james wrote:

As far as the airstrip condition goes, the Idaho Dept. of Aeronautics has done a great job on the runway, windsock, outhouse ect. I encourage you to support the Idaho Department of Aeronautics and their volunteers. They do an excellent job providing access to Idaho's Backcountry Airstrips.

James, you mentioned volunteers so probably already know, but it's the Idaho Aviation Association that cares for the strip. The Idaho Division of Aeronautics and the federal agencies will often supply some materials such as replacement windsocks and money for paint and such. Labor for maintenance from the government agencies is more often contracted is seems on a project basis like what they are planning at Cold Meadows.
Didn't mean to be nit picky. There are lots of folks like Wayne Thiel and Jerry Terlisner and other volunteer, who put heaps of effort into the airstrip work parties. Wayne has scheduled the Big Bar work party for April 30th this year. In the past several years Wayne has camped out at Big Bar the night before and tries to get plenty of others to join the campout as well as the work the next day.
Have the same problems with the cold clothing. Even though the extra long sleeping bags weigh and cost more, I always buy them so I have room below my feet to store warm clothes for the morning.

Just to add to Matt's comments a bit. There are organizations in Idaho that are pulling in the same direction to keep these strips open and usable. The Idaho Aviation Foundation is a tax deductible foundation that supplies some funding for IAA/IDT projects like the showers that are going into Garden Valley this year - a state operated strip as an example. The Idaho Airstrip Network has a steering committee comprised of commercial operators, the Forest Service, Department of Aeronautics, and the IAA etc to look out for the condition and status of the airstrips. The State of Idaho provides funding for maintenance and caretakers at Cavanaugh Bay, Smiley Creek, Garden Valley and Johnson Creek. That being said, there are a number of organizations involved in trying to keep these strips open and usable. Of these organizations I mentioned, the IAA is the one that has a membership, and even though you might not live in Idaho, the membership numbers are very important in the influence of airstrip preservation.

With the number of airstrips in Idaho and the state of the economy, the concerns of groups less than enthusiastic about airplanes in the backcountry, maintenance of these airstrips is a problem. It takes the concern of the users, not to let these fade away, as has happened to many of the backcounty strips of years ago. Its quite a task for only the people of Idaho to undertake. I urge you to support the IAA to help out. If you live too far away to participate in some of the work parties, at least join up to show support.

This is a sales pitch, but we could use some help in the job at hand.

I absolutely agree. I've been a member of IAA since I started flying the Idaho backcountry. I feel it's even more important for those of us who don't live in Idaho but use these strips to support the IAA.

I really appreciate all the hard work these organizations do to keep these strips from fading away. I'm hoping to get more involved in work parties and such in the years to come.

James, now you've got me Jonesing to go camping, although like you I'm not real fond of cold weather camping!

Hello Backcountry Pilots,
Spent a week in Alaska giving some 135 helicopter checks. Sunshine, blue sky and real nice people.
James
Alaska Airlines 737 cockpit from FL 360:
Hughs 500 owned by Aurora Aviation out of Delta Junction, AK




A frozen Chena River Airstrip
A stuck rental car?

Terrific pictures James.

Hello Backcountry Pilots,
Flew into the Idaho backcountry for three days of black bear hunting this week. It was too cold for the bears to be out yet but saw a lot of elk, mule deer, wolf tracks/scat/bones & howling. Glad I had the right equipment for the trip. Snow, rain, wind, sunshine, fog, the weather changed about every hour. Still fun.

James
Elk
Wolf track and a 300 Weatherby Magnum Cartridge

Camp
A well equipped "super maule camp"

18 degree F preheat

Waiting out weather at the Benard Airstrip on the Salmon River

WOW, James. I am always impressed with your pictures. That campsite is something amazing! You should become a fly-in hunting guide for people who would love to experience a few days roughing it. Where is this airstrip?

WOW, James. I am always impressed with your pictures. That campsite is something amazing! You should become a fly-in hunting guide for people who would love to experience a few days roughing it. Where is this airstrip?

