From: Peter Lawrence Peter.Lawrence@Eng.Sun.COM

Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 11:57 AM

Subject: Walt’s Point, Owens Valley

 I just got off the phone with Paddy Hardy at Bishop USFS. She has submitted to her manager a written proposal (we are past the talking-about-it stage) that if approved will temporarily suspend for one year the Forest Order requiring a site monitor as a trial period. (We thought last summer was a trial period, but that’s not the way they want to do it!) If things work out then maybe the following season the Forest Order can be completely rescinded forever and the site will be open to everyone whenever the road is open.

If everything goes according to plan, Walt’s Point will be officially open on Memorial weekend, keep your fingers crossed. We are supposed to know in another week or two, so we still have time to plan our Memorial vacations. I’ll send out more e-mail when it becomes official.

Us pilots will have to supply the Port-a-potty. I will take care of this initially, just like Jon James did last year. I would like to have pilots donate $20 once per season when they fly there, and will stop asking when we have enough to cover the cost.

Parking and the fact that our area is on a blind curve from one direction is still an issue. The USFS will look into putting up "park off pavement" signs, but in the mean time I will bring some folding saw-horse signs like John Ryan had.

There will be no requirements of ratings, waivers, insurance, permits, fees, wind-talkers (yes, they knew about John Ryan’s wind-talker and at one time thought that was an essential part of site monitoring), cell phones, or CPR/EMT certificates.

We will be watched by the USFS this summer to see how we handle ourselves. Let’s all be extra careful in regards to their traffic, sanitation and general behavior concerns (no drinking, littering, or defacing rocks or trees like you-know-who did last summer). Gliders, equipment, or vehicles on the pavement could make things very difficult. Not only the USFS watches us, the horse packers do also and are well connected with the USFS. Let’s also be careful in regards to our flying safety. While there are no rating requirements, it is an advanced site and intermediate pilots and even advanced pilots without prior Owens Valley experience should seek out the advice of those with such experience. The "regulars" need to be watching out for the newcomers. One serious accident could make things very difficult.

Knock on wood that everything works well this summer, I’ve already made my hotel reservations for Memorial weekend, and also plan on flying the weekends of June 17, July 4, July 15, and July 29. Hope to see you all there sometime.

And lots of thanks to John Greynald, Jon James, Larry Chamblee, and Frank Peel for helping make this happen.

Pete Lawrence