I try to check the camera on the salt flats daily. http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg I am amazed at the beauty of the salt flats and the mountains in the distance. The photo changes almost every time that I check the site. Although the salt and the mountains are the same, the colors and the sky are almost always different. This year the salt appears to have been dry most of the fall and winter. I am curious as to how this compares to winters of the past.
I have speculated as to the exact location of the camera. It would appear to be just outside the dike area but I could be way off. I know that when there were vehicles on the salt last year, I thought I could make out the pit area off to the right, but I would be interested if someone knew exactly where it is located.
John
Intrepid must be out scraping salt cause the camera is taking pictures of a chain link fence?
I sent them a message on their facebook page. They said it was knocked askew during the last storm. They are sending a crew to fix it.
They have more videos and photos, too;
http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/ (http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/)
Thanks for asking them to reset the camera and for posting the video links. I like to check the conditions on the flats daily. I expected more water on the salt during the winter.
John
I thought that was the new drag for the salt! :? :-o :-D
it is up again
The video is a real hoot. Seeing the camera guys adjusting the camera in the video is amazing. I think this whole idea is just incredible.
I would like to thank the people who came up with this idea and the ones who keep it maintained.
John
Bump to the top so you can check out current salt conditions. Yes I know it's way early but look!
Just looked that sure looks nice so far. :cheers:
It's May.
Yeah, it's May -- and I don't see so much mud that the wildflowers are blooming - so that's good, right?
Used the camera link - not impressed - grainy blackness, no salt, no mountains; what a bust. No, wait, its 08:45 here in the UK - that means it is 'O dark Hundred hours' in Utah and the time stamp is on the bottom of the frame too - 'plonker'. :oops:
Live cam pics show the standing water appears gone, since last week.
No guarantees, but promising...............J
I see the flats are back to being a lake, but as others have pointed out it is still May.
Nice photo this am with mountains and sky reflected in the lake......... :-(
I think we some dipstick marks on that piece of rebar :)
(I know, it's still May...)
Quote from: sabat on May 28, 2019, 09:23:56 AM
I think we some dipstick marks on that piece of rebar :)
(I know, it's still May...)
I agree, It is difficult to gauge the depth of the water. The wind direction has an effect on the standing water. Since I check this camera almost daily, I have noted that sometimes the water evaporates quickly.
The last time that I could see the mountains to the northeast, they still had snow on them. The snow should be gone by now. It will be interesting to see the condition of this years salt compared to last year. Last year was a dry winter on the salt and this year was wet and last year was very good salt conditions. I believe it will dry out in time to be used for racing.
Checking the camera today and still seeing water on the salt. Is there any way to know the depth? There also is a build up of salt on the bottom of the post, so does that mean the water is getting shallower?
It's interesting that there has been relatively little rain at the airport but there have been thunderstorms in the area that have not put water on the airport and we all know, of course, that thunderstorms that hit downtown/airport do not automatically translate to water on the tract. Bit farther north is different story. The stake is, as I understand, marked in inches. There is a bit of build up at the base and shallow there but out and away who knows. Few weeks back before the camera stopped working for a while you could see bare salt over by the mountains. Not today. So the water has moved or increased. And still not hot (ok to 85 for couple hours- mostly 60-75 range).
This morning the camera showed the flats covered in water. Just now I checked and it is nearly all gone and almost complete covered in salt. A beautiful site to see. Shows you how fast things can change. I would not be surprised to see water there again though.
I am just fascinated with this camera. I may be the only one. Yesterday it was nearly dry and today it is a lake again. I have heard that the wind can move the water in and out depending on the direction and strength of the wind. This might be what happened yesterday and last night. It could be that we are seeing the effect of warmer temperatures and the snow melt from the higher altitudes is working its way to the salt. I have noticed that the snow on the mountains, in the upper right of the photo, is now nearly gone. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.
I am fascinated by the camera, too and check it almost daily. I think the couple of times we have seen it appear dry recently has been lighting conditions that let us see thru the standing water that had no ripples and it appeared dry. One day that I saw that condition some one had posted a photo from the end of the road which showed lots of watercoverage as far as you see from that point of view. On a good note, the snow on the furthest mountain has decreased considerably in the last two weeks.
I know it's still early but the salt looks to be drying out nicely. Now I just have to finish up the bike.
Every time I look at the camera and it's off line I can't help to think Intrepid is doing something they shouldn't be doing?
It went off line on the weekend,, I believe its the University of Utahs responsibility, and I guess their contractor hasent got it sorted yet
I am just wondering about the comments of the flats being under water and then a few hours later dry again. could this be influence of the moon in any way. Tidal almost? If the sitting water ebbed with the moonphase it could run for miles in low tide and high tide phases.
Just thought I'd throw that out there. Today has been long and slow.
I'll get my coat...
I recall someone mentioning in Australia they run with the tides, that is run when it is low tide (maybe)
Is the salt Cam ever going back on line? My withdrawal symptoms are almost unbearable! :-(
I watched it for about a week before I realized I was seeing the same thing ! lololol I'm, awaiting the fix also !
Quote from: Dodge Brother on March 06, 2020, 07:51:52 PM
Is the salt Cam ever going back on line? My withdrawal symptoms are almost unbearable! :-(
As soon as Utah gets the $5 million to pay the consultants to make sure it's really down! :dhorse: :dhorse:
I bet when it comes back on line the salt will be gone! Yep every last grain of salt gone!
http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
If this works for you it might provide some relief!!
I don't know which "yesterday" it is.
It says February 6th and 7th at the bottom.
Wayno
I miss the photos from the camera. Does anyone know why it is not working? I wonder who we could contact? Maybe I should do a little poking around the internet and see if I can find who is responsible and what is going on with the camera.
Thanks,,,, I go to it every day ,,, and,,, nothing,,,, keep us informed please ?
Quote from: WZ JUNK on April 08, 2020, 02:42:13 PM
Does anyone know why it is not working? I wonder who we could contact?
Try calling Ellen Wilkinson of the USFRA at 801-485-2662. She usually has the answers for things in Utah.
Jeff sequestered in Boise
Im pretty sure that the University of Utah are responsible for the camera
I was at Lands end last Saturday afternoon. No standing water on the salt. Just wet. Lots of idiots driving on it. Mostly, they were driving towards the mountains. I didn't leave the pavement so I have no knowledge of what the courses look like right now.
I contacted the University and I got this very nice reply. So it looks like the camera will be up and going as soon as life gets back to normal/abnormal.
Unfortunately, we are not able to do field work at this time due to travel restrictions for all university employees. As soon as we are able to begin field operations again, we will get out to the Salt Flats site and give the camera a kick start.
Regards
John
John Horel
Professor, Chair
Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah
jo
Thanks for checking for us WZ .................
It will be such a relief to be able to SEE
the current salt conditions.
Be funny (read:ironic) if the SALT was in good shape,
but the PEOPLE (read: BLM) were not able to attend ..................
I got a couple photos from a Wendover contact couple days ago. Clear and dry.
That knocked-over cone would be a 2-second penalty in an autocross!
Jeff in Boise
That would be what? .01 mph depending on class? :cheers:
The camera is up and running again. :clap
I noticed early this morning....
:-D :clap :clap :clap
See today that the camera is operating once again.
