Power Kite Forum

Texas dry lake

kitemaker4 - 9-3-2009 at 09:55 AM

In another post of the forum big John (jojo 1) talks about a dry lake in Texas that he buggys on. Does anyone have information that they could pass on to the forum so we can all enjoy this new lake bed. I know that I would love to buggy there instead of traveling 4000 miles to buggy on Ivanpah.

Thanks in advance.

Susan (npw goddess)

USA_Eli_A - 9-3-2009 at 01:43 PM

i'M All over google earth! if I find it,,texas is huge susan...wonder if it a goose chase <_>

burritobandit - 9-3-2009 at 01:57 PM

A local kiter (that isn't on the PKF) mentioned seeing one in West Texas, but I don't remember what the nearest city/town was.. I'll ask him next time I see him.

kitemaker4 - 9-3-2009 at 03:16 PM

Go to google maps and search for Van Horn Texas. Go north and up towards the mountains is a large or several large dry lakes. There is a small town call Dell City close to it. I am going to try and get some information.

Susan (npw goddess)

kitemaker4 - 9-3-2009 at 03:38 PM

I just discovered a ghost town called Salt Flat Texas. The faa used the lake bed for years as an emergency landing strip for planes. This must be the dry lake that John talks about.

Susan (npw goddess)

dylanj423 - 9-3-2009 at 09:56 PM

I found those salt flats... but there is another dry lake bed (not salt flats) that is, I believe near Van Horn... when I was searching, I use a regular google search... with th results that I found, there was info that there is a dry lake bed somewhere in west Texas.

I hear salt flats dont work very well... Eat your tires up. Keep looking on the Dry lake bed, its there. I will look again next time I get close to a good internet connection.... Dont give up the search.

dylanj423 - 10-3-2009 at 06:22 AM

This is the place that I located some time back... dont know if it is the same lake Big John is talking about, but it is the most promising spot that I have found on the computer.

The site is about the Hodge Ranch... I dont know about that... but here is a small excerpt from the site:


The city (Big Lake, TX) got its name from the large dry lake bed just south of the city on Hwy 137, but the lake is far more than just a dry land lake feature, impressive though it is. It is the largest playa on the western Edwards Plateau, and possibly the largest in Texas, a significant geological feature covering over 2100 acres, and differs from other playas in the Southern Great Plains not only in size (the average is 17 ac), but in having three major draws that feed into it, with a total watershed coverage of over 100 sq. miles. Though historic springs undoubtedly contributed water continually, the lake only remained full during extended periods of wet weather and in extreme rainfall runoff events.

The site is: http://www.mesquite-roasted.com/blake.php:puzzled::puzzled::...

kitemaker4 - 12-3-2009 at 11:11 AM

I have started writing places in Texas to find out more information on Salt Flat Texas. It seems to be a very large lake bed.

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 12-3-2009 at 08:23 PM

Wow as never thought West Texas have dry lake beds... I looked thru google map and saw the large one as Susan said. It is over Hwy 180/62 just west of Guadalupe National Park, right? I could fly stand-by to El Paso and drive out there to check it out or anyone lives nearby that location to tell us the results...

kitemaker4 - 13-3-2009 at 07:16 AM

Yes that is the location. That would be great Rob if you could do that if we do not hear from anyone.

Susan (npw goddess)

burritobandit - 13-3-2009 at 08:48 AM

Why can't Big John just tell us?

action jackson - 13-3-2009 at 09:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by burritobandit
Why can't Big John just tell us?
???????????, not like many of us live close to el paso anyway!........aj

Still think private land ownership is going to come to play. I hunted the ranch accross the road in the Serria diablos a few yrs back................aj

burritobandit - 13-3-2009 at 09:57 AM

I was just asking from the perspective of saving us the time/effort of searching for it. He might also have info as to it being private/who can use it.

Looking_Up - 13-3-2009 at 01:17 PM

:wee: lots of dry lake beds out here in west texas big lake deffinently has a dry lake and have been past it manny times though never looked at it as a kiting spot will get back to you.

there are manny more dry salt lakes around like shafter lake up by andrews and frankle city or ther is one just east of stanton on the north side of the interstate all of the others are kindof small.

oh and the one by the guadelupe mountains is huge i have flown over it in a privat airplane manny times it lookes verry verry prommising:wee:

kitemaker4 - 13-3-2009 at 01:29 PM

Now comes the hard part. That is trying to find out if the lake bed close to salt flat texas is on public or private land. I am looking into that now and it might take a while to get information. It would be a great place to go and several thousand miles less to travel to have a dry lake so close that we could play on.

Looking_up where are you located?

