Hello fellow BCPers. Has anyone been to Dolores point this year? I'm thinking of going there this weekend and I'm wondering what the strip is like. I'm in a 182 without bushwheels so if it's a bit on the rutty side I may have to find an alternative. What about Hubbard...?

Thanks,

Stig

I'm sure some of the local guys have a report to give. Please make sure to update shortfield.com if you go. I'd like to get down there this fall too.

I'm sure you'll get a response from someone who has been there more recently, but Dolores was fine last Spring. Grass has occasionally been an issue in the past in the summer in places, and it is nice to wait after a good rain to let it firm up. Bushwheels are certainly not needed there. People stop in there on almost every weekend in pretty much anything with wings. The DA is the big item to watch out for...not the runway surface.

Have fun. Good to see another KLMO person out there.

I was there 2 weeks ago and it was in good shape.
However......We have had a LOT of rain over the past week especially in the high country. I would recommend a low pass first.
No rain today and none likely until next week except widely scattered local showers.
Temps in Junction this weekend forecast in the low to mid nineties so the D.A. at Dolores (10 to 15 degrees cooler) will be a factor.
If you've not been to Dolores before I would highly recommend landing to the south unless there is a compelling wind from the north.
Not usually rutty as much as somewhat undulating. Wind sock near the northern end.
Hubbard is almost always in good shape and it generally get less rain.
Gas at Mack Mesa if you need it.
This is looking to the North from the top of the hill.

One more questions...
How long approximately is the hike down to Gateway. We are in pretty good shape so about average for hiking speed (or slightly over). I'm just wondering if it's 30 minutes or 3 hours.

Thanks again!

For some reason my initial reply to the posts here didn't make it so here it is again - sort of:

Thanks so much for the status reports, suggestions and pictures. This is every helpful. The weather is looking good for Sunday and we will be leaving BJC early to get into Dolores around 9 or so. The plan is to have a picnic and get back out of there before noon. The tips about DA are appreciated and we'll keep an eye out for the temps and if needed chill until evening. A trip to Gateway may be in order if the temps are too high. I'll plan on landing to the South with a flyover to check conditions and wind-sock before committing.

Again, thanks very much. I'll grab some snaps and post here and on shortfield.com for anyone else that is interested.

I think I will also stop in at Mac Mesa to see if some of the La Garita folks are in the area.

Cheers!

Stig

Never tried hiking from Dolores to Gateway. From Hubbard, it is only minutes to go to the resort and restaurant. Usually takes us 15 to 20 minutes to walk along the road.

Dittos on the "undulating" surface of Dolores. Hubbard is usually in good shape - land to the south on 18 (slopes up in that direction) and takeoff on 36. Tie down near the hangar.

Stigmon wrote:For some reason my initial reply to the posts here didn't make it so here it is again - sort of:

Thanks so much for the status reports, suggestions and pictures. This is every helpful. The weather is looking good for Sunday and we will be leaving BJC early to get into Dolores around 9 or so. The plan is to have a picnic and get back out of there before noon. The tips about DA are appreciated and we'll keep an eye out for the temps and if needed chill until evening. A trip to Gateway may be in order if the temps are too high. I'll plan on landing to the South with a flyover to check conditions and wind-sock before committing.

Again, thanks very much. I'll grab some snaps and post here and on shortfield.com for anyone else that is interested.

I think I will also stop in at Mac Mesa to see if some of the La Garita folks are in the area.

I guessing you posted, BCP warned you that someone else had posted and you didn't click to confirm that you really wanted to post. Happens to a lot of newbies. I've started a petition to change this behavior.

https://www.change.org/petitions/presid ... g-behavior

lolz

Kkkkkkkkkkk...
Thanks for clarifying (on change.org and to the president) about that unusual behavior. Yes I agree with the request to have BCP.org behave like most other sites. I've gotten tripped up on that before and didn't have time to deal with it so left and I'm not sure what happened to the post. I also wish there was a simple way to post pictures. Let me just attach them directly within the post as I do with FB or what have you. That might also limit the issues Zane has had with Galen Hanselman because people could post the pictures they had rather than links..

Thanks again.

And thanks for the Hubbard suggestions. I am planning on going in there as well unless we don't get as early a start and it start's to get hot down in the canyon.

Cheers everyone!

Stig

Stig, good to see you on here!

Lots of good comments and info. The hike from Dolores to Hubbard would take many hours and there is no direct route, I 2nd on just landing at both Hubbard and Dolores (Hubbard is in better condition than Dolores imo).

Also, note that there was a small erosion "ditch" on the south end that may cause trouble for a nosewheel. This was there a year ago and may be filled? (Do you happen to know S12?) Pictures here: http://flycolorado.org/index.php/airstr ... res-point/

Enjoy the flight and have a safe trip, hope to see you soon.

Matt

Thanks Matt,

I'm pretty much set on taking in the views at Dolores and then heading into Hubbard for lunch. The weather right now is forecast to be in the low to mid 70's so that sounds both comfortable and less of a DA concern.

I've seen the pictures of the erosion ditch and I will see if I can spot it on the flyover but be prepared to stay left of the center of the strip if need be. I will be landing to the South (14) per recommendations here and flycolorado so it may not be a factor other than when taxiing and takeoff if it's still contained on the Southern 3rd or so that has been reported.

