Do any of you guys have a current condition report for Chukar Flat (on the John Day river)?

Found this in a search. Know nothing else. http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthrea ... LEASE-HELP!

Tim

Does any one have any recent information on Chukar Flat. Im doing a little reading up on some of the strips out of my area (Hood River and the Dalles, OR). Chukar Flats sound like a great strip but I keep finding references to the BLM wanting to close the strip.

Whats the latest is it open or closed? Has anyone been out here lately? Anyone want to go?

I might head out there this week for a look.

Im new to backcountry flying in airplanes, lots of time in helicopters. Any thoughts on a 170 with 8" tires and a C145 on that strip?

Ken

I spoke with the land owner who owns the majority of the strip last fall, and he seemed to have no interest in restricting the use of his portion (the north 600' of the strip). The BLM does want to close this strip to airplanes and in the recent past, they chopped up the ground on the south end pretty good, to the point that it might present a hazard to small tired crafts. The grass can be high, making it difficult to see this hazard. Party-poopin BLM power trippers are down there constantly in the spring when the river is running, so I try to only use it from the mid-late summer through February/March when the flows are too low or the weather is too unpredictable for attracting multi-day watercraft trips. In my opinion, it is probably best to stay off of their radar for the few months of heavy use so that they don't push the closure effort any further.

Additionally, you had better be really light and proficient with short field ops in your 145hp 170 before going in there.

While it's not a difficult approach by any means, it is a little unorthodox, as you must maneuver down in the canyon. If you haven't had any mountain/canyon flying training, you might want to seek some out. PM me if you want a cockpit video of the approach.

I landed there with my wife in our 170B back in September of 2011. At the time the 170 had 8.00x6 tires and I had just put an 8042 prop on it. As Zane said, just keep it light and be proficient at short field work before you go in. I wouldn't go in there if I was too heavy or the DA was too high. The south end does get rougher the further you go, we landed and took off to the south so it wasn't an issue. You may have to land to the north depending on the winds, if that's the case I would recommend touching down abeam the tree to keep out of the worst of it. Bull Run on the Dechutes is also a fun strip you can check out on the way, look at shortfield.com for the coordinates.

Chukar Flats






Bull Run

Horseshoe, or Bull Run on the Lower Deschutes River is a sweet spot, but there are law men and women who do not want us flying in. I had a River Ranger take my tail number and give me a talking to for landing there. He said that aircraft are forbidden because it is a "wild and scenic river corridor". If you know this canyon, you know that it's frequently used by trains, jet boats, rafters, fishermen, cars and trucks, and it is full of roads, homes, farms, power lines, and pit toilets. Wild and scenic indeed!

I don't have a problem with any of these uses, just a problem with being singled out for using a less common and easier to pick on mode of transportation.

It is not a strip for beginners though, or anyone who hasn't studied it from above. It is not straight, is very narrow and has large rock piles on both sides that are easily mistaken for flat areas with tall grass. Several years back a guy landed in there in a Husky on Bushwheels and hit a rock pile. He balled it up real good! There are still little pieces of airframe around there.

Scolopax wrote:Horseshoe, or Bull Run on the Lower Deschutes River is a sweet spot, but there are law men and women who do not want us flying in. I had a River Ranger take my tail number and give me a talking to for landing there. He said that aircraft are forbidden because it is a "wild and scenic river corridor". If you know this canyon, you know that it's frequently used by trains, jet boats, rafters, fishermen, cars and trucks, and it is full of roads, homes, farms, power lines, and pit toilets. Wild and scenic indeed!

I don't have a problem with any of these uses, just a problem with being singled out for using a less common and easier to pick on mode of transportation.

It is not a strip for beginners though, or anyone who hasn't studied it from above. It is not straight, is very narrow and has large rock piles on both sides that are easily mistaken for flat areas with tall grass. Several years back a guy landed in there in a Husky on Bushwheels and hit a rock pile. He balled it up real good! There are still little pieces of airframe around there.

At the risk of a hi-jacked thread...
How do you land at somewhere like Bull Run with a constant turn without exposing yourself to ground looping at any second? I need to get myself some training on that technique... (I mean real training - but still interested to hear your thoughts!)

Rudder and brakes

Ahh I feel so enlightened, I've been using elevator all this time

Battson wrote:

Scolopax wrote:Horseshoe, or Bull Run on the Lower Deschutes River is a sweet spot, but there are law men and women who do not want us flying in. I had a River Ranger take my tail number and give me a talking to for landing there. He said that aircraft are forbidden because it is a "wild and scenic river corridor". If you know this canyon, you know that it's frequently used by trains, jet boats, rafters, fishermen, cars and trucks, and it is full of roads, homes, farms, power lines, and pit toilets. Wild and scenic indeed!

I don't have a problem with any of these uses, just a problem with being singled out for using a less common and easier to pick on mode of transportation.

It is not a strip for beginners though, or anyone who hasn't studied it from above. It is not straight, is very narrow and has large rock piles on both sides that are easily mistaken for flat areas with tall grass. Several years back a guy landed in there in a Husky on Bushwheels and hit a rock pile. He balled it up real good! There are still little pieces of airframe around there.

At the risk of a hi-jacked thread...
How do you land at somewhere like Bull Run with a constant turn without exposing yourself to ground looping at any second? I need to get myself some training on that technique... (I mean real training - but still interested to hear your thoughts!)

The way that I learned was tail up ground handling exercises on a wide runway. Start on the left side, steer over to the centerline with the tail up, straighten out and hold the track, steer to the right side, straighten out, hold the track, back to the left, etc... Pay close attention to the feel and response of rudder and brake inputs. Elevator and aileron inputs will also have an effect as well. This type of exercise can be very valuable. Work your way up to more aggressive maneuvers. At some point you will know what your ground handling limits are. Being able to arrest a ground loop is just the beginning of tailwheel handling. Rolling one main down the runway in uncoordinated flight is as much fun as you can have on the ground.

Scolopax wrote:.....
The way that I learned was tail up ground handling exercises on a wide runway. Start on the left side, steer over to the centerline with the tail up, straighten out and hold the track, steer to the right side, straighten out, hold the track, back to the left, etc........

Sounds about like my first takeoff in a taildragger, except for the tail-up part.

I was in Chuckar last week, and go there frequently. The south end of the runway is getting pretty chewed up. I'd recommend landing 50-100 feet north of the tree & picnic table. There are big divits in that first 100 feet or so. My preferred approach is from the north, landing south. Again, the first 100 feet are pretty rough. I always land abeam or past the large rock pile to the east of the runway. You'll see it when you fly over. Be careful I've only been flying in there for the last 5 years, and I've seen quite a few airplanes get balled up going in there!!!

Thanks guys for the information on Chukar Flat. Sounds like it might be about as short as one wants to go with stock 170. Ive fought wildfires with helicopters in both the John Day and Deschutes river canyons so i know what is like down in those canyons. Lets just say its not much fun down in there when the wind is 30+ knots over the top of the canyon.

I think I will head over there for a look see today. Don't think I will land, just shoot a few high approaches to get an idea whats involved. Im a pretty conservative pilot and don't like scaring myself.


I did a little reading up on the Wild and Scenic River Act. The idea behind it is to keep the river free flowing and not allow it to be dammed. It has nothing to do with types of recreation. I did find in the BLM rules for the lower Deschutes canyon two references to aircraft. They are,

13. Operating an aircraft in violation of FAA rules and regulations.
14. Landing an aircraft without authorization when required.

Are you required to have authorization to land at Bull Run? Probably not but I think I will call the BLM and find out.



Thanks again for the reports and photos.

I will be camped out at Chukar tonight on my way to Idaho. Probably will not be there until just before dark. Throw your camping gear in and if you decide you are comfortable to land, come hang out.

Red and white Maule

Brent

Waterboy wrote:.......... Are you required to have authorization to land at Bull Run? Probably not but I think I will call the BLM and find out............

In my experience, most people (esp at public agencies) are springloaded to answer "no" when asked if it's okay to do anything out of the norm. They often can't explain why it's not allowed, just that it isn't. Sometimes it's better to just do whatever it is you want to do, then if they give you a hard time about it afterward either deny everything or say you thought it was OK.

Camped at Chukar two nights ago. As mentioned previously, the south end is a bit rough. Land abeam the picnic table plus maybe 50'. Deer like to bed down in the shade of the scrub toward the north end. A low pass to stir things up and look things over might be in order. Somebody put a new wind sock up, thanks for that.

Looks like a great spot! I stuck with my plan and flew a few low approaches but did not set down. Next time.

I have landed the Deschutes strip for over 15 years, I will land it until they close it with a proper X and somekind of proof showing why it is now closed. This is why I hate anyone in a power position that threatens to take my rights away that does not have the right... F*&*em and feed them fish...

Maulguy, couldn't agree more I usually park at the South end away from the river. Alot less noticeable that way. Rafters can still see you if they're looking, but much less so than if you park at the North end near the outhouse.