Read, click the PDF link at the end.

http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2010/100407backcountry.html

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Backcountry strips: Protecting an endangered species
By AOPA ePublishing staff

The challenge and beauty of backcountry flying entice pilots to remote airstrips, and AOPA and the Recreational Aviation Foundation are working to protect these strips so that they remain open to pilots for generations to come.

As part of their efforts, the two organizations recently attended a U.S. Forest Service forum to discuss the agency’s proposed planning rules for forest land. Forest Service representatives, environmental groups, and other stakeholders are presenting their views of how the rules should be written, and so AOPA is making sure GA’s voice is heard and that any new rules do not negatively impact the upkeep of or access to backcountry airstrips.

“We are learning more about the federal view, how other stakeholders feel, and are developing the relationships we need to be effective advocates and ensure aviation is included as a stakeholder,” said John Collins, AOPA manager of airports. “We will stay actively engaged throughout the rulemaking process and during planning efforts at individual national forests.”

AOPA encourages members to get involved in educating federal officials about the importance of backcountry airstrips, which also serve as critical emergency landing sites. Members can participate in roundtables near them.

I would encourage any of you who appreciate the backcountry airstrips that idaho and Montana have to offer join the Recreational Aviation Foundation or Idaho Aviation Assosiation. Both are good organizations who fight to preserve the strips and ammenities that the forest circus is continually trying to screw with. I'm not sure about the RAF but the IAA is $29 per year and along with the RAF they do a good job of working with the USFS and organizing volunteer work parties at these locations.

Hey Z
When I click on participate in rountables, I was expecting a list of places where they were haveing them, but nothing comes up. Can you post the list of locations?
Thanks gary

http://fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMEN ... 133652.pdf

I think this will be what you're looking for.

Whoops, sorry... pasted the wrong link. Original post is fixed now.

delete

Still nuthin openin up?????????? Just opens to a blank page. Where and when are the 2 in the west?
Thanks Gary

It's a PDF. I think you have to have an adobe reader. I cut and pasted. Sorry for the format, maybe Zane can fix it.

Regional Roundtable for the Rocky Mountain Region (Region 2)
Sheraton Denver West Hotel
360 Union Boulevard
(303) 987-2000
Lakewood, CO
April 12, 2010
12-1 Open House
1-5:30 pm session
5-6 Open House
6-9 evening session
John Rupe (303-275-5148)
Little American Hotel
2800 West Lincolnway
Cheyenne, WY
(307) 775-8400
April 14, 2010
3-4 Open House
4-7 meeting
(government stakeholders meeting earlier in day)
Best Western Ramkota Hotel
2111 North Lacrosse Street
(605) 343-8550
Rapid City, SD
April 21, 2010
5-6 Open House
6-9 meeting
New Location
Laramie, WY
April 13
Informational Meeting:
6-8 pm
New Location
Sheridan, WY
April 15
Informational Meeting:
6-8 pm
New Location
Cody, WY
April 16
Informational Meeting:
1-3pm
Schedule of 2010 Public Meetings for the Forest Service Proposed Planning Rule Last updated 4/8/2010 12:46 PM
For the meetings where the address is not yet provided, we are still working to get a final contract on the event space. We will post the address
as soon as the venue is secured.
3
Meeting
City and Address
Meeting Date and Time (times are given for local time zone)
For further information contact
Regional Roundtable for the Southwestern Region (Region 3)
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 2401 12th St. NW,
Albuquerque, NM
April 28, 2010
Roundtable session
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Open House
6:00 - 8:30 pm
For questions on meeting format, agenda:
Lucy Moore
505-820-2166
[email protected]
Additional questions, contact:
Shiela Poole
505-842-3291
Cathie Schmidlin
505-842-3393
Afternoon Session at
Heard Museum
2301 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ
Evening Session at
Radisson Phoenix Airport N.
427 North 44th Street
Phoenix AZ
April 28, 2010
Roundtable session
1:00 - 4:00 pm
Open House
6:00 -8:30 pm
Regional Roundtable for the Intermountain Region (Region 4)
For the round tables in Region 4, the 6 to 9 pm session will be a repeat of the 1 to 4 pm session.
Address Update
Radisson Hotel Downtown,
215 West South Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
April 8, 2010
1 pm to 4 pm
6 pm to 9 pm
Glen Stein
(801-625-5281) or
Joanna Wilson
(801-625-5736)

Thanks
Gary

delete

I wonder if now, or how, we should try to start working on a few places for big tire, do it in the dirt planes. Four wheelers can travel all over hell and leave tracks and trails, we should have some dedicated mountain tops set aside just for us... Shouldn't we?? I've got some great suggestions..

Or, should we just leave well enough alone, and use the don't ask, and no one will ever bother us approach?

ps.. I just now saw in the Battle Mountain Bugle, our closest paper, which I get a day late because of mail delay, that they had roundtable meetings in Sparks and Elko Nevada, yesterday on this same subject. It was in the April 7 paper, noticing meetings on the 8th...

Hey Pops
I don't know the specifics of all this, but it seems that gov't seems to be encouraging development(or atleast open to the idea) and use right now for backcountry strips???? Seems like if there was ever a good time to get some in place, this may be it????????