ago. The pilot said ?It?s just a dirt strip, it?s not an airport, there?s no windsock. When I was coming in I could feel quite a bit of tail wind and some gusts. It was a strange strip and narrow and dirt, I got too slow. And there was a gust, and I lost altitude.? He came down just a few feet short of the runway and the nose wheel dug in. He is OK but the plane is probably totaled.
http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/0...-march-01.html
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