Pictures from "StratoFox 2" trip to Black Rock

Stratofox 2 Attendees (alphabetical order by last name) Bryan Klofas KF6ZEO Ian Kluft KO6YQ Sean Lynch KG6CVV Dave Masten KG6FNL Justin Rocha KG6SGU Rafael Skodlar KC6LBJ

Last year, the StratoFox 1 trip was a hastily-created event in the wake of the cancellation of a JP Aerospace balloon flight. We all had arranged our vacation time anyway so most of us from the Bay Area had decided to go anyway and just look around at Black Rock. The name StratoFox was coined for the name of the trip. The name later stuck as the new name for our group.

This year, StratoFox 2 was a planned continuation of the tradition started last year. We had some exploration we needed to do in the Black Rock Range in preparation for possible rocket recovery there. It was also just a chance to look around and see parts of the Black Rock area we had never been to. But the overriding priority remained that it was a fun camping trip. Responses from everyone indicates it was a success by all those criteria.

Since all the other weekends were taken, we had unfortunately been forced to hold it the weekend before the Monday when Burning Man starts. Since Burning Man has had a history of people driving off at night and running over a campsite on the lakebed (and killing the campers), we decided to put our campsite in the Black Rock Range mountains where they wouldn't find us.

We're not going to say exactly where the location we camped was. That's for safety reasons, in order not to encourage unprepared wanderers to go to places where nobody will find them if they get stuck. Though it's possible to figure out the location from the photos if you know the area. Bear in mind this place is difficult to reach and requires 4WD vehicles. There are lots of ruts to get stuck in, and even one place along the path with ravines on both sides of the trail, waiting to swallow your vehicle if you aren't paying attention. You should have more than one vehicle in any group out here so that you have capability to go for help if you need to. This area is remote and infrequently travelled even by Black Rock standards, and 20+ miles from the nearest paved road.

Friday, August 22	Traveling to Black Rock	11 pictures
	Detour on the Old Lassen-Applegate Trail	17 pictures
	Friday Evening at Camp	13 pictures
Saturday, August 23	Saturday Morning at Camp	10 pictures
	Exploring the Black Rock Range	8 pictures
	Lunch at Black Rock Hot Springs	9 pictures
	East Arm of the Black Rock Desert	15 pictures
	Saturday Evening at Camp	9 pictures
Sunday, August 24	Tearing Down Camp	4 pictures
See also pictures by Sean Lynch

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copyright (c) 2003 Ian Kluft