The launch sites from which I fly, Hartsel, Pueblo, Ft. Lupton, and hopefully again soon, Pawnee Grasslands, all have amazing terrain. All of them are hot. Pueblo Is an awesome place to launch. Out east, nothing but flat and wide open. Drift north, however, and it’s a big rocket trap. First, you enter the cedar tree maze only to descend and climb through washes and ridge lines. As you head further east, the washes become lined with cliff bands. Rattle snakes? You betcha. Rugged, ankle twisting, challenging terrain? Yeah, but it’s stunningly beautiful. I pulled two rockets out of there last time. Thank heavens for GPS. A field of corn ain’t nothing compared to losing a rocket here.
Hartsel is big, wide and open with short grass except for the big hill southeast of the pads. The only thing to worry about there are stepping on cactus and the occasional critter hole, unless you fly beyond the hill, which I did last time. Plenty of snake habitat there and rock outcroppings to navigate. And yes, I climbed up and over that “hill.” Encountered a Yak with a set of horns wider than the length of my 6’ rocket I was trying to find. He watched me the whole time out and back. I can see the headlines now: “rocketeer gored by yak…” do they make Yak boots?
Pawnee Grasslands… ‘nuff said. Not a tree to be found. Actually, nothing taller than your ankle. Monstrous open bowl of prairie. So monstrous you can get lost out there. Head over the rise and you are nowhere. Did I say you can get lost out there? I hope we get this launch site back. A prairie fire last April is making the powers that be apprehensive. Pawnee remains in drought condition and we can’t even consider launching there any time soon unless it rains.
CRASH flies out of Ft. Lupton, north of Denver. A very large land parcel leased from the state gets them a large, somewhat rugged field bordered by barb wire fence and pesky neighbors. I like launching here. It’s smaller, so it puts the “sport” back into sport rocketry. I dust off my mid power when I go there and test the boundaries often. It’s a Tall grass prairie guaranteed to hide various creatures, to include snakes.
I really enjoy rocketry, but the walks are turning out to be amazing. With each one, however, I get more prepared. I never thought a discussion of rocketry fashion would have piqued my interest, but it did. I like the snake boot idea. Going to swap out my trail running shoes for footwear more appropriate.
To this, I add a camelback with plenty of water, first aid supplies, a wide brimmed hat and a packable jacket in case I do get lost and things get late. I’m on thinners. Gashing myself out there would be fatal. Twisting an ankle out there would put you in a real pickle.
Chasing rockets is fun, but with the distances and terrain involved, I suggest being serious about back country travel and navigation. I’ll do more ankle exercises so when I finally get to Argonia, I can stroll the plowed fields with a staggering confidence.
