Back to index Tell's Creek B17C Crash Hike
Trip Date:  07/21/2013

Distance
: 5.0 Miles

Vertical Gain: 575'

Group Size: 8
Hike Rating:  Easy   Moderate    Hard   Strenuous
Tells Creek Hike
Download GPX GPX for this trip
Tells Creek Elevation Profile
Start Coordinates:   N 38 55.860   W 120 19.301     End Coordinates:   Same as Start Coordinates
Car Shuttle Req'd:   No Parking Directions:   Take Highway 50 to Ice House Road.  Head north on Ice House for about 17 miles until you reach the turnoff for Van Vleck Bunkhouse (Cheese Camp Road.)  Follow this road for a little over 5 miles until you get to the Van Vleck Trailhead parking area.
Hazards of Note:   Steep dropoffs
Long sections with little shade
Significant early elevation gain
Crowd Factor:   Limited
General Notes:
Head south from the parking area
past the Tells Creek Equestrian Camp sign to find the trailhead.  It heads south for about a mile, and then cuts to the right to head toward Sun Rock.  The remnants of the airplane parts are scattered throughout the area south of the creek.


Most of the group at the start. Group at the start
Group at the left wing section of the crash.
Left wing segment
Skye at the left wing section. Skye at the left wing
Another shot of the group at the left wing. Another shot of the group
Skye checking out the right wing section.
Skye at the right wing
Skye and I at the right wing section. Skye and I at the right wing
Small dedication plaque to Leo Walker, the pilot who died saving the 7 other members of the crew.
Leo Walker plaque
Looking up at the shattered tail section. Tail section
Pondering what to look for next. Now what?
Looking back down at debris from the tail section. Looking back down at the tail section
The group gathered around the tail section area. Group gathered at the tail section
GPS Track of the full hike. GPS Track of Hike