Quote from: creekrat on May 20, 2020, 07:00:45 PM
See today that the camera is operating once again.
ok being an "fng" around here, what camera?
BH, the one that is now in the 4 previous pages... cromag
Aw, come on Stainless, give the guy a break..... :Friday
http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
Quote from: jacksoni on May 21, 2020, 08:13:49 AM
Aw, come on Stainless, give the guy a break..... :Friday
A break? Not Stainless, he wouldn't even build his mother the bookcase she wanted :naughty
For those that thought I was picking on BH... I was actually picking on Creekrat for starting a new thread so I merged the two SFC into one to make it easier for all to know which thread had consolidated info.... aktion086 aktion086
If you don't read every day you may not have noticed
:cheers: y'all
Bumping this back to the top so it can be found with ease.
Camera post needs a ribbon so we can see any wind
Surface looks slightly damp , pretty good this far out for dragging and a great track by race day
How far out is it?
Dragging slop doesn't help it.
When you're leaving tracks just driving over it, how good does it stand up trying to get traction?
Quote from: maj on July 30, 2020, 02:55:11 PM
Camera post needs a ribbon so we can see any wind
Surface looks slightly damp , pretty good this far out for dragging and a great track by race day
in a strong breeze the witches hat sits offcenter :-D
It is fun to see vehicles in the photo shots today. I think I see someone dragging the course this morning. Things are happening.
I think it's someone trolling for the ghost of Boyd Coddington.
F**KUP once, and it follows you to your grave :evil:
Once?
Quote from: Speed Limit 1000 on August 03, 2020, 05:25:14 PM
F**KUP once, and it follows you to your grave :evil:
So if you F##KUP once you have nothing to loose by F##KING UP all the time.
Words to live by. 8-)
Speaking of seeing stuff on the salt:
As i drove past the rest area near exit 4 I sae three or four cars and a Harley way the heck out there - a few hundred yards or more away from the pavement. No doubt the most in many years of me looking out there. And from that info you can form your own opinions on how wet it is.
Caveat Emptor rules!!!
Quote from: Stan Back on August 03, 2020, 10:47:11 AM
I think it's someone trolling for the ghost of Boyd Coddington.
Oddly enough...The lic. Plate on my '32 3 window is "Boyd Who"
I posted my recent report on the salt - sitting in my truck parked in plain near view of the salt flats camera. It was about 12.10 local time. Anybody see me?
Yeah, I saw you. Sometime, I would like you to pinpoint that exact location on a map so that I can get an idea of just exactly where the camera is located. There is a movie with you in it at
http://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/archive/20200804/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_day_new.mov
It is fun to watch all the activity in the background today.
Great to see all the activity , esp the pole move
With SpeedWeek underway, are we seeing spectator vehicles and pop ups, with the pits not in frame to the right ??
what is causing the haze hanging over Bonneville, is it smoke, dust ???
It's smoke, Ron. California is burning and we're getting the benefit up here in Utah. :roll:
Wayno
I see some activity this morning on the salt in the area of where the pits were located during Speedweek. I wonder what is going on?
latest camera shots look really dry is this good or bad?
https://home.chpc.utah.edu/~u0553130/Camera_Display/bflat.html
I have looked at this shot almost daily for a long time. I have seen years when there was a lot of water during the winter and others when it was dry like it is now. I have not been able to determine if there is a relationship between flooding and the condition of the salt bed. I know that when warmer weather comes, that snow that you see on the mountain off in the background, will melt, and that water will make it to the salt flats.
Maybe someone else has some knowledge or observations.
Quote from: WZ JUNK on February 03, 2021, 05:32:08 AM
I have looked at this shot almost daily for a long time. I have seen years when there was a lot of water during the winter and others when it was dry like it is now. I have not been able to determine if there is a relationship between flooding and the condition of the salt bed. I know that when warmer weather comes, that snow that you see on the mountain off in the background, will melt, and that water will make it to the salt flats.
Maybe someone else has some knowledge or observations.
Living in Utah, I can say that my experience over the years has been that when we have really dry winters, like this year, we usually have a very wet spring, or really bad thunderstorms in the summer that are hit or miss.
We had the longest stretch without rain in the history of Utah this fall, but we are seeing winter storms start up finally.
"Latest camera shots look really dry - is this good or bad?"
Yes
Some water, recent car tracks and what looks like bare dirt showing through...........
I think you are seeing the reflection of the mountains behind. At least when I play the current day movie that what I see.
Bump to top of page.
I checked the camera earlier today and there was a wrecker in the view heading east or from left to right. He was in one frame and then gone. I would like to hear the story that goes with that photo.
I noticed the truck also. It is some sort of flatbed truck carrying some sort of Caterpillar tractor or dozer (yellow). Could be Intrepid mining for more salt.
Don
I believe that's Salt Flats Towing on a rescue.
Sid.
That just means there are still some soft spots! :evil:
I saw video of a bush plane out there the other day & even that was carving a trail!
Sid.
I guess it was mirages that I've personally seen over the last 50 years. They looked like rail cars loaded with some white stuff.
is that a little man wearing a Sombrero sitting on top of the witches hat :laugh: :laugh:
This is from Saturday, June 12th...
https://i.imgur.com/T7UkhMj.jpg
Quote from: aircap on June 13, 2021, 09:13:16 PM
This is from Saturday, June 12th...
https://i.imgur.com/T7UkhMj.jpg
A bit damp and sticky.
A racer friend rode onto the salt this morning with his trail bike. Says it is exceptionally hard and flat, with no ridges. I asked if he could see the old courses, he said no. So maybe no more rain before race season will be OK.
Which direction does the camera on the salt flats face?
I'm not sure of the exact bearing, but I'm pretty sure the camera looks NW or so...
Quote from: aircap on June 27, 2021, 08:56:44 PM
Which direction does the camera on the salt flats face?
North, it's looking directly at the cutting in the Silver Island Mountains, that's Tetzlaff peak on the left.
Sid.
I have not thought this through, but I wonder. At 1:00 PM daylight savings time, would the shadow of the pole point north? Maybe a cold beverage would help me find the answer.
Quote from: aircap on June 27, 2021, 08:56:44 PM
Which direction does the camera on the salt flats face?
North West, with Pilot Peak in the background 8-)
Quote from: stay`tee on June 28, 2021, 02:40:34 PM
Quote from: aircap on June 27, 2021, 08:56:44 PM
Which direction does the camera on the salt flats face?
North West, with Pilot Peak in the background 8-)
Pilot Peak is in Nevada & I don't think it can be seen from there due to the Silver Island Mts. The peak in the background is Graham Peak & the camera is pointing directly at the cutting from over by the dyke so it's pointing a red pussy hair to the east of due north.
Sid.
Actually, stay 'tee is correct. That is Pilot Peak (in Nevada) off in the distance. The saddle slightly to the right of the pylon is called Silver Island Pass. That's Tetzlaff Peak on the left. Graham Peak is out of view to the right. Moving to the northeast, the peaks (all out of view) to the right of the pass are: Lamus, Jenkins, Campbell, then Graham, and finally Cobb. Moving southwest, to the left of the pass are Tetzlaff, Rishel, and Volcano Peaks. I drove all the way around them on the Silver Island Loop Road last year. I even took the spur off to Floating Island (no, it's NOT "Floating Mountain" - get a good map!).
Jeff in Boise -
Ok, thanks. North-ish.
Aliens have appeared in the hazy, smoky fog! :-o
Apparently, they were around for awhile.
And, yes - it's SMOKEY.
It looks like some vehicles have appeared on the salt. A good sign for sure.
Looks like camera is down again.
Once the mother ship is repaired the aliens will clean the lens and be on their way! :-P
Or they may be just wondering where all the salt went! :evil:
If it's white up there right now it's snow. :cheers:
Wayno
looks like the camera is back up :roll: :naughty aktion086 :cheers:
I was thinking it's covered in ice...
The guys at the University are good at taking care of the camera but they do not get out that way regularly. I bet they will have it fixed soon.
I noticed the camera was back taking photos on the salt on Wednesday, the 26th of January.
Aliens are still there! I see the shadow going for the cone head! :-P
The salt looks pretty dry.
Zero snow in the mountains...
I just looked at the camera and there are a couple of vehicles out there on the salt. Definitely drier than I thought it would be for February.
They've been camping out for about a week!
They are in the general area of the race course. It is hard to tell the distance. Probably a crew working on a tv commercial. I hope they do not mess up the race course area.
Looks like the snow in the mountains is almost gone.
I noticed the picture was blurry the other day. Now the cone looks farther away. I don't think it was moved, and the camera probably wasn't moved - so did they change the lense?
Salt is looking pretty good and it looks like all of the snow is gone from the mountains. Hopefully it will be good salt again this year.
Due to a well failure at Intrepid they hadn't pumped any of their crap on to the racing area for two years, that's why the salt had a chance to show improvement. As soon as they are up & running again you'll see it go back to that dirty cream color, the binder will disappear again & your tent pegs will fall out.
Sid.
My race bud was out there a couple days ago. Said the salt looked and felt as good as last year and tasted great on his hard boiled egg.
You can see a few trailers for the Test-N-Tune. Stay safe and go fast!
If you can catch them at the right time, you can watch the trucks dragging the course. 8-)
I can see lots of trailers in the pits! Very cool, go fast and stay safe!
Wow, the pits go from one side to the other in the camera view! Looks like lots of racers!
Dan. . . it's sorta not that many racers, sorta. A couple of days ago JoAnn Carlson (SCTA secretary) said they had just over 300 pre-entries (15 June cutoff). 300 or so is a fine turnout. Not the 450 of a couple of times recently, but plenty. Especially with the dearth of good salt that makes it dang near impossible to have enough race tracks to handle the volume of racers.
But - the pits are about 2 miles long this year. In the recent past they've been more like 1 1/2 miles - maybe a tad less. What you're seeing as lots of racers is really quite a few racers but spread out more than you thought.
Wow, Lake Bonneville is out. Hope it dries out soon and the racing surface isn't too soft.
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
Well, with the amount of standing water at the camera it is not looking good for racing until late this week.
Based on the 24 hour video, it looks like some wind last night and the water has "moved" some.
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_day.mp4
That is cool. Amazing what goes on over time, that we dont notice.
Is there hope for WOS ?
Where does the water go when the wind moves it? The time lapse video shows the wind blowing to the north and about 6" of water disappeared during the night. Does that mean it is all piled up on the north side of the BSF and will roll back into the south side eventually?
Don
Quote from: donpearsall on August 12, 2022, 06:56:28 PM
Where does the water go when the wind moves it? The time lapse video shows the wind blowing to the north and about 6" of water disappeared during the night. Does that mean it is all piled up on the north side of the BSF and will roll back into the south side eventually?
Don
Yes
Raining again Saturday evening, the 13th.
And Sunday morning...
The day video shows the change.
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_day.mp4
Quote from: Sporty Dan on August 07, 2022, 11:09:35 AM
Well, with the amount of standing water at the camera it is not looking good for racing until late this week.
WOW,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,That's a cool picture there.
I'm not going to bother posting pics from the camera - it's easy enough. I'll point out that the water is deeper today than yesterday. No salt ridges are showing above the surface this morning. The are lots of reasons for that to happen, but for now - take it as a demonstration of how fast the water level changes at any one point.
I draw no conclusions but rather just observe with a sense of intellectual curiosity hoping to better understand what's going on.
I wonder if closing the dike is going to change how fast the salt dries out for us now. I guess we will see how long this takes to dry out.
just read a gem of English -
. . . with a sense of intellectual curiosity . . .
STAN?
Looks like it is slush on the salt. I wonder if it will be able to harden up enough to prep the courses in time for WOS.
I'll resurrect this thread to comment on the camera and the view of the salt.
I've started looking at it a half-dozen times a day - maybe more. I saw tire tracks the other day, for instance, and they show quite a bit of information about the condition of the salt. I'll assume that I'm not the only one, so I'm posting to tell the rest of you that haven't got in the habit - give it a try.
It sure isn't very dry yet. Check out how much salt fell from the vehicle (tire tracks lead me to believe that a vehicle was involved) while it was stopped.
I know that Gary Mc Gavin, Dennis Sullivan, and Russ Eyres had boots on the ground Wednesday 09/14/22.
They were out there to check the conditions. While the camera shows white salt they say it's still damp. The
water level is right at the surface, But amazingly enough it seems that the prolonged water saturation has
given the slatbergs time to dissolve and redistribute them selves.
Official report coming soon.
Eric
I've been watching enough to be able to tell the surface is still damp. The darker patches are wet spots - and they change as the day and sun proceed to dry them and get damp again overnight. Nope - ain't fry.
The dissolving salt floaters being gone is good news.
I thought I was the only one who checked the camera often. There was a neat low cloud bank yesterday at the base of the mountains in the distance. I watch the snow in the winter and the melt off in the spring. The year the camera was down was a rough one for me. :-D
I have to admit that I have a look almost daily, although not with the level of observation of some of you. I'm more of a look and a quick day dream and back to work viewer, I guess I need to up my game!
Quote from: WZ JUNK on September 15, 2022, 05:47:16 PM
I thought I was the only one who checked the camera often. There was a neat low cloud bank yesterday at the base of the mountains in the distance. I watch the snow in the winter and the melt off in the spring. The year the camera was down was a rough one for me. :-D
You are not alone. I had separation anxiety when the camera was down. Looked at the camera several times a day leading up to 2018 SW. Yes of course I still look often. It's ok to look right?
Optical echo?
Surprise! Did it rain on the salt Thursday evening, or did the water come down out of the mountains?
I just saw the picture - and wow, it did some serious raining overnight. Last night's forecast for Wendover showed the likelihood of rain - by golly, I guess it rained!
Take a look every 4-6 hours for a day or two and watch how the water moves and goes away, and how those tire tracks from yesterday survived the water. It'll show a little bit about how the salt heals.
So, The white line or area that you can see in the picture must be the dike that separates the rest area on the interstate from the race area of the salt flats. The dike makes kinda of an arc from near the truck stop, out towards lands end and then back to the interstate.
I have never figured out exactly where the camera is located but it must be within this area contained by the dike.
Nope - you've got it backwards, sorta. The camera is looking west, away from the highway and the Salduro Dike/Mound/Loop and towards the mountains. The camera location is a mile or so east of where the courses were this year, and out from the 3 1/2. It's past the point where the Salduro makes the turn back towards the highway. It can't be seen from the tourist stop ( I think ).
I know you have been to the camera. I saw photos to prove it. Just to clarify. You are saying the camera is looking nearly west, parallel with the interstate and looking off to the north of Wendover. Sometimes I watch the shadow on the stake with the cone. Directions are very confusing out there on the salt. The interstate runs nearly east and west and that makes it a little easier.
Quote from: WZ JUNK on September 16, 2022, 10:38:07 AM
So, The white line or area that you can see in the picture must be the dike that separates the rest area on the interstate from the race area of the salt flats. The dike makes kinda of an arc from near the truck stop, out towards lands end and then back to the interstate.
I have never figured out exactly where the camera is located but it must be within this area contained by the dike.
It?s here. You can zoom in and see it on Google maps.
I thought someone said the camera points north in a post last year....
Is the camera system acting up for you? For the last day or two sometimes it doesn't refresh for me, sometimes it does.
Whassup?
Jon,
Here is the current view, and it works fine for me. Date and time at bottom of picture.
Tom G.
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
Now it works, but when I first posted it didn't refresh. I always look at the time stamp and it was stuck at 6.30 last night, for instance, and when I look at it and see the shadow on the wrong side of the cone for the time of day - - I know something ain't kosher. It's happened a couple of different times on a couple of different days, on two computers - - that's what led to my query. Thanks.
Take this as notice that it might try to fool you, girls and boys.
Drove up to the camera on Sunday. The salt is really looking good right now. The short Course could be run on with almost no grooming. The long course will need some work. But is is drying out nicely. There are still a lot of tables and EZ up frames scattered all over. The tables are junk now as 3 months in salt brine has already rusted the legs off of most of them. Didn't find anyones race tires though. Hopefully next year we will have an even better track to race on.
Someone should pick up that debris before it becomes next years' FOD.
Don't worry, the great stewards of the salt, BLM, will take care of it.........
Did the BLM leave the crap out there on the salt or was it the racers?
gowing it was left behind by the racers. The tables floated away before the racers were allowed on the salt to load up and go home. The easy up frames are more of a question for me as to why they didn't collapse them and throw them in the dumpster before they left. Then again, The SCTA left a large coil of timing wire by one of the cones on the short course. It's junk now too.
Maybe the ez-up stuff was left by spectators reluctant to drive through a foot of salt water... Folks around us were pretty diligent about getting their stuff found and hauled from the pits... but I understand the SCTA had a large lost and found pile....
It was and sounds like it may still be a mess :cheers:
It's about 7.30 Wendover time on Thursday the 3rd. The time stamp on the camera is showing that it's 6.30 last night, even after a few refreshes.
Must be a stuck jazzer? :-P
Or the thing-a-ma-bob fell out of the what-ya-call-it? :?
Probably missed a grant payment! :evil:
Jon,
Perhaps it runs out of power in the evening/night, and starts again in the morning?
I suppose that might be the case - but it hasn't shown this behavior in the past.
Questions? Contact the MesoWest group at atmos-mesowest@lists.utah.edu
They would have the answer or could try and trouble shoot the problem.
Tom G.
Hey, maybe the battery is weak or dead... only works for a while after the sun goes down...
Oh, and it doesn't matter, with any luck it will be flooded for the next several months.
No, it usually works through the night. Yes, it's black picture, but the time stamps change as they're supposed to change.
This morning...
And tonight...
Reflections, again! :?
I've embraced the idea that the batteries for the system are failing, based on observing that it works fine starting an hour or two after sunrise, and soon after sunset the picture transmitted doesn't change 'til the solar cells get going the next day.
Previously the display would be black all night but the time stamp would update just like always.
Ergo, the batteries can no longer store enough kwH for 24-hour operation. Or the solar array is failing - from our point of view it's the same.
It was stormy on Monday, the 28th - it was blurry, and later - obviously ice covered. Tuesday, the 29th - back to flat water in the morning, ripples in the afternoon.
I asked a pal to photoshop the pole / cone combo out of a cloudy shot I liked.
You like?
How it looked in August :-(
Aircap,
That is a cool picture!!!
Rex
Someone needs to wipe off the camera lens :-D. It seems that it has been a wet off season this year.
With all the rain/snow west, you sure it's not under water....... :cheers:
This one was weird today....
Hi all, Happy New Year- there is a video post this morning on FB from a LSR guy who was at the end of the access road, and it looks like the entire Flats are under water even ,according to him, the bend in the road. Perhaps this will aid the healing?? All we can do is keep positive waves!! Pray for a great year ! Go fast-stay safe :cheers: :cheers:
No mountains? The BLM is chunking them up to make road gravel. Just another way they're making money off federal land.
Yep all that water will make it easier to strip mine the flats...
Free snow cones today! :cheers:
Take a look, folks, There's a new way for us to see the salt - from Land's End..
https://geology.utah.gov/community-science-photo-station-installed-at-bonneville-salt-flats/?fbclid=IwAR2jpxPsYptnimjsaEi_aAzbDnhbHlULhj2ir3tJGkpnJTM1iNovUotsE1g
So we are at the mercy of the camera and the photographer...
Until somebody steals it or runs it down or both! :-D
Sid.
The mountain really is floating! :-o
Can you say ZERO wind! :?
At this point I probably check the weather station camera 10 times per day. I am no longer surprised at what I see, there is nothing out there to obscure what's going on.
Surf's up! :cheers:
What's this? Ripples of salt?
12.20 PM EST 15 Feb '23
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/ii147/SeldomSeenSlim/Screenshot_2023-02-15_at_12.15.48_PM.png)
More like water. :cheers:
Wayno
Look at all that snow on the mountains!
Snowed again: https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
How about a Winter meet with jet boats launching at end of the road , they could easily do 2 way runs .. Turn around and run back !! Maybe 2 courses , 1 out 1 back . IT'S RAINY AND COLD IN TUCSON , I'M spending day inside doing stuff for a rainy day !!
I've had Bob the Web Elf put a link to the salt flats camera on the home page of the site so it's easy to find if you don't have it bookmarked.
The old guy says "huh?"
Stan don't worry it's for guys that can't use their computer to find stuff.... all they have to do is go to the Landracing.com home page and click on the salt flats camera link under important links...
and they get https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
You already know how to view it so no worries.... :roll:
Yea I know... you were wondering what the home page was lol8 :cheers:
Keep in mind, every time you click that link you will get the latest and last photo taken by the camera. If you want to share it in an email or post the link to a specific photo (like when it snowed) you must first save the photo and rename it before posting it....
I made this mistake, and I'd point out something..... and a couple hours later, or the next day - it would be a different photo. It's extra work, but whatcha gonna do?
I might save 10 photos throughout one day, and have a record of the weather that day that I can check against my link to the nations weather radar. If I see it's raining on the salt - I check the weather map, and can tell pretty closely when the weather will clear. It's fun.
Well instead of a lake we now have the Bonneville mud flats with puddles.........
And Yeah, I just included the link rather than a photo when it snowed.
Having personally witnessed the huge amount of salt bergs last August I expect areas will be nothing but mud. Probably in the areas of the access road and pits.
Celebrating what will be my 51st year since I first wandered that way, I have learned to not predict what is unpredictable. I get encouraged when they start dragging it, although that is not a prediction.
The mud flats lasted less than 48 hours. I happened to catch a morning view with the water coming down from the mountains advancing in a line across the area. Of course, this evening - it's wave city again.
Although there may be additional water (snow melt) off the mountains, there had been no rain. The lake seemed to dry rapidly and now recover. I suspect wind blowing water off and then back onto the track area. Still mud and still wet.
Looks like there may be some wind out there today!
(//)
Agree- windy and definitely less water on the surface than this morning early. Seeing some exposed spots again. May come back with change in direction. But still looking brown, not white??? :x
Yeah, it's looking like a mud flat, not a salt flat.
Don
We've known that the Bonneville Mud Flats has been coming for a while now but hopefully this look is just the brine dirt showing through the thin layer of wet salt! :?
Sid.
So... who is taking bets on when it dries out?
I wouldn't touch that with a pair of long nose pliers!
Sid.
Man... it's been weird lately. White?
And this... Did the water all blow over to I-80?
You realize of course, salt and snow are pretty much the same color. :cheers:
Wayno
Ya, but if that's snow that means there ain't no salt!
Maybe it's going to turn into a big El Mirage!
Yesterday it was wild for hours. I checked multiple times, and most of it looked like this.
With the $5mil Government grant Intrepid are blowing the salt across the freeway now.
Sid.
Just checked, and things are finally starting to look white!
Jeff in Boise
Blowing it north or south?
(They also have an Intrepid Salt Company.)
Looking like the salt is forming up pretty good. Fingers crossed for a good year.
I know it is only May 5th but damn it looks good out there!
Would let me save attachment? try agian...
I noticed a car was out there in the dark tonight..... Probably stuck. It's not dried out yet.
Just taken at 7 am Pacific time. May 6th, 2023
Tom G.
Looks like that car is still out there.
Jeff in Boise
. . . sure is tan.
The snow is white but the BLM hasn't worked out how to make a buck off that, yet!
Sid.
With sodium-ion batteries being the new tech.... I'll bet there won't be any salt on or in the "Great Salt Lake" area in the near future.
I'll take that bet. Batteries are NOT the future, however much many folks want them to be.
Looks like a lot of action on the salt the last couple days. Video shows 2 or three campers on the salt right out from the camera. Stupid :x people
Yup. I even tuned in late one night to find 2 pairs of headlights far out on the salt.
With any luck they were stuck and required a tow.
Driving back to Boise from Denver yesterday, I saw a few idiots had driven out onto the salt from the rest area. Went to Land's End, where everything looked good - dry and hard!
Jeff back home in Boise
Current photo shows some ding bat has done donuts around the stake with cone on it near the camera. Not dug up suggesting relatively hard surface.
Jack,
Are we going to see you in August?? Need to hear the wine of a big 2 stroke!
Rex
Quote from: Rex Schimmer on June 15, 2023, 11:51:41 AM
Jack,
Are we going to see you in August?? Need to hear the wine of a big 2 stroke!
Rex
Well, "if the creek don't rise". :cheers:
I just need to clean and install the pipes and drain the antifreeze from over the winter, so basically ready to load. Have a major trip with family and grand kids to get through in a couple of weeks. So still some time to find the "oh crap" look at that! and fix it. LOL
I sure hope so Rex.
Spotted a couple of suspicious characters on the salt cam... almost looks like Bo and Timmy Burkdoll... :roll:
Heard the salt was wet and a little rough but there looked to be 8 miles... :friday
Forgot no standing water that they saw anywhere :cheers:
Suspicious activity today! :cheers:
Suspicious yes, but it is a good sign, J
NOT suspicious, it's called a pre trip to find and drag course for speedweek. They have drag before the course gets to dry and hard.
It's cloudy on the salt as I type this, but the forecast sure is favorable. Lookit those 90s!!
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.7365&lon=-114.0404
Looks like it rained....
Better puddles than lakes!
Rex
Doppler Radar show more going through there right now. Pocket storms are the style of weather we've been having this year, yesterday we were hammered by a heavy hail storm that lasted about 20 minutes.
Sid.
Neglected to post this... evening of July 7th. Quite a number of vehicles on the salt.
Most likely Joe Public terrorists teaching their kids how to do doughnuts! :x I've spent a lot of time on the salt out of racing time & you'd be amazed at how much of that idiot $hit goes on.
Sid.
The cone is gone! It was there first thing this morning but now - VANDALS!!!??
Vandals? Are you accusing the students and/or alumni of the University of Idaho?
Jeff in Boise
:cheers:Aliens ?????????? And what happened to the Frosty the Snowman that was on top of the stake ?????? Inquiering minds need to know !
Well.
6.25 AM the cone was still there....the next framed picture at 6.30 AM shows the stick without the cone......
who is out at time... muutt
Bigfoot
Quote from: Seldom Seen Slim on July 16, 2023, 06:50:20 AM
The cone is gone! It was there first thing this morning but now - VANDALS!!!??
VISIGOTHS!!!??
Stealth? :evil:
One of my former teachers in case I return to class?
Great photo Slim
SSS
The cone is still missing! :naughty
It's still pretty dark at 0600 MDT, but I don't like what I can see - a reflection of the mountains on the salt, indicating that there's a lot of standing water.
Jeff in Boise
At 0630MDT, my fears are confirmed. Looks like everything is under water.
Jeff in Boise
that looks WET
At 0810MDT, it looks like salt is already starting to poke up through the water. We may still have a shot.
Jeff in Boise
Even IF it does dry out enough to race on... that's gotta affect the speeds.
Monsoon season :x
Maybe Intrepid could use some of the $5mil Gov grant they got to "help save the salt" & turn up the pumps to suck the water level down. :evil: Nah.. I bet they already spent that for lunch money. aktion086
Actually the real situation will likely be since we had a big winter the water table will already be high so soak in will be minimum. Intrepid could open the gate & flow it off but they're not there to help us. They'll use it to their best advantage by either letting it soak in or holding it for optimum saturation, the last thing they want is evaporation.
Now that the crust is so depleted the water soaks in rather than evaporating like it used to when there was a solid crust but I expect it's already saturated. Intrepid is pulling more salt through their pumps now as apposed to flowing the top off, this is why we see the canals flowing more than we used to.
These weather patterns have evolved over the last few years to what have now & it appears to be the new normal. I'm 100+ miles down wind from the salt & we had seven months of harsh winter here with a big snow pack but it just rolled into raining once it warmed up-ish. It's a whole 60 deg at midday right now.
Sid.
Quote from: gowing on August 02, 2023, 10:09:53 AM
Even IF it does dry out enough to race on... that's gotta affect the speeds.
Monsoon season :x
Yes, reminding me of 2019. We got there Friday and sat around until Wednesday before we got 1 run in. Almost got stuck trying to get the car to the starting line. It was like driving through 2" of slushy snow. Aborted the run around 100 mph. We just put the car on the trailer and came home. I guess it continued to dry out and some decent runs were made towards the end of the week, but I couldn't stay that long. Same this time I can only be there until Wednesday if I even go. Another storm will be hitting the area soon, I guess we will see what it does.
The weather station, does it record water table depth?