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 13-3-2009 at 03:16 PM

I found a pic of dry lake - salt flat just off on 62/180 hwy from the El Paso website (see attachment). That's great to hear a definitely answer from Looking_Up and awaiting for more info :wee:

film_location_photos132_800.jpg - 172kB

centex_buggier - 14-3-2009 at 06:44 PM

I for one would love to go out west and try out a dry lake bed that I can drive to.
I sent an email to the city of Big Lake for more info. I'll post what I come up with.

Steve.

tracktROB - 14-3-2009 at 09:12 PM

Back to the great topic of Texas as proud living there! It will be great to buggy in the west when find one soon :roll:

See attachment about Salt Flat history

Attachment: Handbook of Texas Online - SALT FLAT, TX.mht (165kB)
This file has been downloaded 513 times

jellis - 15-3-2009 at 12:23 PM

Thanks for the Attachment. Man with only 35 people in town I bet if you stop there you will be more than welcome. Wonder if there is a weather spot for that location?

Looking_Up - 15-3-2009 at 04:19 PM

:cool2: Midland tx

grew up hear would definatly try to make an event at the salt lake

jellis - 15-3-2009 at 08:00 PM

Looks like a great place to buggy but man is it out in the middle of no where. I looked a it on Live Search Maps and the upper dry lake looks to be about 8 miles long and in some places 3 miles wide. Looks to be around 70 miles from El Paso and a little further from Carlsbad. So when is someone going to check it out?

kitemaker4 - 16-3-2009 at 07:47 AM

Brad and I will be checking it out on the way back from nabx. We will report back on the conditions in a few weeks. Until then I will be sending out e-mails to gather information.

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 16-3-2009 at 07:50 AM

Yeah, I saw that recently thru google map and my jaws dropped. I'm waiting for anyone who lives nearby to check it out... Looking_Up is from Midland, TX and about three hours away (thanks to Looking_Up, smile). If no one step up in awhile, I can fly standby to El Paso on the weekend to check (hope can make an emergency landing on Salt Flat lake as quickly, just kidding).

treblehook - 16-3-2009 at 09:21 PM

found another one at 32°13' N, 101°39' W
Natural Dam Salt Lake , about 10 miles west of big springs tx
anyone know anything about this?

2912372595_65265eac27.jpg - 88kB

wind-dave - 17-3-2009 at 05:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by treblehook
found another one at 32°13' N, 101°39' W
Natural Dam Salt Lake , about 10 miles west of big springs tx
anyone know anything about this?


That's a cool looking one treblehook. Those cracks in the surface look pretty big on google earth...I wonder if that is ridable. It's at least closer to me than the other one out by El Paso.

Good find:yes:

Looking_Up - 17-3-2009 at 02:24 PM

:smilegrin: Just letting U know that at 31 10 36 n, 101 41 3 w It is a adventure park Dirt bikes four wheelers and such 10 Bucks Per Vehicle but after talking to the owner today <so far Kite for Free> <helmets Required> < and its busy on the weekend> also the Line down the middle is a different owner so the dirt bikes and 4 wheelers aren't allowd but she hasent said any thing about the kites. It is 1 mile long 1.3 miles tall and roughly .4 tenths wide perfect for the prevailing winds S, SW, W. It gets a lot of use and is only muddy when it rains so the longer we go without rain the least the ruts, it is pretty packed down so u can even drive across it after a rain

still waiting on my atb parts in the mail so i will give you first hand when i can also building a bug will let you know how it rides but i am totally stoked Prevailing winds are usually 10-30 or more very few days without atleast 13 or 14 :singing: would love to see another kiter some time without having to go verry far:bigok:

burritobandit - 17-3-2009 at 02:41 PM

Nice finds!! :thumbup:

kitemaker4 - 21-3-2009 at 06:33 AM

Brad and I will be checking out salt flats dry lake bed on the way to nabx. We will take plenty of pics so come by our camp at Ivanpah and we can tell you all about it.

Susan (npw goddess)

Looking_Up - 21-3-2009 at 12:34 PM

kitemaker4 give me a holler when you come through can't go to nabax but would love to have an outing with some kiters I am in Midland Tx. would love to hear from yall :yes:

kitemaker4 - 21-3-2009 at 12:45 PM

We will just pass through and check out the lake bed before we hit the road again. We may be there for just 30 minutes or even less.

Sorry
Susan (npw goddess)

Taper123 - 24-3-2009 at 04:10 PM

I'm still wondering why I would want to drive that far (and I'm in Houston Tx) to the desert when I can head south to La Pesca Mexico and the dried out laguna certain times of year. It's like a huge dry lake of tidal hardpack that I can walk my buggy to from an air conditioned hotel room. I much prefer the beach and coastal winds, particularly when coupled with an area that I can buggy for miles in any direction.


But that's just me :)

So is Big John ever going to tell where his spot is?
Is he the one cooking Turkeys this year at DBBB?