Thanks again,

Stig

mountainmatt wrote:Stig, good to see you on here!

Lots of good comments and info. The hike from Dolores to Hubbard would take many hours and there is no direct route, I 2nd on just landing at both Hubbard and Dolores (Hubbard is in better condition than Dolores imo).

Also, note that there was a small erosion "ditch" on the south end that may cause trouble for a nosewheel. This was there a year ago and may be filled? (Do you happen to know S12?) Pictures here: http://flycolorado.org/index.php/airstr ... res-point/

Enjoy the flight and have a safe trip, hope to see you soon.

Matt

I have to say that I have never been on the south end of the strip. I always land up the hill and park at the crest. I fully concur that the hike would be a multi hour affair going down and a lot more going up. It's nearly 3000 feet difference in elevation and you have to go quite a bit south before you can get through the cliff bands. If you don't have to hit Hubbard, I would just bring a lunch and picnic on the overlook.
Hubbard is a golf course compared to Dolores. The resort at Gateway if $$$$. with nightly rates from 500 to 2000 a night.
The strip should be very dry on Sunday, no rain for days and temps in the low 80s.
Do a soft field take off to the north, hang out in ground effect for a while and level off. The terrain is descending for a long way.
Bear left and head to Castle Valley and Fisher towers. You won't be sorry.
I might be tempted to head there Sunday.
This is a video landing to the south and taking off to the north. You can easily see both wind socks.
The first couple of minutes are the flight up.

Stigmon wrote:Kkkkkkkkkkk...
Thanks for clarifying (on change.org and to the president) about that unusual behavior. Yes I agree with the request to have BCP.org behave like most other sites. I've gotten tripped up on that before and didn't have time to deal with it so left and I'm not sure what happened to the post. I also wish there was a simple way to post pictures. Let me just attach them directly within the post as I do with FB or what have you. That might also limit the issues Zane has had with Galen Hanselman because people could post the pictures they had rather than links..

Thanks again.

And thanks for the Hubbard suggestions. I am planning on going in there as well unless we don't get as early a start and it start's to get hot down in the canyon.

Cheers everyone!

Stig

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/ ... orum-15156

Please read that post regarding my image posting philosophy. Nothing is going to change without a major cash infusion or a Kickstarter or something. Sorry folks. Custom development is expensive and there's no profit to dip into. BCP is barely existing with my donated time and money; the ads offset it a little but it's a drop in the bucket. Unfortunately life happens and mine is pretty busy with other endeavors, like job/family/house/airplane... so take the few minutes to learn a simple process that so many others on here successfully have. Good luck.

Zzz wrote:

Stigmon wrote:Kkkkkkkkkkk...
Thanks for clarifying (on change.org and to the president) about that unusual behavior. Yes I agree with the request to have BCP.org behave like most other sites. I've gotten tripped up on that before and didn't have time to deal with it so left and I'm not sure what happened to the post. I also wish there was a simple way to post pictures. Let me just attach them directly within the post as I do with FB or what have you. That might also limit the issues Zane has had with Galen Hanselman because people could post the pictures they had rather than links..

Thanks again.

And thanks for the Hubbard suggestions. I am planning on going in there as well unless we don't get as early a start and it start's to get hot down in the canyon.

Cheers everyone!

Stig

https://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/ ... orum-15156

Please read that post regarding my image posting philosophy. Nothing is going to change without a major cash infusion or a Kickstarter or something. Sorry folks. Custom development is expensive and there's no profit to dip into. BCP is barely existing with my donated time and money; the ads offset it a little but it's a drop in the bucket. Unfortunately life happens and mine is pretty busy with other endeavors, like job/family/house/airplane... so take the few minutes to learn a simple process that so many others on here successfully have. Good luck.

Thank you Zane! To everybody else who enjoys this site don't forget to use the PayPal button several times a year. Imagine your life if BCP didn't exists???

OregonMaule wrote:Thank you Zane! To everybody else who enjoys this site don't forget to use the PayPal button several times a year. Imagine your life if BCP didn't exists???

I should add that I am very grateful to those who have donated over the last year. It's been a huge help. I know who each of you are and keep you on a list

I went to Dolores Point back in July, it was hot and there were little bugs that were annoying. It was still great though.
If you had bikes then a ride down to gateway would be a blast, just call up a buddy with a plane to fly you back up!

Have fun, be safe.
P

> Dolores + Hubbard - check
> Meet BCP friends - check
> Make new BCP friends at Hubbard - check
> Donated to BCP - check

Thanks to the folks on here that posted conditions and tips about flying into Dolores. The conditions were just as stated with the exception that the windsock is gone (maybe someone said that and I didn't see it - regardless no windsock). The suggestions for first time into this strip was also right on.

Great to run into Travis, meet S12 and others too. I will post a trip report and pics later today or within a couple of days.

Thanks again for all the info from fellow BCPers.

--Stig

Zane,

I'm fine with the image posting process and I have learned how to do it and I can manage. Thanks for keeping the site up, I'm very appreciative of it, the articles and the help I received this past weekend. I also completely understand you also have a life to live. My quips are done.

Thanks again!

Cheers,

Stig

So Stig,
You going to tell us what you did on you "pitstop" at Dolores?

Here's some pics from both places.
I was surprised to se that both windsocks were gone.
Video in a day or two.

Charlie