Sam
#6062
Quote from: wickedwagens on August 02, 2023, 01:25:06 PM
Yes, reminding me of 2019. We got there Friday and sat around until Wednesday before we got 1 run in. Almost got stuck trying to get the car to the starting line. It was like driving through 2" of slushy snow. Aborted the run around 100 mph. We just put the car on the trailer and came home. I guess it continued to dry out and some decent runs were made towards the end of the week, but I couldn't stay that long. Same this time I can only be there until Wednesday if I even go. Another storm will be hitting the area soon, I guess we will see what it does.
[/quote]
With the latest update (#6), announcing that the Drivers Meeting & racing will de postponed until Sunday or Monday, it sounds even more lake 2019! I didn't get to run until Wednesday then, too! I'm experienced in winter driving, so I didn't get stuck in the staging lanes, either.
Jeff in Boise
no change on the water level around the camera....but, hey, this mornig someone gave the stick a new hat...
Glad to see the cone is back! I wonder if it's one I knocked over in the SRR-SCCA AutoCross this past weekend.
Jeff - in Wendover, not Boise!
Quote from: trimmers on August 02, 2023, 04:33:58 PM
Quote from: wickedwagens on August 02, 2023, 01:25:06 PM
Yes, reminding me of 2019. We got there Friday and sat around until Wednesday before we got 1 run in. Almost got stuck trying to get the car to the starting line. It was like driving through 2" of slushy snow. Aborted the run around 100 mph. We just put the car on the trailer and came home. I guess it continued to dry out and some decent runs were made towards the end of the week, but I couldn't stay that long. Same this time I can only be there until Wednesday if I even go. Another storm will be hitting the area soon, I guess we will see what it does.
With the latest update (#6), announcing that the Drivers Meeting & racing will de postponed until Sunday or Monday, it sounds even more lake 2019! I didn't get to run until Wednesday then, too! I'm experienced in winter driving, so I didn't get stuck in the staging lanes, either.
Jeff in Boise
[/quote]
Definitely looking like 2019. Salt is going to be really soft/slushy.
I see some vehicles out there, are these leftovers from SW, or scouts for future events? I'm just curious about conditions, etc.
I see the Church Of Speed is sponsoring the camera now! :cheers:
Ah, crap. Take a look at the salt now - Sunday morning, 20 August.
Yuppers.
can't see the salt for the rain............
It's a lake now! More rain coming on Monday from the hurricane. Not looking good for the BMST event! :-(
I was on the fence about running at WF due to my health but I think the weather has decided it for me. :x
Neil,
WF is still possible...
the BMST, so the lake looks Sunday late evenning, is a no go....
WoS....needs lots of heat and wind....
so be ready for WF....and have fun
Thanks, Thomas, but it looks hopeless this year.
since you be worry.... :clap
Quote from: manta22 on August 21, 2023, 08:28:23 AM
Thanks, Thomas, but it looks hopeless this year.
Well, I would expect the USFRA crew will be making the determination within the next week, and I have looked at several weather apps and none are showing the kind of heat it will take to dry the salt -still keeping the faith and slugging away JUST in case..... :-(
So are conditions such that BV and Elmo are finished for the year???
I wouldn't throw in the towel yet. If the rain stays away and they hold off until around 9/5 to drag i bet we will be good. The salt this morning looks pretty good from the camera for just raining. Wind is a good thing as you know.
Looks like we lost the camera :?
It's back up. Lots of water.
After watching superfast Matt's video, I think they should call it.
Man that salt got everywhere.
Video??
Well here's the video not sure why he's called superfast! Shows you what to expect unless there's a miracle by the finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFQ_x9cBEt4
Super Fast someday :-D I think we are looking at 2 completely different scenarios, at SW it rained a couple days before the meet, this last rain is a few weeks before the next meet with warm temps and no rain in forecast(we all know that can change) I'm sure the USFRA will make the right call. We wont be going if its only a short course. Boots on the ground will have the best info. Hope to hear some reports over the next several days.
Well I think the fat lady has sung and the party is over
Yep! When this storm is over I'm packing it all away for the winter.
Sid.
Quote from: ronnieroadster on August 23, 2023, 10:53:35 AM
Well here's the video not sure why he's called superfast! Shows you what to expect unless there's a miracle by the finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFQ_x9cBEt4
That is a good video. I think "Superfast" is a tongue-in-cheek nickname. :-D
Quote from: manta22 on September 04, 2023, 03:00:47 PM
Quote from: ronnieroadster on August 23, 2023, 10:53:35 AM
Well here's the video not sure why he's called superfast! Shows you what to expect unless there's a miracle by the finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFQ_x9cBEt4
That is a good video. I think "Superfast" is a tongue-in-cheek nickname. :-D
Half fast was already taken! :-P
Love it, sounds like our program :cheers:
After drying out, it's wet again (rain last night?). Also - the cone is now earthbound.
That cone looks like a float gauge.
Someone scraped off a lot of salt near the cone today...
Any one know why the salt cam isn't working?
Quote from: willie on October 24, 2023, 08:35:06 AM
Any one know why the salt cam isn't working?
The web server appears to be down for the entire site, not just a problem with the camera:
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/
You can even ping the server, so that part still works.
Looks like some scheduled maintenance, so hopefully it will be up again soon.
https://chpc.utah.edu/news/latest_news/oct2023/20231018.php (https://chpc.utah.edu/news/latest_news/oct2023/20231018.php)
Disclaimer: I'm not sure if the computers described in the CHPC maintenance downtime page have anything to do with the salt flat pictures. The warning is on the same university computing domain, but we don't know if this is related.
Thanks for the update. I thought something was wrong with my computer.
It's back up!!!!!!!
From Sunday evening, January 28th. A stunning glassy surface reflects the colors of the sky and the distant mountain range.
I saved this one the other day. The sunrise made the mountain glow.
I like this link, 10-12 second video of yesterday every day
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
Some days when I look at the photo it just takes your breath away. Today is one of those.
The view from the camera has been looking promising. Fingers crossed that it stays dry this year.
What's happening here?
Driving off into the sunset?
Must be a "sepia" (sp?) print. The "floor" should be brilliant white.
See print to the left.
When I looked yestereday it looked like lots of vehicles running around on the salt. Lots after dark as well. I did see the sunset watchers.... but the salt was white during the morning of the video. Of course it is different every day
:cheers:
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
Can't imagine trying to find my way around in the dark out on the salt.
Running wide open on the salt at night with no lights on is a "Thing" the idiots do. A few years ago two died when they hit the dyke in a Mustang or some other death machine at high speed. During the day parents let their young kids loose in their cars while they video them doing stupid $hit. People camp out overnight, have camp fires & crap right on the salt. A few years ago when I was checking the salt depth I ran across some campers out there & made them pick up their crap. I was an angry Kiwi with a broken F-bomb filter like they'd never seen before! :evil:
Sid.
Let's hope the current rain heals some of the pot holes :cheers:
I can not access the camera :x
Ditto
Seems they have changed the link
new address here: https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg (https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg)
Quote from: Dodge Brother on May 04, 2024, 09:41:28 PM
Seems they have changed the link
new address here: https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg (https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg)
Thanks, it looks like they moved all the camera data to a new server:
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/
I'm guessing the official entry point is still this one:
https://meso1.chpc.utah.edu/mesowest_overview/group_products.html
yep my movie link moved to
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
lots of activity there after dark last night
Saw that during the storm on the movie that played yesterday... was ugly out there for a while.
