A Good Walk Spoiled (and no golf was involved!)
I went on a hike, about 3 weeks ago, out to the southern edge of the Bitter Spring Valley in the Lake Mead Recreation Area. A strange morning ensued.
One of the reasons I go out there is because of the quiet and the isolation. What traffic there is, is mostly having to do with business at the lake. I decided to do a new hike to explore SN opportunities. This spot is in the same area as Pinto Valley but north of the highway from the hike I did earlier where I spotted the bighorn sheep. (see previous post, “A Walk in the Desert”)
The area is right on the flight path of the eastbound flights and the local helicopter tour companies. One of the problems with hiking in stunning scenery is that non-hikers want to see it also and will pay the fee to do so from the air. The helicopters are usually high enough that I am certain they can no more see me in the background of the desert floor than I could see any detail of them even if they stood on the landing struts of the helicopter. The most I do when I spot a chopper is stop walking for a bit. They are too high and moving too fast to see a lone naked hiker that blends in with the background.
#1 - Bitter Spring panorama
I was wondering whether I could find places suitable not far from the highway. From the usual parking area I headed out to the north. As soon as I was able I doffed the clothes and began enjoying the morning in a much better state of mind. There are a pair of peaks right next to the highway of about 900 ft. above the valley floor. They would provide a good view of the area. The trick is finding an accessible path.
I made my way down the wash until I found a good access point and headed east. I started climbing and realized quickly how not getting enough exercise affects climbing ability. I made it to a point about 230 ft. above my starting point and stopped for a rest. After a bit I took a couple pictures and decided to try heading a little higher.
#2 – Rest site - Viewpoint looking north (sorry, a little blurry)
I then heard the sound of helicopters. Nothing unusual there, pretty normal and expected. Instead of flying in from the south, as is normal, they came from the north. They were flying low, out of one of the canyons and into the valley. Two of them clearly flying together. As usual I stopped and was waiting and watching till they left. They didn’t.
They began doing maneuvers. High, low, back and forth, east-west and north-south. Circling. I don’t normally pay much attention to the tour flights as they are only around for a couple minutes. They generally fly over the popular spots and then head out. They are almost always painted bright colors with company logos. These two were black. Too far away to tell if there were any markings. I knew there was something different going on when one of them set down on the valley floor about two miles away. I could barely see it as the dust cloud was over 100 ft. in the air. The other kept up it’s flight overhead.
#3 - Flying south towards me. The rock formation below the helicopter is seen
in the above panorama just left of center in the middle of the valley.
#4 - Landing in a cloud of dust out in the middle of the valley.
Blocking up the scenery, breaking my mind.
#5 - The companion ship flying close behind.
Needless to say I wasn’t interested in attracting attention, either by moving or getting to higher ground. I stayed put. I was still in my genetic hiking outfit and was getting a little uneasy about what was happening. This was not normal for tours. I pulled my camera and tried to get some pictures but they were not holding still for me while I was in high zoom. Damn helicopters. The pictures I did get are not that great but I was zoomed in enough that I could still not make out any markings. Black, with long antennae extended out the nose of the craft.
#6 - They both headed north, then swung around back to the south.
#7 - After looking at me (I think) they headed back out to the valley and
I headed south away from the valley. Notice the doors on both sides are
open. You can see straight through. Not usually seen on tour flights.
Tour choppers generally fly in level attitudes so everyone can see the scenery. They bank and make turns but their job is too provide a good visual for the paying customer. These guys flew every which way and in that pitched forward attitude while accelerating. They were either doing practice maneuvers or looking for some one or some thing.
Maneuvers, I didn’t have a problem with. Searching was a different matter. If they were searching and had seen something, that meant me bumping into ground support and or whatever or whomever they were tracking. Time to call it a day. I decided to bug out.
I headed back down to the valley floor and the wash. As they continued their flights I noticed that the circles they were flying were expanding. About three quarters of the way down I chose to get dressed, just in case. Shortly after that one of the ships flew south in my direction. I don’t know if they saw me but this one flew west then turned back east toward me, slowed down, about 2-300 ft. up, and while they didn’t stop I had the distinct feeling they were checking me out.
I had put my shorts back on but not my shirt. I stopped and watched them, just standing and not moving. I was making sure I looked like any old ordinary idiot hiker by himself out in the desert. I got a look close up and still saw no markings. I DID NOT take a picture when they were up close. They moved on and so did I. Very weird.
I checked the paper for the next couple days but saw no reports. I’m thinking it was probably just practice maneuvers. Had it been an actual search, I didn’t think I looked interesting enough to check out. Or maybe not.
Sorry for the lack of good desert pictures and the short (sic) report. Strange helicopter activities.
Anyway, I didn’t get the time out there or the distance that I had wanted, only about 2-1/2 miles, but I got a little naked desert time and a good story.
Good enough I suppose. I just hope this doesn’t become regular. They're just too noisy!
eyesup
