Spent Friday night in the Alabama Hills. The truck is parked between the rocks in lower right, Sierra in background.

Mount Whitney with the Alabama Hills in foreground.

Met up with the rest of the group at the start of the Swansea Grade Road just off Hwy 136.

Burros at Mike Patterson's place.

The group's vehicles, John's Tacoma, Cori's FJ, Tom's Ranger, and my Silverado. All are basically stock and had no difficulty handling the technical sections of road.

Starting off on the 32 mile drive that will end at Keeler.

Warning sign at the start of road.

Tom and Norma at the top of what was the most difficult section of road. Cori is still climbing the steep rocky section.

Cori just past the climb. Owens Lake and the Sierra in background. We are at about 6,000 feet at this point.

Took a short break here to check out the view.

Cori's FJ with Mount Whitney.

Following John and Sooz on a flat section.

These are the first of many of the salt tram towers we saw.

Sooz taking photos from the sunroof.

Starting into the trees at about 8,500 feet. The road was overgrown in places. One of the side mirrors got folded back from hitting branches.

At the Burgess Mine at 9,600 feet. We stopped here for awhile.

Another view of the cabin.

Inside the cabin.

Tom, Norma, John, Sooz, Joe(me) and Cori at the mine.

View of the Sierra across the Owens Valley from the mine.

Driving beyond the mine to the trailhead for New York Butte.

We parked where this section of road ended at about 9,800 feet. We'll start the hike to New York Butte from here and also camp here for the night.

Near the start of the hike.

Cori wasn't feeling well, but decided to do the hike.

Looking down on our campsite on the saddle.

Taking a short break.

Small mine along the trail.

Town of Lone Pine 6,000 feet below. The small hill at the base of the slope is the Haystack. Did a hike there yesterday to an A-7 crash site.

Sooz pointing to Keynot Peak to the north.

Almost to the peak, John is alrealy there.

Sooz and John on the peak.

The rest of the group arriving.

Group shot on New York Butte at 10,668 feet.

View of Owens Lake (mostly dry) to the south.

Saline Valley to the east.

Norma standing under the fallen tree teepee.

On the hike back to camp.

Almost back to camp. It was a short hike but the views were great.

View to the south from our campsite.

After relaxing for a little while, it was time to launch Mr Chicken.

Closer view of Mr Chicken and his rocket pack.

Mr Chicken taking off on his first flight.

The flight went well, but the rocket pack was damaged on landing.

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We were able to fix it with a little duct tape. He's ready for another flight with a more powerful rocket motor.

Photo by Tom

Mr Chicken taking off on his second flight. He turned 90 degrees just after launch.

Photo copied from John's video of flight.

And headed south at over a 100 miles an hour. It took us half an hour to find him. He was okay so we launch him again.

Photo copied from John's video of flight.

The result of the third and final flight. Mr Chicken did a 180 off launch and impacted under power about 100 feet away. Think the rocket pack needs a little tweaking.

Mr Chicken only suffered a burnt butt and foot, but the rocket pack was destroyed on impact. I'll build a new and improved rocket pack and Mr Chicken will fly again. He was happy to hear that.