More activity yesterday.
Some tyre/tire tracks appeared shortly before this and quite a few more just afterwards.
There are a LOT of new tracks on the salt.
I'm pretty sure the camera got blasted in the storm a few weeks ago. There has been no action from the camera for at least three weeks now.
Dude, I check the camera at least 10 times a day. It's working fine. This weekend has seen lots of traffic out there, even at night.
Quote from: Dodge Brother on May 04, 2024, 09:41:28 PM
Seems they have changed the link
new address here: https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg (https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg)
Maybe you didn't get the update
Quote from: Speed Limit 1000 on May 19, 2024, 12:47:49 PM
Quote from: Dodge Brother on May 04, 2024, 09:41:28 PM
Seems they have changed the link
new address here: https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg (https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg)
Maybe you didn't get the update
I had no idea about this. Thanks for the update. I couldn't get my daily fix.
Do we know who this is?
Yeah, that's one of the 200-300 dumba$$es I've seen on the movies day and night over the last month trying to screw up the racing surface.
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
I think the cone may be a magnet to the mouth breathers, may be time to remove it
On the other hand, this guy looks like he knows what he's doing.
I see the dreaded potholes that we've become uncomfortably used to seeing in this diluted salt. :-(
Sid.
Sid, not sure that's a recent picture... looks a little like last year :? :cheers:
Maybe we should move the cone to a REALLY soft area so those bozos go elsewhere- a huge tow bill might curb their enthusiasm lol8 :x
Monday afternoon was really windy out on the salt.
Thursday, the 25th there was some rain on the salt.
Some last night too, but it has been cleared by the next morning with no visible water. Let's keep hoping.
Rex
Checking the forecast looks like some rain today but clear and dry till the 7th as of now but as we all know ......... keep the faith and cross everything :cheers:
It's going to be just bichin. I command it. :cheers:
Wayno
I think I've been seeing trailers parked way out there since last Friday?
Gotta place the courses for the best advantage, lay the wires, etc.
Today is August 14th, and I still see a vehicle/trailer parked way out on the salt.
Don't worry -- leave it there long enuf it will disappear.
I believe what you are seeing are the dumpsters. They sometimes take several days to pick them up.
Hi Monte, rumor has it that the first mile or two is pretty beat up, are you able to move course down since we have 9 miles of salt?
Thanks
DiDebt... there may be 9 miles of salt, but there is definitely not 9 miles of smooth salt. Speedweek ran the same long until Thursday, then moved over... So that part in not that bad. It was rough past the 5 all week... but that's the slow down area and the chute is out so not really a problem.
The original course was getting rougher past the 1... it was always a little rough S-1.
Hopefully Monte can work his magic :cheers:
maybe someone of the Motorcycle Meet which is always between SW and WoS...for their prework on the track...
and yes...it was not the trash can's which drove around with the headlights on.... :friday :friday :friday
Salt got a little rain this morning.
I anyone is in the area, could you wipe off the lens on the camera?
It's been that way a while... I guess the U doesn't monitor that much... might have to hire the cleaning lady at the 6 to go out and wipe the lens...
Camera cleaned up yesterday. Perhaps someone saw this thread?
How long will it last?
Might be AI? :?
Someone really doesn't want that lens to stay clear.
Per Ellen from USFRA, checked with the BLM on concerns with the camera, their response, The camera is solar powered and when its cloudy for a prolonged period the batteries don't hold enough charge to keep the lens in focus. Asked the staff who maintains it if they would charge the battery- they said know. Now we know.
Not my JOB! :-P
:laugh:
I'd gues thay saed "no" -- butt what due eye no.
It's like a really boring TV show.
It's baaaaaaaaaaaack! :-o
I'm not buying the excuse about the battery being run down. It's something else.
f the battery is charged solely by sunlight - it makes sense that it's low and they don't "recharge" it. The days are short, there's not enough daylight to charge fully so it goes dead sooner than desired.
If you watch the movie instead of looking at stills you can see there was no human intervention in the camera view... no new tracks. I was skeptical of the battery story, but you can see mid-day the camera comes back
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
:cheers:
(https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg)
Looks like we are finally seeing some moisture, I can't recall the last time the salt was dry this far into the year?
Pretty sloppy out there all day.
When I see these pics, I wonder what it looked like there 50 years ago.
Could the mud still be seen thru the brine back when the salt was thicker?
Quote from: gowing on March 10, 2025, 12:17:12 PM
When I see these pics, I wonder what it looked like there 50 years ago.
Could the mud still be seen thru the brine back when the salt was thicker?
No, it's only been 10yrs or so since it got so thin that you can see through it.
Sid.
After all the wind, the salt had leveled out enough to spot new tracks across the salt on Thursday afternoon (Mar. 20th).
Looks like there is a couple of vehicles out on the salt.
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
I was just in Moab, Utah for a few days. Intrepid has a setup there too.
Anybody have the link to the saltflats camera ?
My link don't work anymore.
Intrepid sucked so hard the camera went down the drain along with the BLM & Brenda Bowen & I last saw them passing the road sign to Hell....... then I woke up. muutt
Sid.
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_current.jpg
This one works for me. 8-)
Today.
Don't think I've ever seen it look like this:
I was about to say the same. Ripples on the water.
Checked it several times today, and the texture was different every time. THIS is how the salt gets leveled.
Quote from: gowing on January 08, 2026, 03:09:51 PM
Today.
Don't think I've ever seen it look like this:
The pattern is unusual, but what about the color? How much salt is there in that picture?
Looks like this one is around 5pm on the 8th.
I'm hoping it looks like this because the sun is not shining on the ripples making it look dark. We know there was a lot of dirt from lands end to over a mile in last year with no salt. Hoping this is not the case from what we are seeing in these pictures.
Ron
Pretty wild pics. We're getting 2.5" of rain today in mid TN. Thats half a year's worth at the BSF.
The link I use a lot...
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
This frame seems to back up "smirking Brenda the pseudo-scientist" claim that the salt washes down from the mountains.... Wow look at all that salt on the top of that mountain... aktion086 aktion086 aktion086
Just another salt shower, it's been going on since before Adam was a cowboy..... apparently! :dhorse:
Sid.
Thanks for the link.
WoW!
QuoteWoW!
Yeah, that fog was incredible - wasn't it? In about an hour the bank of clouds had all blown to the north and it was just as surreal - clear water, no ripples - with a tall bank of clouds that obscured all the mountains. It was like sci-fi. And then - another hour it was clear as a bell. That camera has some amazing views!
From the other camera!
The other camera?
.
How do we access that one?
https://www.chronolog.io/site/BSF101
So one looks basically north, and the other looks basically east?
Is it just me or does the salt look better since the brief flooding? Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see?!
Uh, not so good...
I didn't think it would be solid enough, but I spotted a vehicle on the salt Saturday afternoon.
From the USFRA FB page:
Bo Burkdoll was able to head out over the weekend and snagged some shots at the 2mi and 5mi.
THANKS Bo
JL222
That's a pretty sad sight. :-( It's what I expected but I sure would have liked to be wrong.
Sid.