Hello Low/Slow 79
That campsite is locate on the west fork of No-tell-em Creek. Kidding aside, like the manager of the Flying B Ranch said last week. "This is wilderness in the winter and a National Park in the summer". I wish all the backcountry pilots would maintain a low profile landing in the wilderness instead of a mass exodus of aircraft or impromptu backcountry airshows. The access to these wilderness airstrips is hanging on by a thin political thread.


Enjoy

James

james wrote: I wish all the backcountry pilots would maintain a low profile landing in the wilderness instead of a mass exodus of aircraft or impromptu backcountry airshows. The access to these wilderness airstrips is hanging on by a thin political thread.


Enjoy

James

Amen!

all that is so true james...btw looks like cabin ck to me...!

delete

Its a little disconcerting landing somewhere for the first time.
"Killarny Lake International Airport" CoeurD'Alene River below the 100 year flood mark = public access

Please don't tell my friends I was flying around with a Husky pilot. Husky pilots wear ascots, drink perrier water, and smell of perfume.

Going after cheaper 100LL

Hello Backcountry Pilots

A great weekend in Hells Canyon. Got to visit with Bill, Wup, Steve and friends down at the Big Bar Airstrip.

James

It wasn't very nice that you guys made me sleep on the other side of the runway all alone just cuz I was the only nosedragger in attendance. After hearing all the snoring coming from the "tailwheel pilot" tent cluster on the west side of the airstrip I'm glad I was sleeping on the opposite side. Flying a 182 amongst a couple of devoted skywagon and Maule pilots takes thick skin but at least I can outrun them all.

James the pics are great. The plane looks great as well. You will love the flying with skies.
Opens up a new world and extends your flying season. Be safe my friend.,
Ken in Alaska

James the pics are great. The plane looks great as well. You will love the flying with skies.
Opens up a new world and extends your flying season. Be safe my friend.,
Ken in Alaska

Hello Ken & Backcountry Pilots,
Good to hear from you. I'm headed your way leaving Spokane on August 4th. My wing-man will be "Tie-down" Bill from Enterprise, Oregon in his Cessna 170. We should have similiar airspeeds and he is a great guy too. My flexible plan includes hunting caribou, wolves and griz on the north slope. My friend from Anchorage is a resident and is pulling his 16 foot john-boat with an outboard jet up the Dalton Highway. If the weather is crap we will hunt from his jetboat on the Sag River, or if its flyable weather hunting off the gravel bars on the Canning River.

I have not been this excited in years! Maybe we could hook up for dinner in Fairbanks? Weather permitting we should be there by August 7th. We will be based out of the Chena River Airstrip in Fairbanks for a couple days, and the Marriott in Anchorage too.

Our plans also includes meeting up with Jeff aka: maulecfi and do some fly-in silver salmon fishing near Soldotna, AK. I'm looking forward to meeting Jeff in-person. Now I just got to figure out how to pay for all the 100LL?

James

Elk City Idaho, "Go figure"

No tell em River

The Super-Maule @ "Super Secret Landing Spot"

Hi James, the pics are great . We have been having alot of rain for the past 11 days. Right now it is sunny and hot. Is to be in the high 70s this week and might hit 80 +. If it was not for the rain we would have smoke from the forest fires. We will keep a look out for you in August. Be safe and great flying...

Ken in Alaska

Hi James, the pics are great . We have been having alot of rain for the past 11 days. Right now it is sunny and hot. Is to be in the high 70s this week and might hit 80 +. If it was not for the rain we would have smoke from the forest fires. We will keep a look out for you in August. Be safe and great flying...

Ken in Alaska

Hello Ken & BCPs,
I hope Alaska gets most of that rain out of its system before August. We are still on track leaving Spokane on August 4th for Alaska. The plan is to fly the trench and then meet up with Mr. Tundra in Whitehorse. My friend from Anchorage is meeting me in Fairbanks with his jet-boat with extra outboard, griz, sheep, and bou tags. Should be an adventure on the North Slope.

James