Let’s play a game, shall we

[fourfive8]

Oahu Hawaii ?

OK, here's the billion dollar lotto answer on specific location for the hoof pick. @BourbonTrail correctly guessed two possible places in southern NM- Armendaris Ranch or White Sands. I assume meaning White Sands Missile Range? The Armendaris ranch located between the Rio Grande and the San Andres Mtns/WSMR boundary with WSMR located to the east including the San Andres Mtns and the Tulaorsa Basin.

WSMR was originally designated the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range in 1941 as needed for WWII. Then used for 1st nuke test in 1945. The reason for those date clues. I found the home made hoof pick at one of the abandoned ranch sites on WSMR. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the range during one of my previous lives. Most assume the McDonald ranch because of its proximity to the Trinity site and frequency of being in the news. But there were several hard scrabble ranches around the Tularosa Basin prior to US Gov annexation of the gunnery range in 1941. This abandoned ranch is 35 miles south of Trinity site and the McDonald Ranch site. It is in about the geographic center of WSMR proper, approx. 60 miles north of headquarters and on an undesignated two track a few miles easterly of Rhodes Range Center. The abandoned ranch site is not shown on common WSMR maps. The closest map feature, IIRC, is a 1 mile diameter circular impact and recovery area for testing some of the munitions used during the 1st gulf war. The circular area was cleared of all vegetation and still plainly shows on recent sat maps. TMI I know but hey.... done in spirit of full disclosure

 

[Altitude sickness]

Very interesting background for such an inauspicious piece of iron. Does it glow at night :>))))

 

[fourfive8]

Just don’t carry that stuff around in your pocket!

To say that WSMR and that general area is an interesting place would be a gross understatement! From Billy The Kid and western history to the oldest human footprints to manned space flight to a TDRS hub to “Star Wars” technology…. the classified hi-tech R&D there is compartmentalized for security reasons. But many times, even if not part of your specific and narrow sphere, you can observe and come pretty close to figuring out some of the details- then say to yourself, “oh my!” Then sometimes you just say to self, “no clue”

 

[Altitude sickness]

Have you seen the military target sled, zip line there ?

 

[fourfive8]

Good question!

 

[fourfive8]

Good question! If it is just west of Rhodes and near the old Rat Scat site- yes. But access is strictly controlled. It is visible from RR7 and really stands out in satellite view pic below.

If on SMR farther south, maybe from a lot of years ago?… like 1970-75 R&D testing of avionics of systems like the M712 Copperhead. Smaller scale so I don’t know
If still there?

Of course if talking about the Mach 8.6 sled at Holloman?? Yes. spent some time there but much more over on WSMR - that sled is a different critter- very impressive!

Satellite image of long blackened “trackway” line? west of Rhodes. Impressive test site almost 2 miles long!

 

[BourbonTrail]

OK, here's the billion dollar lotto answer on specific location for the hoof pick. @BourbonTrail correctly guessed two possible places in southern NM- Armendaris Ranch or White Sands. I assume meaning White Sands Missile Range? The Armendaris ranch located between the Rio Grande and the San Andres Mtns/WSMR boundary with WSMR located to the east including the San Andres Mtns and the Tulaorsa Basin.

WSMR was originally designated the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range in 1941 as needed for WWII. Then used for 1st nuke test in 1945. The reason for those date clues. I found the home made hoof pick at one of the abandoned ranch sites on WSMR. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time on the range during one of my previous lives. Most assume the McDonald ranch because of its proximity to the Trinity site and frequency of being in the news. But there were several hard scrabble ranches around the Tularosa Basin prior to US Gov annexation of the gunnery range in 1941. This abandoned ranch is 35 miles south of Trinity site and the McDonald Ranch site. It is in about the geographic center of WSMR proper, approx. 60 miles north of headquarters and on an undesignated two track a few miles easterly of Rhodes Range Center. The abandoned ranch site is not shown on common WSMR maps. The closest map feature, IIRC, is a 1 mile diameter circular impact and recovery area for testing some of the munitions used during the 1st gulf war. The circular area was cleared of all vegetation and still plainly shows on recent sat maps. TMI I know but hey.... done in spirit of full disclosure

Lots of cool things to see there

 

[Bearbait1]

White sands missile area also has fantastic scaled and gambles quail hunting.

 

[rgsiii]

‘Tis the season

 

[rgsiii]

It may be a bit difficult to figure out mine. It was a Harry and David Christmas fruit basket that was FedEx’d. They did a very thorough job.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I definitely did not know what that was.

 

[fourfive8]

Have you seen the military target sled, zip line there ?

That question certainly got my attention... for another reason though!

There are a bunch of things at WSMR that are "interesting". The satellite shot I posted of the long blackened strip that lies westerly (uphill) form Rhodes is one of those. I was not involved in any research or activity at that site and its access is strictly controlled by separate gate. It is certainly an oddity by design and by its sheer scale at about 2 miles long. Also it is not on flat ground. It slopes at about a 10-15 +/- degree grade from NW to SE. I believe it was originally some form of instrumented "target" area built during the beginning of the Star Wars research era at WSMR. I also believe that some of the military dedicated Space Shuttle flights were involved in it original use. It may still be used for some similar purpose? Easy to find on Google Earth. Enter Salinas Peak. Look south of Salinas Peak in the alluvial slope area east of the mtn range. Zoom in and it is easy to find. Also it is not lined up with the "big kahoonah" of primary laser research sites farther south, just north of HWY 70 near the old Mar site. The site is now called HELSTF. It's about half way between SMR and the White Sands Monument entrance. Of course all this Star Wars stuff was one of many reasons the Soviet Union fell apart- couldn't keep up with the cost of chasing the technology of the US and changes in leadership all coupled with huge international pressure coming from all angles.

The question about the zip line got my attention because I was involved in a very small way in designing a methodology for the R&D of the M712 back in a previous life- late 60s- early 70s. That methodology involved using a small solid rocket motor with test payload attached to a high tension wire (a zip line if you will) to test and fine tune the avionics and laser guidance system of the M712. One of my cohorts was much more involved in that project for a longer time than I was. It was a joint contract with Martin Marietta and Texas Instruments as primaries. That early testing was done on the SMR part of the range. The proof, live fire testing on old tank targets was done much farther up range closer to Rhodes.

I will say there is a ton of old munitions and targets of various and odd types laying around WSMR. Many of 50 cal cases and bullets date back to WWII. I am not familiar with more recent conventional target trackways or zip lines you referenced though- so I dunno? As an aside, I think the German Air Force has used the range extensively for training and rotated in and out of Holloman regularly.

 

[fourfive8]

 

[375er]

View attachment 579715

View attachment 579716

Makes for hands-free boot removal?

 

[fourfive8]

Makes for hands-free boot removal?

Actually not a bad guess but no cigar

 

[Altitude sickness]

Boot spur holder ?

 

[fourfive8]

Boot spur holder ?

Yes! Used as support base for wearing of the massive ceremony, parade and costume Espuelas Grandes/Gaucho Patron spurs- Chile and Argentina. Allowed for wearing these spurs even with sandals.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Are those your spurs? Do you collect them

 

[fourfive8]

Are those your spurs? Do you collect them

Yes, have a few of these Espuela Grande pairs among various other, more familiar types like- Plains, California and Texas. Many of the original, massive South American spurs were made in late 1800s using railroad scrap. The rowels are cut and filed out of a single piece of iron. Many also incorporate North African Moorish symbols like stars and moon crescents retained by the Spanish during colonization into the Americas.

 

[Altitude sickness]

What is the story with those two.
Maker
Country
Use etc