Rocket Launch, November 14, 2009
Ground control to Major Tom, commencing countdown, engines on, check ignition and may God's love be with you ... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, LIFTOFF
All Future Rocketeers! Don't miss one of Pack 717’s most popular events of the year!
Each year Pack 717 makes a journey to Lake Lucerne Dry Lake bed for a day of launching model rockets. We normally go up on the Saturday of the November ROCstock event hosted by the
Rocketry Organization of California The Pack launch is about a mile from their site and is loosely coordinated with local boy scout troops who provide a safe launch area for us.
This is a chance for you young rocketeers to launch your very own model rockets and for you to watch some very big rockets launched by a amateur rocket club. The event will be held at Lucerne Dry Lake east of Victorville. The entire family is welcome to attend. The big rocket launch will be on Saturday, November 14th. Plan on bringing your lunch and plenty of snacks and drinks. Kids can bring bicycles/helmets (the recommended model rocket chase vehicle). Parents, we need a fair amount of supervision for this event, so please plan to come as well.
Facilities are scarce, but they do bring porta-potties out to the desert for the rocket club event although they may be a short walk from camp.
To participate in the Rocket Launch you will need to purchase a modestly priced model rocket or two and extra motors. These can be acquired at Michaels, Gyro Hobbies and Hobby People stores in Lake Forest, usually Walmart, and the Scout Shop. We recommend you purchase these early since they have a tendency to go fast. Purchase as big a rocket as you can handle or you dare! Rockets with plastic fins last longer and are easier for cub scouts to make than ones with balsa fins. And don't forget to buy a dozen or more motors of the correct size for your rocket.
The Rocketry Organization of California launch event nearby is not a scout activity, but they launch some truly impressive rockets, some going as high as 6 - 10,000 feet into the air. We are welcome to observe these fairly close. After we blast ours to pieces we can have fun watching theirs.
And in the words of our former Committee Chair, Steve Foster, "I have attended the launch day for the past five years. It makes for a long day, but it is worth the drive to see the boys enjoy launching rockets and watch the “big ones” go off."
The site can accommodate as many who would like to attend, as there is a ton of open space. There will be more information at the Pack Meeting in September and October.
Directions:
Take the 241 toll-road north to the 91 freeway east. In Corona, exit the 91 onto the 15 freeway north. Continue on the 15 out into the Mojave Desert. Just before Victorville, take the "Bear Valley Road" exit and head east. This will go through south Victorville and Hesperia and Apple Valley and eventually merge with CA route 18. Continue on CA-18 until you reach Lucerne Valley and the junction with CA-247. Go north on CA-247 for a few miles as it crosses Lucerne Dry Lake.
The south end of the dry lake (closest to the Town of Lucerne) will be where the rocket club group will be concentrated. Continue across the dry lake on CA-247 for another mile to the far north end of the dry lake. Look for a dirt road on the left (west side). (about 4.8 - 5 miles north of town). If you go past the point where you can see the lake you have gone too far. Turn left and follow this road along the northern edge of the dry lake bed till you run into the camp.
Caravan:
We will be meeting in the parking lot of Walgreens (former Barbeques Galore) in Rancho Santa Margarita, 30592 Santa Margarita Pkwy #A, RSM, 92688, across from Target, between 7:00am and 7:30am the morning of Saturday, November 14th. We will be leaving promptly at 7:30am to caravan up to the Lucerne Valley Dry Lake (approx. 2 hour drive). There will be more detailed information about the caravan at our Pack Meeting in October.
AND ...
For google driving directions, please
click here.
For a google map of the rocket launch site, please
click here.
It is a good idea to check with
Caltrans to determine if there are any constructions activities on the planned route. We have had major delays and/or detours the last two years due to construction issues.
Posted by: akela on 07/17/2008 07:46 PM
Updated by: akela on 11/16/2009 06:48 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
