Paul - sounds like you were down by the China Camp area (?)
The road valleys for a while then climbs back up to the ridgetop, at
about 4000'. Go past the gated road that leads to "The Mesa". Look
for a fire break road off to the left, oriented SE to NW surrounded by
low scrub with clear horizons everywhere except NE. The fire break
road opens up after say 25 yards to an elevated, secluded (from the
road) wide flat area that is wide enough to turn your car around in. I
estimate this area to be 50 or so yards long, enough to accomodate three
or five cars with room. The fire break continues SE with great horizons
for those who want a bit more seclusion. But the open area seems ideal
to me. We took our Camry station wagon there in mid march, fully loaded
(two adults, 1 teen, two dogs and C14).
The pacific ocean is visible from this spot. Fire Road
Observing Spot
<http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=10&n=4015873&e=629577&s=50&size=l&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25>
If you are on Chews Ridge Lookout, you can see the area I am talking
about due south. The topo map shows the area I am referring to. It
takes about 10 minutes past the China Camp turn to get there; road is
very easy after the China Camp. I find it takes me about two hours
from my house in San Jose, 2.5 if I stop in Salinas for gas and a snack.
Its farther than FP, but really dark with great seeing and the same
elevation. If FP benefits from marine layer, this place does too. If
FP doesn't get the marine layer's help, this place is still dark. And
its an improvement on Chews Ridge proper which is affected by direct
light pollution from Salinas now.
Clear skies.
Chris
Paul Sterngold wrote:
>--- Steve Gottlieb <sgottlieb@telis.org> wrote:
>
>
>>I drove down was for the Mars opposition (observing near the fire
>>lookout
>>platform beyond the locked gate) but it's quite a long haul unless you
>>live
>>down towards Santa Cruz or Monterey and even then, Tassajara Road is
>>pretty
>>brutal in my aging minivan. Finally, as far as I know, there are no
>>real
>>convenient spots on the road (or even beyond the gate to MIRA) for a
>>large
>>group. Am I mistaken?
>>
>>
>
>The 2002 Imagers Ball was held at Ventana Wilderness Experience
>campground, on the Tassajara Rd but well before the ridgetop. It easily
>accomodated our small group (six or seven of us) and our imaging rigs.
>The ground wasn't entirely level, and nearby trees blocked the lower
>horizons. Seeing was good to excellent and it was very dark.
>
>I found the drive easy and relatively quick for such a nice site. IIRC,
>it was only about two hours from my home in Alameda via 101 - cutover to
>1/Monterey - Carmel Vly Rd.
>
>Cheers,
>Paul Sterngold
>
>
>
>
>__________________________________
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>
Received on Fri Apr 23 11:21:36 2004