[sac-forum] Re: Gasline Rd last night

Rick......It was not our optimism that deserted us last night. We both became dyspeptic (read: really POed) about a problem that developed with the field tripod. As it was almost dark and having left our latex gloves and array of scalpels at home, there was nothing for it but to pack pack up the "Anti-Christ" and head back. There was a cross threading problem that was going to need some serious surgery. We had really never intended this scope for anything but a permanent mount, so this was to be a "dry run", more or less, to see how it would work as a grab and go instrument.
That said, we liked the site. The amount of earthen driving is acceptable and drive time of about an hour from 99th Ave. & Campbell reasonable. Actually, the only trekking problem we encountered was the infamous CATTLE GUARD on the paved road. We saw it coming and thought we had slowed enough, but as my fillings dropped about two inches when we hit it, obviously not enough! There did seem to be a horrendous amount of traffic for much further west of Litchfield Rd. than we expected. So, I guess hard numbers for the drive time will be a bit iffy to come by.
Ignoring the irradiated domes to the east, Saddle Mt. had some interesting geology to gawk at till dark and the area doesn't seem to have been trashed....well, there was that stray mattress parked on Elliott Rd. 

Conclusion for Gasline:  Yes,  X  2.

Best,   Janis & Leon

Rick Tejera wrote:


Matt Luttinen, Steve Perry & Myself were photon starved enough to chance
iffy skies and check out the new gasline road site. We met at the McD's by
the mini stack at I-10 Loop 101 about 1630 Timing on the way out was messed
up by unexplained traffic that had us down to 25 mph on I-10 past Litchfield
road. Anyway we found the site easy enough, Steve marked it well, Also
showing up were Janis & Leon Shoenfeld. They, however lacked the optimism of
the three of us and left the site b4 dark. We decided to give it until 2000
and then we'd pack up if the skies didn't clear. Our patience was paid off
as the skies did open up enough to get some eyepiece time in. Not the best
seeing, but considering I haven't looked though an eyepiece since October,
it was fine by me.

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