18
In Flight USA Celebrating 30 Years
Flying Into Writing Continued from Page 17 ply flying the delightful biplane that I never really thought to exercise it with lazy eights, steep turns, or any other maneuvers… Someday I’ll have to go up again and give them a try (hint, hint!).
Carrizo Gorge
Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to fly the Carrizo Gorge a couple of times with experienced pilots. Located near the Mexican border, just north of the Jacumba Airport (L78) in the
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the gorge features an 11-mile long canyon with an abandoned rail line clinging precariously to the sides of the mountains that define it. The rail line used to connect San Diego with the Imperial Valley with a substantial portion of the track in Mexico. Numerous trestle bridges and tunnels carved through the rugged mountains enable the rail line to maintain its gradual descent to the desert floor below. About three quarters of the way through the gorge is the Goat Canyon Trestle, a massive trestle bridge that, at 186 feet tall
August 2016
and 630 feet long, was in its day, the tallest wooden structure in daily use. It became a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1986. Construction began in 1907 and, at a cost of $18 million the rail line was completed in 1919. The railroad operated into the early 2000s but suffered from tunnel collapses, trestle fires, washouts, and landslides from tropical storms over the years, evidence of which still litters the canyon today. Twisted track segments and abandoned and toppled passenger and freight cars and their cargo remain
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Toppled freight cars and trestle bridges. (Eric McCarthy)
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The Goat Canyon Trestle (Eric McCarthy)
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strewn on the steep mountainsides, unable, or at least uneconomical, to be retrieved. From the air, the whole thing looks like a model train or movie set. Flying the gorge requires some extra precautions. Wind is always a concern when flying in mountainous areas, but it’s even more important when you’ll be flying in the gorge, below the mountaintops. Air spilling down the lee side of a ridge can exceed an airplane’s ability to climb, spelling disaster. A light breeze shouldn’t pose a problem, but winds greater than 10 knots or gusty conditions should give you pause––if you hear that little voice in your head questioning your decision to go – don’t! Another concern is the lack of available emergency landing sites in the canyon – there are none! The good news is that the Carrizo Gorge is all “downhill” if you start at the south end and work your way north – the only way it should ever be flown. You’ve got a good chance of gliding out of the canyon in the event of an engine failure. The bad news: because of all the twists and turns of the rugged canyon, you won’t see a “suitable” landing site until you exit the gorge at the north end where it opens into the relatively flat desert. My advice: go with an instructor or someone familiar with the Carrizo Gorge; always fly “down” the gorge (this applies to any and all canyons: never fly up a canyon as the walls and floor of the canyon will eventually close in on you, limiting and ultimately eliminating your ability to turn around); then configure for – first notch of flaps and 90 knots in most light aircraft today – as you descend through the gorge enjoying the view. It’s a hidden gem most people will never see. That’s all for this month! Until next time, fly safe!