I'd meet ya'll at the dry lake in Tx if enough people were going.... otherwise for the same drive time or less I'd go south if I want lots of room to buggy.

action jackson - 24-3-2009 at 04:20 PM

Once you experience the playa, you'll understand!.........aj:roll::roll::roll::roll:
Quote:
Originally posted by Taper123
I'm still wondering why I would want to drive that far (and I'm in Houston Tx) to the desert when I can head south to La Pesca Mexico and the dried out laguna certain times of year. It's like a huge dry lake of tidal hardpack that I can walk my buggy to from an air conditioned hotel room. I much prefer the beach and coastal winds, particularly when coupled with an area that I can buggy for miles in any direction.


But that's just me :)

So is Big John ever going to tell where his spot is?
Is he the one cooking Turkeys this year at DBBB?

I'd meet ya'll at the dry lake in Tx if enough people were going.... otherwise for the same drive time or less I'd go south if I want lots of room to buggy.


DSC_2535.jpg - 78kB

kitemaker4 - 24-3-2009 at 05:50 PM

Hey Steve

Not sure how safe it is to go south of the border. That scares me. I feel much better staying in the states.

Susan (npw goddess)

xxxBUGGYPILOTXXX - 30-3-2009 at 07:31 PM

xxxBUGGYPILOTXXX - 31-3-2009 at 02:15 PM

tracktROB - 31-3-2009 at 03:53 PM

Great job with finding from xxxBUGGYPILOTXXX! :thumbup: Yes, that's another definite shot of Salt Flat and the Linda Lake is alittle southeast of Dell City.

xxxBUGGYPILOTXXX - 1-4-2009 at 09:20 PM

BeamerBob - 2-4-2009 at 03:24 AM

That might be worth a drive. I can't wait to hear the reports from the ground.

tracktROB - 10-4-2009 at 09:36 AM

Have anyone just passed by Texas lake bed to check out during the road trip before or after NABX event?

kitemaker4 - 10-4-2009 at 03:01 PM

Brad and I did pass through. We stayed on the main highway and did not take the time for any side trips. We were not happy with what we saw. It looks like it might take several days to find the best spot to buggy in and we of course did not have the time. I have not given up yet. Just give me a little time to catch up from the nabx trip and then I will have time to look into finding out info.

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 14-4-2009 at 07:29 PM

Hwy 180/62 as the main highway that you said not happy with it, right?

kitemaker4 - 14-4-2009 at 08:08 PM

Yes that is the highway we drove on. There was a lot of brush growing on the lake bed there and it was also not very wide. I am sure there are other state and county roads that you might have better luck on if you have to time.

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 15-4-2009 at 08:06 AM

I see what you're talking about from this particular spot as not good luck at this moment. Hopefully in further north toward to Dell City will be amazing for see it. Need to drive on county hwy 1576 and exit on Lutrick Road or Williams Road to the east as the next step to explore. I'm guessing that's my turn now to go up there for a full day research soon :saint:

kitemaker4 - 15-4-2009 at 01:00 PM

I wish we had more time to drive around but we were short on time since we were heading out to nabx. Going up around Dell City looks good from google maps. Let us know how it goes and if you can take pictures.

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 15-4-2009 at 03:43 PM

Thanks for your best effort passing by to gather some info. We are working together as buggy family and will take a lot of pictures to post on PKF before it get too hot there :thumbup:

tracktROB - 15-5-2009 at 05:45 PM

I'm going far west Texas to explore this weekend. Wish me luck and safety for this trip :thumbup:

action jackson - 15-5-2009 at 06:29 PM

Just remember that everything is far out there! Some great driving out of Vanhorn headed towards the Franklins! Enjoy and take lots of pics....................aj

kitemaker4 - 15-5-2009 at 08:29 PM

Knowing that you have more time than we did I hope that you can find the mother load.

Good luck.

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 18-5-2009 at 07:55 PM

action jackson - Everything in Texas is far out as a huge state indeed! I flew into El Paso and drove to Dell City and the Guadalupe Mountains. Van Horn was out of the way at this time and thanks mentioning about this place for next time visit.


kitemaker4 - Ha, sometimes do have the time when no schedules going on as rarely occur. Last weekend just happened with nothing going on and got the chance to run out! Mother load was taken care of, smile.

tracktROB - 18-5-2009 at 08:07 PM

Are you ready to hear the news for about finding the possibly Texas dry lake bed?? I found the access road finally to primary Linda Lake after two and one half hours hunting around it to get on easily. It's officially a dry lake bed maybe up to 4 miles wide and 6 miles long!! :roll: I will tell more stories about this later with more pics.

west texas 05-2009 036 (2).jpg - 94kB

dylanj423 - 18-5-2009 at 10:28 PM

SWEET... Thanks Rob... did you get the buggy out?

kitemaker4 - 19-5-2009 at 09:39 AM

Thanks Rob. This is great news. Looking forward to seeing more pictures.

