LOG SW USA Trip - Intermezzo: low flying area

[patrick dirksen]

Hi all,

Today a quick intermezzo, while I am working on next day’s log.
I am amazed how many people contacted me regarding our low flying adventure. The message is always more or less the same: people are looking for good spots, but those who share spectacular photos are not willing to share the locations these were taken.

As you probably know, I personally try to share as much information as possible, to enable others to benefit from it. And hopefully others do the same, which might be good for me as well again. And here I will do the same!

As mentioned in my log we went to the Kern River low flying route, and more specific a spot along the Packsaddle Trail. The trail starts here (very conveniently right next to a parking lot): 35 55 45 N, 118 29 23.5 W
We then followed the trail up to roughly here if I'm right: 35 56 06 N, 118 28 30 W
And there we left the trail walking towards this point: 35 56 15 N, 118 28 50 W
I think it took us about an hour and a half to get here, but you do need to be at least a little bit in shape.

Obviously you can also go up higher, by following the path a bit further and then head towards the next peak. As you are higher up, your background will even be better obviously. This takes an even longer hike (and climb) of course. However it might be worth it, our first AV-8s were rather high, and we only got blue sky in the background of those. The next Hornet was lower though and could be photographed with a great mountain background. The last Hornet finally took a different route and came through the valley behind us, most of us were just in time to graph it before it disappeared behind the next ridge, very spectacular.

OK, hopefully this triggers people to share more information, both on locations and other info (logs, post some logs people!). And for those who will be going to the trail: happy hunting! And please keep the location and trail tidy, don’t spoil it for others (we took some 20 cigarette butts with us that others had left behind on the ridge).

(I try to post the next log of our trip tomorrow, please bear with me…)

Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation