Fall River - I landed there about 4 years ago in my RV-4. The saplings were just starting to get rooted - no X's at that time and no equipment. There was sufficient landable space then even for a low winger.

I would be interested in possibly helping on a weekend. I live in Sisters (k6K50 at the airport - anybody welcome to stop in and say hi. (Big brown house on the west side of the strip).

Steve
RV-4
Thinking about a highlander or bearhawk...

n144sh wrote:Fall River - I landed there about 4 years ago in my RV-4. The saplings were just starting to get rooted - no X's at that time and no equipment. There was sufficient landable space then even for a low winger.

I would be interested in possibly helping on a weekend. I live in Sisters (k6K50 at the airport - anybody welcome to stop in and say hi. (Big brown house on the west side of the strip).

Steve
RV-4
Thinking about a highlander or bearhawk...

Hi Steve,

Was it on the sectional? Did you talk to anybody about permission? Thank you!

[quote][/quote]

I don't recall if it was on sectional. It is in my GPS database... I did drive and look at it first - when visiting the hatchery across the road. No X's and I can't recall finding any info for the managing entity.

Steve

Good news! Thank you for the recon data!

n144sh wrote:

I don't recall if it was on sectional. It is in my GPS database... I did drive and look at it first - when visiting the hatchery across the road. No X's and I can't recall finding any info for the managing entity.

Steve

Steve,

One more question, if you may...what is the 3 character ID for the airstrip in your database?

Thx!

Hi,

I don't have an identifier in my database - it is just listed as fall river airport. The database is one I downloaded some time ago for OR private and public use airports. I can't remember where I got it from.

I did some searching on Deschutes county land use. Fall river airport appears to be in National Forest land, taxlot looks like it is associated with the fish hatchery across the road.

See Pistol Butte Topo map at: http://fsgeodata.fs.fed.us/rastergatewa ... dSrc=43121

Fish hatchery web page is: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/vi ... tchery.asp

Probably a good place to start is to contact the fish hatchery if we want to do some airport cleanup.

Steve

Got it !

http://fsgeodata.fs.fed.us/rastergateway/data/43121/fstopo/434512130_Pistol_Butte_FSTopo.pdf

Clearly designated as an airport on a federal map! No disclaimer.

Thank you.

Zzz wrote:

Beautiful! Love that blue sky!

I happen live close to the strip and used it frequently from 1955-2000. Then the Deschutes National Forest closed the strip and since then it's overgrown and badly rutted from ATV use. The strip was originally built to handle planes that carried fish from the state hatchery across the road to the lakes in the surrounding mountains. Since 2000 the strip has been designated as a regional fire camp for any forest fires in the area. It has been used for this purpose a few times. Sure, I'd be interested in seeing it opened again and cleaned up if the ruling agencies okay it. Nice to see some interest in it.

Contacting the hatchery manager might be the best place to start with this? Trout fishing in the Fall River is a good metaphor for our advocacy, as we might have only one chance to present our case for having this strip returned to service, before we spoil the possibility. We should develop a strategy and then approach the authorities? Is there a willing member who has land management experience who could become the focal point of this discussion with the Forest Service. I am willing but sometimes a little less diplomatic than some others.

You might contact the Fall River Fish Hatchery 541-593-1510
Deschutes County Sheriff's Office - they patrol this area!
BLM district office
Deschutes National Forest - Fort Rock Office (they do all the forest thinning and cleanup in this area)
One of these agencies is the governing body for the airstrip.

Diplomacy is ultra important! These area's are sensitive to outsiders.