CONCRETE ARROW QUEST : Search for Transcontinental Airway Beacons

Dam you and you Google maps... just blew over an hour trolling cement arrows nearby! lol

I know this is old, but this really peaked my interest as a pilot. I looks like many of these are on the modern Victor Airways so a sectional chart may help find them as well. Being from Florida I had no idea that these still exsisted since many in the South were destroyed during WW2 to not help enemy pilots and in Florida the sites have been built over or have succumbed back to the land.

Eddie, why couldn't you drive to the last one? Is there a rule about only using roads in the desert? please forgive my ignorance of life out West.
 
I know this is old, but this really peaked my interest as a pilot. I looks like many of these are on the modern Victor Airways so a sectional chart may help find them as well. Being from Florida I had no idea that these still exsisted since many in the South were destroyed during WW2 to not help enemy pilots and in Florida the sites have been built over or have succumbed back to the land.

Eddie, why couldn't you drive to the last one? Is there a rule about only using roads in the desert? please forgive my ignorance of life out West.

If you're referring to the last one in the first post of this thread, the beacon was on top of a steep hill and the road to it, had long since been washed away. While I'm sure we may have been able to find a way to climb up it anyway, we prefer not to go off trail.
 
If you're referring to the last one in the first post of this thread, the beacon was on top of a steep hill and the road to it, had long since been washed away. While I'm sure we may have been able to find a way to climb up it anyway, we prefer not to go off trail.

Ok that makes sense. I was curious because I've seen you videos and there doesn't seem to be anywhere that your jeep can't go
 
CONCRETE ARROW QUEST : Search for Transcontinental Airway Beacons - Part 9

After spending the last few days in the garage working on Jeeps, Cindy and I decided we needed a break and so we packed up Rubicat and headed out to do some exploring. Specifically, we had been scouting out some concrete arrows on Google Earth and went to see if we could find a way up to at least one of them that was close to home. And, as luck would have it, we were able to do just that and it was maybe one of the most unique one we've found to date. Unlike just about every concrete arrow we've found to date which has an arrow, a mid section that serves as a foundation for a tower and a tail which typically, but not always houses a generator shed, this arrow only had an arrow, a really long and bent shaft section and a tail. There was no mid section for a tower. Upon closer examination, we could see where there might have been some kind of concrete footings at the end of the tail that may have served as a foundation for a tower but, we couldn't be sure of it. Anyway, here are a few photos of what we found today.

Shot of Rubicat after pulling up to the concrete arrow.
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Standing at the tail and looking down the arrow pointing to the east. As you will see, there is no mid section where there would normally be a foundation for a tower and it is bent about half way through to show a course correction.
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Complete view from the back of the concrete arrow looking east.
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Shot of the generator mounts that would have been inside of the shed.
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The old step that would have stood in front of the shed access door.
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One of many old oil filters that most likely belonged to the generators.
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Tangle of old conduit nearby.
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Final shot of just the concrete arrow and looking toward the west.
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And, that's it for Part 9 of our Concrete Arrow Quest. If you would like to see more of our adventures looking for Transcontinental Airway Beacons, click on the link below:
CONCRETE ARROW QUEST : Search for Transcontinental Airway Beacons

:cool:
 
CONCRETE ARROW QUEST : Search for Transcontinental Airway Beacons - Part 9

Very interesting , thanks for sharing this with us. I never knew these even existed . Wonder if there's any in Florida.
 
Very interesting , thanks for sharing this with us. I never knew these even existed . Wonder if there's any in Florida.

In one of the other threads about the Arrows there is a google maps link with beacon locations. The ones in Florida look either built over or reclaimed by the swamps.
 
Here are a couple more for you...

This looks like so much fun to go out an explore! :thumb: Thanks for sharing Eddie!

I haven't been to these yet, the first is on the north bound side of I-15 near Afton Rd., The second is on the South Bound side of I-15 between Halloran Summit and Halloran Springs.

Avaition Arrow - JNO Afton Rd. NB I-15.jpgAviation Arrow - Afton Rd..jpgAviation Arrow - Halloran Summit I-15.jpgAviation Arrow - Halloran Summit I-15 #2.jpg
 
I haven't been to these yet, the first is on the north bound side of I-15 near Afton Rd., The second is on the South Bound side of I-15 between Halloran Summit and Halloran Springs.



Been wanting to go to Halloran Springs myself. I believe it's easily reached from the I-15 exit. Only problem is it's private property belonging to a mining company. They may be friendly, or not. Let us know how it works out if you go.:thumb:
 
I haven't been to these yet, the first is on the north bound side of I-15 near Afton Rd., The second is on the South Bound side of I-15 between Halloran Summit and Halloran Springs.



Been wanting to go to Halloran Springs myself. I believe it's easily reached from the I-15 exit. Only problem is it's private property belonging to a mining company. They may be friendly, or not. Let us know how it works out if you go.:thumb:

Will do, wasn't aware of the mining interest. I know someone goes up there and refreshes the cross on the knob periodically.
 
I haven't been to these yet, the first is on the north bound side of I-15 near Afton Rd., The second is on the South Bound side of I-15 between Halloran Summit and Halloran Springs.

I've tried finding a way to the Afton Canyon one but there are no longer any roads that you can take to it. The one main road near the freeway exit is fenced off and private property. You could probably hike to it but if I recall, it's still about a mile or so from the nearest road. I had not been up to the Halloran Summit arrow but it was on my to do list. Bummer if access to it is on private land as well.
 
I've tried finding a way to the Afton Canyon one but there are no longer any roads that you can take to it. The one main road near the freeway exit is fenced off and private property. You could probably hike to it but if I recall, it's still about a mile or so from the nearest road. I had not been up to the Halloran Summit arrow but it was on my to do list. Bummer if access to it is on private land as well.

I'm in the area pretty often, I will see what I can come up with.
 
Arrow near Afton Canyon CA

Great series Eddie & Cindy. That's the kind of exploring I like. There are tons of history still out there to find or re-locate and keep alive for future generations. :D

After catching the bug from Eddie & Cindy the "Quest Masters", I started looking for a couple arrows in my area. Found this one, you can't drive to it anymore (legally) so a short hike got me there.

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Thank you so much for posting these photos up Larry!! I just love how different so many of these concrete arrows are and this one is really unique in that it literally wraps around the top of the hillside. I also have to wonder where the generator shed might have been. This is definitely one I've been wanting to see for a while now - great find!! :thumb:
 
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