Need a place to stay:

         Try Sequoia Highlands.  You can visit their website at http://www.sequoiahighlands.com or you can call them at 559-336-9488.

         Try Sierra Inn.  You can visit their web site at http://www.thesierrainn.com or you can call them at 559-338-0678. 

                  They have better coffee than Starbuck's.  Don't believe me try it for yourself, they open at 6 am. In direct line of sight with launch.

       Try Rocky Ridge Ranch.  For a unique experience, call (559-338-3805) or email Sandy (sandybos@hughes.net) or visit their web site to see  what they have to offer at www.vrbo.com/152043. 

                  They have a very nice two bedroom cabin which can be rented by the night (minimum of 2) or by the week.

               The cabin is located on a 160 acre private ranch and comes fully furnished.  The cabin has a perfect view of launch.

       Cozy Cabin.   For another cabin setting try this one at www.vrbo.com/19403

   A Special Thanks to the Foundation 

We have been working on the maintenance issues at launch.  Recently BAPA in conjunction with the Dunlap Flight Park obtained a grant from the Foundation for Free Flight to improve the launch.  We brought in a dozer to clean-up the brush and open up more space from which to launch.  This also provides a fire barrier for the Barton's and saves them from having to do all the maintenance required during peak fire season.  There is more work to be done as the dozer could not access the north launch behind the cabin due to the steep terrain.  So that brush will have to be cut and cleared by hand.  We sprayed most of the remaining brush with a growth inhibitor to help reduce new growth.   This, of course, led to a couple cases of poison oak, oh well that will help prevent other pilots from getting it.  There is a lot more work that needs to be done.  If you have some energy and a little spare time, we could sure use your help, there is a work party scheduled for April 19th to complete the clearing of brush and possibly repair some of the wood on the ramp.  Here are some pictures of the grant work in progress.

(Above)  Before and during work pictures as viewed from the launch ramp.  Finish work cleaned up the entire area.

(Above)  At the beginning of work looking toward the launch ramp and then after the majority of the work from the same perspective.  We are hoping for some rain still this season to help settle all the dirt and future dust created by the tractor work.  Seed has been spread to help stave off erosion.

(Above)  It was interesting, at times breath taking, and certaining exciting to watch the launch being transformed into an incredibly open, huge, flat-sloped launch.  I watched as boulders the size of mini coopers were shoved over the edge and went crashing through the under brush before coming to rest in the brush below, all the while praying they didn't make it all the way to the highway below.  I held my breath as the dozer became precariously perched on the edge of the cliff held in place only by a few small bay bushes as seen in the last two pictures.  (It is at the very bottom of the second picture)  We had to bring in the smaller dozer in the first picture to rescue the larger dozer.  All in all there was a tremendous amount of work accomplished and I think the majority of pilots will be duly pleased with the effect.  The set-up area was freed of a lot of the small brush that inhibited space for a clean set-up.  This also reduces the hazard of fire from exhaust manifolds on the many vehicles needed to transport gliders and pilots to launch.  The down side is that for a little while we will have to deal with some extra dirt and dust and there is more wind allowed into the set-up area due to the removal of the protective brush.  The newly seeded ground cover will solve the dust and dirt problem within a fairly short time.

I would also like to give Tony Welton a special thanks for giving us a price within our budget to do all the tractor work, and then for not giving up while dealing with getting stuck and suffering from a severe head cold.  Tony is a local resident and at one time held a H2 rating.  Remember your donations to the Foundation go towards helping flying sites everywhere.  You can make donations when renewing your USHPA membership, (which the Association matches up to $500) or by sending a donation directly to the Foundation for Free Flight at PO Box 518; Dunlap, CA  93621.  You may also reach them at: http://www.foundationforfreeflight.org