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UER Forum > US: Pacific Southwest > Missile Silos (Viewed 3489 times)
taddy 


Location: San Francisco
Gender: Male
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Missile Silos
< on 9/23/2017 2:42 AM >
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Hello everyone. Today I explored a long forgotten classic of Southern California. I know there is most certainly another post/thread for this spot but I made a new one because any others I can find are very outdated. Below are a set of photos I took while exploring. My approach took 7 miles in and out and was not a flat hike. I had been putting this spot off for a long time now because I just didn't want to do it in the heat of summer. Also, I had heard of radioactive materials left out here if anyone of you have more information on that I would appreciate it. This site is very old and was interesting to see. Lots of bunkers, and lots of welded doors, so I did as thorough of an explore possible. As I was here there were many military helicopters, jets and other planes used for the area that made it feel like we were being searched from the sky when in reality it was the the airbase doing training. This place doesn't even need security, I felt like the biome surrounding the area fended off any potential trespassers, except for those dedicated and willing to see the remains of this old missile launching test facility. I do not have much information on the site regarding its history so if anyone of you have done previous research that would be amazing if you could tell me what you know. Enjoy!
1. The service road was so old it had plants growing on it


2. Lots of old rusted pieces of industrial metal they left behind


3. Managed to get myself into this situation


4. And please tell me anything you know about what a missile launch facility from the 1950's has to offer regarding radioactivity


5. Lots of underground area


6. Luckily I didn't even hear any gun shots


7. Example A of live fire area


8. Bunker


9. Bunker


10. An example of the interesting old pieces of debris that was lying everywhere


11. In the background is an old office


12. I have no idea how exactly this was used or what for but I looks like it has to do with missiles an is a sick structure


13. Another angle, if you have any idea of how this worked or what it was exactly please tell


14. Climbing around to see the various bunkers and structures


15. Another giant random structure


16. It was big


17. And infested with bees


18. Seems like a good set for a movie


19. The trail was steep and long


20. Finally got to the top of a hill


21. This was in another closer area/ canyon and I'm pretty sure these are the actual missile silos. Dropping a rock down took 3 seconds, which, taking into account the time it takes to reach full free falling speed, means that it went down around 100ft. My brother on the other side for scale


22. Another bunker


23. A very shot up door on a bunker. As we approached a North American barn owl flew out. Very pretty bird



[last edit 9/23/2017 3:27 AM by taddy - edited 4 times]

blackhawk 

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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 1 on 9/23/2017 2:48 AM >
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Not sure what you have there.
Those aren't harden silos.
Looks more like a rocket engine test site.
Pretty damn cool




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Explorer Zero 


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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 2 on 9/23/2017 3:03 AM >
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Nice job and nice find well worth the hike Id say.

I agree doesn't look like any ICBM site Ive seen but message member /-/ooligan he might know.

Image 13 looks like some sort of blast/exhaust deflector all right.




RescueMe1060 


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Radioactivity, its in the air for you & me

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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 3 on 9/23/2017 4:26 AM >
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I was going to guess exhaust deflector as well, like they have at airports or on runways




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Lachy 


Location: San Francisco
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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 4 on 9/23/2017 4:33 AM >
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Awesome post Taddy!




Vectored Approach 


Location: Morgan Hill, CA
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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 5 on 9/23/2017 5:11 AM >
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There used to be a site like this east of San Jose, out up Metcalf Road. The entire site, except for one test stand, has been completely removed, the site remediated and fenced off. Still, pretty interesting. Check out the wayback slider on Google Earth to see if there's any further information to be located.

Those are rocket engine test stands. The engine would be suspended vertically. Thrust would be deflected out to the side by the curved ramps. Most of the 'bunkers' you are showing are more likely walls to deflect blast from other test sections or away from control, fuel or other facilities. Pretty cool site.




Honesty may be the best policy, but it's important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy. -George Carlin (1937 - 2008)
RickMcDick 


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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 6 on 9/28/2017 6:08 PM >
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it would be interesting to bring a Geiger counter to test if the area really is hot




taddy 


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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 7 on 9/28/2017 9:29 PM >
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Posted by RickMcDick
it would be interesting to bring a Geiger counter to test if the area really is hot

That would be interesting, I should have. But... none of my hair has fallen out yet.



[last edit 9/28/2017 9:30 PM by taddy - edited 1 times]

blackhawk 

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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 8 on 9/29/2017 12:10 AM >
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Hate to tell you but I doubt there ever were any warheads near this location.

Of coarse they did have nuclear fueled jet and rocket (NERVA) engines.
These were tested on the ground in Idaho and airborne for the former, I believe.
The latter only in Los Alamos and the Nevada Test Site.
Both were a tad dirty.



Kiwi B4-A reactor


Flow diagram for NERVA engine

Full details for NERVA:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/NERVA



[last edit 9/29/2017 12:16 AM by blackhawk - edited 2 times]

Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
taddy 


Location: San Francisco
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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 9 on 9/29/2017 12:24 AM >
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Sorry for the incorrect information in the title and thank you guys for the information, very helpful. The site is formerly called the sycamore canyon test facility and was only a test facility for the engines used on the atlas and centaur multistage rocket launches. Here are some simple google search results about the information on San Diego's Mira Mar Airbase.

https://en.wikiped...nyon_Test_Facility
https://en.wikiped...g/wiki/SM-65_Atlas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur_(rocket_stage)

http://www.silowor...camore__canyon.htm






[last edit 9/29/2017 12:27 AM by taddy - edited 1 times]

blackhawk 

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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 10 on 9/29/2017 12:37 AM >
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Posted by taddy
Sorry for the incorrect information in the title and thank you guys for the information, very helpful. The site is formerly called the sycamore canyon test facility and was only a test facility for the engines used on the atlas and centaur multistage rocket launches. Here are some simple google search results about the information on San Diego's Mira Mar Airbase.

https://en.wikiped...nyon_Test_Facility
https://en.wikiped...g/wiki/SM-65_Atlas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur_(rocket_stage)

http://www.silowor...camore__canyon.htm






Nothing to be sorry about; it's a cool find.
I enjoyed seeing your images of the site




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
OnlyFootprints 


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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 11 on 9/29/2017 10:26 PM >
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Posted by taddy
Sorry for the incorrect information in the title and thank you guys for the information, very helpful. The site is formerly called the sycamore canyon test facility and was only a test facility for the engines used on the atlas and centaur multistage rocket launches. Here are some simple google search results about the information on San Diego's Mira Mar Airbase.

https://en.wikiped...nyon_Test_Facility
https://en.wikiped...g/wiki/SM-65_Atlas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur_(rocket_stage)

http://www.silowor...camore__canyon.htm






I went there about a year ago but didn't go off the main road (near the rifle range). Now I wish I did seeing these remnants.




Rusty Canadian 


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LS swap it!

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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 12 on 9/29/2017 11:08 PM >
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That's some gnarly stuff you got there man! I'd never even think about approaching a supposed ex-military controlled site!




"When we see a sign that says "Danger: Do Not Enter", we understand that this is simply a shorthand way of saying "Leaving Protected Zone: Demonstrate Personal Accountability Beyond This Point"."

- Ninjalicious
cdracingzx6r 


Location: Orange County, California
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Re: Missile Silos
< Reply # 13 on 10/1/2017 9:08 AM >
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This location is active occasionally for training and munitions disposal. I picked a bad day to go there once.

Id also like to say fuck the bees living there. Evil little assholes.




[last edit 10/1/2017 9:13 AM by cdracingzx6r - edited 1 times]

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UER Forum > US: Pacific Southwest > Missile Silos (Viewed 3489 times)


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