Friday evening around 6PM local I spotted 2 vehicles out on the salt... Drying out quickly?
That's what it looks like. And the snow is almost all gone from the mountains as well, no not a lot of snow melt left to come down either.
The latest video shows no visible water....
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
The morning of April 2nd I spotted a vehicle driving around in the slop before the wind picked up and smeared the surface out.
Looks like a car in the distance this morning.
Nice little storm went through yesterday
https://horel.chpc.utah.edu/data/station_cameras/bflat_cam/bflat_cam_yesterday.mp4
:cheers:
There was a storm that went thru a couple of days ago, but the salt is looking pretty dried out now. Has anyone been out lately to check out the salt?
I saw some kind of markers being set out across the salt this afternoon.
Quote from: aircap on June 25, 2026, 09:49:48 PMI saw some kind of markers being set out across the salt this afternoon.
USFRA has a test & tune starting today. That's most likely what you saw.
Any word on the Test & Tune?
Salt conditions?
J
The USFRA set up on the course 2 area, but with the start line at about the 1 and had 7 miles. Rough to about the 3, then smoother the last 2... 5-6 was OK, 6-7 a little damp but had salt. Dennis reported course 1 area had big holes on the course... almost like core samples... there was 1 on the course, but right in the middle, on the line. they patched it but no idea if it would hold up
Looks like the crunchies are a lot smaller than I've seen the last couple of years.
Hopefully It holds out for Speedweek.
Forcast is for hot dry racing.
I can't make it to S.W. this year but I'll be there for BMST and WOS.
We are looking forward to reports from you guys out there.
And also the livestream.
Maybe they will be able to get some footage of the racers on the course at speed this year.
Go Fast , Be safe!
I see activity. Oh how I miss arriving on the salt.
Seeing a lot of cars heading out to the pits on the camera. Goos luck everyone! Go fast and stay safe!
Been watching frequently and most activity has been in the morning. Spotted a line of parked cars yesterday, which went bye-bye pretty quickly.
There has been a vehicle parked on the salt in the same spot for at least 3 days. Is this normal?
Dumpster? :?
I guess it could be.
Sometime this afternoon between 3PM and 4pm (my time) the dumpster disappeared from the camera. Makes sense - Friday afternoon, the trash outfit made a long drive from Wendover (or maybe even Salt Lake City) to retrieve it. End of the month.
Well, standing water at the camera. Not a good sign. It must have really dumped today and last night. Hopefully the wind will help dry everything out.
The Knolls 200 desert race was cancelled today cause of these storms.
QuoteWell, standing water at the camera. Not a good sign. It must have really dumped today and last night. Hopefully the wind will help dry everything out.
Rained this morning...
https://imgur.com/a/j8Fo7UA
Is the camera working for anyone? I get not responding when I try to look.
Salt flats camera is down
My guess is the work order has been submitted, and they'll send someone out on Monday or Tuesday.
they having issues with the main server connection in the last five days...
but the main page still can't reach...they saying on their run log page that the
issue is fixed...but also they changed a day ago the rights of using/reaching the main page...
and the BSF camera is part of this main page...
if they block the whole page for outside viewer...it would means for us,
we can't check anymore the salt condition...
hope they figure that out and they find a solution to open this part of the page with
the camera views....
PS: another check showed...worldwide offline....
Bummer.
Looks like someone finally paid the light bill! :tongue:
Yeah, I just checked at 12:20PM my time and was happy to see the salt once again.
Surf's up? Well, maybe not - but there were waves across the salt Tuesday.
https://imgur.com/Tl8p9aR
From the other angle! :-o
Let the healing begin...
Quote from: Calkins on October 16, 2026, 08:48:16 AMLet the healing begin...
Healing!? What is it you people don't understand about what's happening to Bonneville? :dhorse: That's slurry mining in the making!!
Sid.
Captain Obvious here, but we seem to be in a no win situation, years where the lake bed floods we get salt redistribution that levels things out but is prime for mining and the dry years the salt holds the previous year's wear and we end up with pot holed courses that don't groom.
Quote from: Dodge Brother on October 16, 2026, 05:28:53 PMCaptain Obvious here, but we seem to be in a no win situation, years where the lake bed floods we get salt redistribution that levels things out but is prime for mining and the dry years the salt holds the previous year's wear and we end up with pot holed courses that don't groom.
No $hit!! When is every racer going to turn their brain on & understand what the hill is going on here! Right now that fresh water is saturating with salt & the only place that salt will be deposited is where that water is allowed to evaporate & that's on the south side of the freeway.
Sid. :tongue:
Sid every racer except you?
Was it you that sued to get the salt lay down?
Are you saying no rain is better?
JL222
There actually is no "better" only worse & if worser was actually a word it would fit here too.
We are racing on an active salt mining collection sight where the salt only goes to the mine evaporation ponds. When the water level is low, the only way they can move it is with the pumping system that is pulling from under the flats. When the water level is high like now, they will leave it until the saturation content & level are optimum then pull the plug & flow it to their ponds. In order to build up the salt crust on Bonneville the water would have to stay there & be allowed to evaporate & we all know that's not happening!
Now lets talk about "the pumping program" & I bet I'm going to step on some toes here!
So the reports say over the years they've pumped (laid down) a squillion-gazillion :roll: tons of salt back on to the flats & that's where that statement stops. But that's not the whole story because it doesn't get to stay there, that solution is only left there long enough to soak up more pure salt then it's flowed & pumped back to their settling ponds.
When that pumping program was first talked about, on the surface it sounded promising but arriving at the salt for the next event I saw the salt color change from brilliant white to a more cream color, it was a stark difference. Before this we used to bend shade tent stakes driving them into the salt & after a week it would take two men & a boy to get them back out again but now they went in easy & were falling out before the week was up. To me the salt had lost it's binder that had made it like white concrete & now it seemed more like damp sugar. Back in the one course days we would spend hours in line waiting to get a run, we didn't have A/C so the coolest place to be was under the truck lying on the salt because it was cold. Once the pumping started the salt got a lot warmer & I never did that again. The old guys will remember getting sunburnt under the bridge of the nose & under the ears from the sun reflection off the salt, that went away.
I'm just some uneducated country bumpkin who likes to build & race cars & over the last 38yrs I seen the changes, explored the flats when no one was there & even core drilled it to show up the lies so if there's somebody out there who wants to convince me I'm wrong, have at it!!
Sid.
Sid,
Great post. Just one question? If the pumping of salt back onto the flats helped the mining company, why don't they continue to pump it? Cost vs. Reward? There must be some logical reason and that is all I can think of.
Another problem we have concerning the Bonneville surface, is that potash has been declared a "critical mineral" and called for an increase in domestic production to reduce import dependence and strengthen national security (EO 14241). In March and April 2025.
I would think that until Potash is taken off the Critical Mineral list, we don't have any chance of the BLM helping us. JMO
I would assume pumping or not pumping would come down to their profit margin or maybe the salt crust is already lose enough where they don't need to. I don't have a contact at the mine like I did years ago so I can only best guess it now.
I've said many times, mining will only stop when the profit goes away but Bonneville is still dying.
Sid.
They will stop strip mining as soon as all the salt it gone, there won't be anything but a larger El Mirage with salt bumps left to race on. Pay attention to the first couple of miles when you leave the boat ramp.