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 22-5-2009 at 09:27 PM

dylanj423 - I didn't take the buggy out yet. The exploration comes first before hauling all the stuff ;)

I was on the northern tip of the primary Linda Lake only (three lakes altogether) and drove about a half mile then turned back to the entrance as do not want take risk chance getting stuck out of nowhere in a car.. It's very huge and need to rent or borrow ATV for entire lake exploration as safety caution awareness. I don't see any size rocks on the lake at all and looks like a beach in any directions forever :spin: Linda Lake is open to the public that several Dell City resident told me about. The boundary line of the US National Park is east of the lake and not part of it as Park Ranger told me also. Need to go back there next time with ATV and any volunteers willing to come with me for the second trip? See the link below from someone's photo which I was on the far right side of the lake only and going south gets much bigger.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2199323900010894679ZxejPN...


Here is my link of more pics. Click on "Detail" to see description comments added on those pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbon69/sets/72157618565559905/

kitemaker4 - 23-5-2009 at 06:46 AM

Hey Rob

I just checked out the pictures. How does the surface on Linda compare to Ivanpah.

Susan (npw goddess)

tracktROB - 23-5-2009 at 02:46 PM

Howdy Susan

Comparing Ivanpah and Linda surfaces... Both are definitely different. Ivanpah's surface is more of dry mud-clay combined and harder with abrasive plus dust. Linda's surface is hard packed sand with some moisture in it and also a thin crust layer in some areas. It's similar to Galveston's beach surface after light rained as for example.

Looking_Up - 23-5-2009 at 05:19 PM

I live in Midland Texas

Give me enough notice and i will do everything i can to go Just finished my prototype bug and making some minor mod's so i am ready to go me and the fiance soon to be wife are the only active kiters around so a weekend camping trip to dell city would suite us verry well

My dirt bike was recently stolen so sorry i cant help there but i am not scared to take out on a buggy adventure

P.S. I have a four wheel drive vehicle that i wouldnt worry about getting stuck as long as we took a little precaution.

Keep me posted Matt from midland OUT:singing:

tracktROB - 23-5-2009 at 09:54 PM

Howdy Matt

You are lucky with only 220 miles away from Midland :cool: I live in Dallas/Ft. Worth which it's 560 miles. Surely will give you the notice about returning trip plus looking forward to meet you and your fiance. Remember, no gas station on hwy 62/180 route and only two in Dell City but closed on Sundays. Camping is a must since no motels nearby. Whites City, New Mexico or El Paso is the last stop place for any needs.

Sorry to hear about your dirt bike.. It would be nice to have one for off-road exploration. Anyway, great of owning 4x4 so can ride around the lake to check everything out there without worries.

One more thing to be aware of precipitation history in Dell City - July, August, and September with the highest rainfall around 1.4" each month. The other months are about 0.2"- 0.4" as very small chance. Who wants to go there in the summer time when it's hot.. Hard packed sand lake absorbs water pretty well so forth.

Talk ya later :thumbup:

Looking_Up - 24-5-2009 at 03:23 PM

:tumble: great to hear frome you June and july will be busy with wedding and new house and all but mabey towards the end of the summer or fall also i don't know if you have ben following this thread but less than 40 miles away to my east is a small dried lake at stanton TX and it is about 1.5m by .75m in from east to west and from nort to south it is about 1.85m long and .5 to .75 wide just a rocks throw from the interstate

i posted the gps locatiion in an erlier page and as soon as the mods are finished on my bug i plan on checking it out will post pics:D

tracktROB - 24-5-2009 at 07:40 PM

Good idea to continue explore in the fall season as it's getting hot there soon also. Cheers to your wedding and new house! I forgot to ask about your earlier thread on other lake. Linda Lake is in my head full time like brainstorming. I think that's Red Lake just off from interstate 20 which you're talking about? Cool and the dry lake is getting closer to my home in dream! Looking forward for this new report from you with pics :)

tracktROB - 2-10-2009 at 11:52 AM

Fall season is here and about time to go back explore this huge dry Linda Lake with present cool weather! Anyone interesting to come join?? I'm going to fly into El Paso soon so can search the whole playa on the buggy this time :roll: U2U me also.

tracktROB - 6-12-2009 at 08:27 AM

In the meantime, I called Dell City Sheriff who check the Linda Lake occasionally and they said it's a little damp standing around due to more precipitation this year... Also, they mentioned to me that May and June months are the driest time of the year. El Paso, Texas even got some snow which was rare and unusually weather came by lately. Time to put snow skis back on feet in the mountains, yippee! Exploration in west Texas is on hold for me and about to enjoy the holidays soon.