[BR-Crater] Crater Assault 2 (was: Black Rock this weekend?)

[Heather Stern]

On Thu, May 31, 2007 at 01:52:12AM -0700, Ian Kluft wrote:
> On Wed, May 30, 2007 at 09:27:09PM -0700, Brad Douglas wrote:
> > I'm in, but can't leave until about 8PM on Friday.

Me too.  I have a regular workday, and I promised to meet someone for coffee
about 6:30/7ish for a brief chat.  

> OK.  So far it sounds like we could leave early on Saturday to arrive at
> Black Rock around lunchtime.  That's still doing better than in January
> where I couldn't get away until after noon Saturday because I had an
> emergency services class all morning.  We'd return Sunday afternoon if
> anyone comes along who needs to be back to work on Monday.

Yeah, I would need that.  I was a serious wipeout case after the last trip. 

> Two things I'd like to look at...
> * Go up Hwy 34 beyond 12-mile entrance and past the area where we did
>   the CSXT avionics recovery in 2004 to check out a "donut-shaped" basin
>   at 41.164069 N 119.568155 W (WGS84).  This got our attention early as
>   an item for the "to do" list.  It's just north of the K7UI Ham Radio
>   repeater at Fox Mountain.  There's also a petrified forest on the way.
> * Camp at Upper High Dry lakebed if we can get there this early in the
>   season.  It was a dry Winter so I think we should be able to.  I'd like
>   to hike in the mountains east of the lakebed since that's the theorized
>   inner uplift ring of the crater, and where to look for better samples of
>   shatter cones.  Of course, Upper High Dry is a just plain magical spot
>   to camp, for those who aren't interested in looking for evidence for
>   the impact crater theory.
 
According to the moon/sun data cgi I have a link for (pointed at Sparks
because at least that's a city they have in their database) there will be
about 1-1.5h true darkness between the end of civil twilight and moon,
both for morning and night on the 2nd.  With any luck it's early enough
in the season we won't have neighbors this time?  I'd love to see true
night.

The moon is nearly full, so once it rises, visibility of land features at 
night will be awesome. 

> Brad will come along in my vehicle again.  I'd like at least a second
> vehicle with us as usual for self-rescue capability.  If we don't have
> a second vehicle, I'm thinking of using Jay's trick - rent a satphone.

I could bring a second vehicle, but can't drive stick, so it wouldn't
be an easy case getting up to Upper High Dry.  I'd be much more up for
splitting the gas and driving with someone and leaving my hubby the van,
unless he's inclined to join.

  . | .    Heather Stern / Stratofox           |     (408) 761-4912 cell
--->*<---  Aerospace tracking and Recovery   - * -   (408) 625.3525 wk
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