Had a great fly-in over at La Garita Creek Ranch and Hooper Pool this past weekend. Over the course of the event we had 40 planes show up. Here are a few pictures:

Sunset in San Luis Valley. Sangre de Cristo mountains in the background

A couple images from a short morning flight trip to Castle Lakes Airstrip in Lake City.



Quarter Circle Circle BLM Airstrip

Stunning scenery on the way back this morning. La Garita is a great spot with warm hospitality.

Thanks for all the work all you guys did this weekend and in preparation for a great kickoff to the season.

Let me add my thanks. It was a really fun weekend--lazy like I like it, whenever I get away for a weekend. Nice people, beautiful area, and a really nice facility.

I haven't downloaded pics yet, but I'll add some when I do.

Cary

Thanks to Matt and Alec for setting this up and to the Pearlman family for hosting us at the ranch.

SoyAnarchisto and ElCapitan had a great time!

La Garita Parking:


Morning Shadows:


Rio Grande at full flow:


Primo parking at the Hooper Hot Springs:




Great Sand Dunes National Park:

Nice pictures everyone. Soy, that J-3 look great on 29s!

This thread needs more pictures!

Friday morning packed up and waiting for the rain to stop.


Luke loaded and ready to depart.


Over the San Luis Valley dropping down slowly.


Friday night dinner at the La Garita Trading Post (half the group).


Cessna 182 landing Friday night, beautiful colors across the valley.


Stinson 108-3 sits in the parking area just before dusk.


Cessna row Friday night.


Blue skies on a beautiful Saturday morning.


MTNWEST enroute headed west.


High alpine scenery.


The Stinson 108-3 dropping down.


Castle Lakes (private) in sight.


13,000ft peaks in every direction.


On the ground at Castle Lakes (9,300ft).


Colorful Colorado


The Castle Lakes airstrip owner (who is sharp as a tack at 96!)


Eastbound for Quarter Circle Circle airstrip.


Quarter Circle Circle (9,500ft)


The 185 boys finally found it (haha).


On the ground at Hooper Sand Dunes Pool


I love this Bearhawk!


Luke ready for a swim at the Pool/Hot Springs


Dust devils in the distance.


A Maule M6 flies overhead


AEROPOD's beautiful C170B/180hp at Hooper


Friends being made on the front porch of the lodge.


Another wonderful Saturday night dinner!


The RV-6 being pushed out for Sunday morning departure.


Video coming soon!

Guys all the photos are great, and you got some epic shots Matt holy cow!!! Super sad I couldn't make it this year

Looks like an excellent time was had, and thats really cool y'all met up with the lady at castle lakes, man i bet she's got some cool stories

Great pics Matt! I can't believe how big Luke is. Seems like you just had him a couple weeks ago. He's definitely a ladies man, handsome!

Skalywag wrote:Guys all the photos are great, and you got some epic shots Matt holy cow!!! Super sad I couldn't make it this year

Looks like an excellent time was had, and thats really cool y'all met up with the lady at castle lakes, man i bet she's got some cool stories

Skaly, perhaps you can make the fall fly-in?! We missed having you around.

Crzyivan13 wrote:Great pics Matt! I can't believe how big Luke is. Seems like you just had him a couple weeks ago. He's definitely a ladies man, handsome!

Thanks Evan. Luke is an awesome little guy and is growing quick! He'll be a year old next month!

Finished the video, enjoy.

https://vimeo.com/97398512

mountainmatt wrote:Finished the video, enjoy.

Don't worry, video will be fixed soon

http://youtu.be/No4R5WlFpmg

Try the link since it doesn't work up there.

mountainmatt wrote:Finished the video, enjoy.

https://vimeo.com/97398512

That was awesome!! I love the slo-mo Bearhawk takeoff. The Skywagon approach, lights wig-wagging against the alpenglow backdrop was otherworldly. You're stepping it up!

Video of the month.

Aeropod's video of the 170/185 formation pass:

mountainmatt wrote:Finished the video, enjoy.

https://vimeo.com/97398512

Awesome job, and it looks like some great flying out there!

I second Zane's vote. Video of the month.

I went up to Metberry Gulch northwest of Divide to camp at the Platte River. As I was driving up Friday afternoon, I saw Aeropod and a 180/5 fly by me on the dirt road right as I was getting into the Hayman burn scar. I told my friend...."There goes a couple guys to La Garita!"

Soy with the big boots on....

Oh man, those pictures and videos are achingly beautiful! Why, oh why wasn't I there?

Looks like pretty strong winds in the beginning of one video! I've just about hovered in strong winds, but I've never taken off backwards! That's a wind