I've searched this forum for advice on building a backcountry strip, but I'm looking for some insight. I've seen the videos of Supercubs taking off in 18' and landing on gravel bars and whatnot, and read about building grass strips of 1400-1650 feet, with widths of anywhere from 60' wide and up.

Anyway, I don't have a Supercub, I'm just learning to fly, and I'm in Canada (BC) and most of the planes around here (at least all the bushplanes I've flown in) are on floats. I don't know what kind of plane I'll end up getting for backcountry flying, and if it will have floats or wheels. With wheels I suspect I'd be in the bush faster. It looks like lots of you guys in the US have wheels, but I only see few planes here with the big wheels.

I've driven pick-ups, Suzukis, quads, and I've walked to some pretty remote places. I want to fly to even more remote places. The place I've mapped for my question is about 200 miles from where I live, but takes me about 7 hours to drive to (actually, the road doesn't get there - you need a quad or a horse or you walk -ever shoot a moose? You don't want to be walking far ).

So, are there such things as backcountry strips that aren't owned by anyone? Places that people land at, camp at, and maybe improve bit by bit? What are the minimums that you need for length and width? How do they get started?

Here's an example of a place where I've moose hunted before.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=schr ... 9&t=h&z=18

You can see a little cabin there, and it looks like open meadow. What could you land there? Any input/insights?

uncle_rob wrote:Here's an example of a place where I've moose hunted before.
http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=schr ... 9&t=h&z=18

You can see a little cabin there, and it looks like open meadow. What could you land there? Any input/insights?

Skiplane. Take a chainsaw and a ropealong to improve your overrun for wheel gear.

I've been wondering the same sort of thing?

That is something you work your up to, pushing yourself along.
You find the "edge" of riding bikes or four wheeling by crashing a few times, you don't want to do that with your plane.

The aerial map can be deceiving. The aerial view doesn't give a good idea of what the landing terrain is like. The topographical window lets you know that there is common elevation by following the lines of equal elevation ,like pressure gradients on a barometric chart, it doesn't really provide what a pilot would need to make a landing decision. The terrain changes of 200 meters along the clearing north of the cabin could provide an approach obstacle for some types. It might be of more use to ride along with someone and do a fly over or to take some pictures from the ground when you visit again.