I spent the day at Ivanpah yesterday and it was one of those 12-15 mph days with a "boost" every once in awhile. Suddenly yesterday, the sky looks like nabx. I know its still weeks away but the air just feels like nabx now.

I am really concerned about the quality of the lakebed surface in an area across from camp near I-15. The first time I was in that area it looked like someone had driven a small car on it when it was damp making ruts and impressions in it. During a lull in the wind I found myself stopped in this area and pushed on the lakebed with my hand. It had the hardness of a sponge. You could push down on the surface where it looked as hard as usual and could push it in almost an inch. I've never seen it like this at either of my nabx trips or since I moved here. I think the best thing that could happen would be for it to flood with an inch of water this week and zamboni the surface. To my knowledge there hasn't been standing water on it in over a year.

Any oldtimers ever seen this? Does it repair with a heavy soaking?

Understand that this is an area that starts about 300 feet from the interstate and is maybe 400 feet along I-15. It would only impact riding with a north or south wind heading between camp and the interstate. Any other wind angle and you probably wouldn't even go there. You can feel your speed increase/decrease as you transition to/from this area. Heading back to camp it feels like you just let off the brakes when you hit the hardpack again.

BB

Sounds like some of the area we had to go through on the second leg of the out and back...

I would have called the surface crusty. Any speed and the chunks were flying!

Ron

I lost a Jeep in stuff like that once. Nice crust that was firm until you put torque on it...then you were down to your axles! got it out, put it in drive, and back down to the axles. 3rd time was put it in nuetral and you could push it around all day long without breaking through.