Right now Idaho state campgrounds are closed. Pretty sure Federal campgrounds are also closed. I like to fly up to Garden Valley (U88) in Idaho as soon as it is opened up and sometimes to Graham (U45) to shoot those ground squirrels. I am guessing that if it is not closed due to snow at this time it will be closed due to COVID-19.

Some people at the top want this social distancing to go for several more months and some want to end it at the end of April. Any insight as to what the effect will be on the backcountry flying this summer.

I am pretty sure that a great many of us have a political view on this but please keep it off this thread.

Tim

Read through MTV's Off Airport features and posts and head out to the desert. Social distance by going stealth and alone.

I don't have a political opinion. hahaha

I'm ready Tim when you are. You can fly up to Pacific City. We can take the Jeep into the coast range and kill some cans, trees, what ever. Poach a beach or two.

I've been watching the webcam at Garden Valley, it has been used a few times over the last 2 weeks, does not appear to be soft enough to be causing any problems.

OregonMaule wrote: I don't have a political opinion.....

I just blew coffee out my nose!
Thanks a lot Rob.

Play it by ear I guess. GV is state land, so I'm guessing that campground is closed, even if the airport isn't. Probably not a big deal for day trips, but you might get told to move along if you pitch a tent.

You can also see where the good people of GV aren't real interested in folks flying in from far flung regions that might have a dramatically higher infection rate than Boise County. How unfortunate if Yellow Pine became a hot-spot because of Johnson Creek air traffic...a very real possibility without closure of the camp ground.

If you need running water, outhouses and picnic tables, camping options are probably going to be limited this summer. If you can throw a sleeping bag out under your wing, it's likely going to be business as usual.

Montana canceled Smith River launches until the end of the month...be interesting to see what happens to the MF river traffic. Might be a whole lot quieter in there this summer.

As a side note, I've read that most epidemics have a resurgence around six months after the first peak because people start behaving like it's over. It'd be a shame for the sacrifices and losses people have already endured to be negated by impatience.

Tim, fly down to Newport after you visit Rob. Take a ride in the chopper with me...

“LZ.NoName.1”, is a beautiful meadow surrounded by rivers (not accessible by roads). No trace of humans whatsoever. Very spooky! Definitely a place to get that “I’m alone” feeling.

There still is a frontier out there.

I get really pissed off every time you post about shooting ground squirrels. Remember when you almost killed my wife and 2 year old son shooting into our campsite at Graham? I remember.

Do you guys know each other?

Pass the popcorn....

skiermanmike wrote:I get really pissed off every time you post about shooting ground squirrels. Remember when you almost killed my wife and 2 year old son shooting into our campsite at Graham? I remember.

You do not remember me. I have been to Graham twice. One time by myself about 10 or so years ago. Nobody there. I landed, walked around, took a piss and left. The second time was a few years later. I was there was with my son in law and we were the only ones there. We stayed two nights and shot the hell out of the squirrels.

I can understand you being pissed about folks not being careful with guns. But be careful that you do not accuse the wrong person of something like this on a public forum.

I don't see a problem with my flying this summer. EXCEPT, upon further reflection, how many of my favorite flying trips involve a breakfast/lunch/dinner stop somewhere along the way, that may still be closed? My backup plan is to simply pack more food, coffee, beer, so I can be autonomous if needed. I feel fortunate that my main fun activity already has long involved no crowds of people.

If,for some reason, I dropped into Smiley Creek, just as a for instance, I wouldn't walk across the highway to the cafe, or even use the restrooms. I'd just hold it, as relieving myself outside would be uncouth.

Lower Loon? Short of finding others there, and walking up to their campsite (uninvited) while coughing and touching my face, I don't see a problem.

I got a call from my older brother today, who lives in Fairbanks AK., and we of course talked about the virus and it's effects. He asked me if I remembered that he had spent 13 months in Vietnam in the early '70's? Turns out, they (Marine scout/snipers) were given anti malaria pills every single day while in country, and there is a belief, going around his cohorts, of the time, community, that this may offer them some bit of immunity. He at least is doing fine, as are anyone he has contacted from back then.

qmdv wrote:

skiermanmike wrote:I get really pissed off every time you post about shooting ground squirrels. Remember when you almost killed my wife and 2 year old son shooting into our campsite at Graham? I remember.

You do not remember me. I have been to Graham twice. One time by myself about 10 or so years ago. Nobody there. I landed, walked around, took a piss and left. The second time was a few years later. I was there was with my son in law and we were the only ones there. We stayed two nights and shot the hell out of the squirrels.

I can understand you being pissed about folks not being careful with guns. But be careful that you do not accuse the wrong person of something like this on a public forum.

Summer of 2018, first week of June, check your calendar. Ask your son in law - I’m pretty sure he’ll remember.

skiermanmike wrote:

qmdv wrote:

skiermanmike wrote:I get really pissed off every time you post about shooting ground squirrels. Remember when you almost killed my wife and 2 year old son shooting into our campsite at Graham? I remember.

You do not remember me. I have been to Graham twice. One time by myself about 10 or so years ago. Nobody there. I landed, walked around, took a piss and left. The second time was a few years later. I was there was with my son in law and we were the only ones there. We stayed two nights and shot the hell out of the squirrels.

I can understand you being pissed about folks not being careful with guns. But be careful that you do not accuse the wrong person of something like this on a public forum.

Summer of 2018, first week of June, check your calendar. Ask your son in law - I’m pretty sure he’ll remember.

Sorry this happened. There is no good excuse. But I have not been there in at least five years. I think the place burned off since we were there. Like I said, Ted and I were the only ones there.

Nasty, nasty public accusations being thrown around on a public forum. Not cool. Take it outside.

Light blue or maybe teal and white early 182 or maybe 172, but I think 182. Two guys, one older one younger up from California to Graham specifically to shoot ground squirrels? Maybe that wasn't you, but if not, quite the coincidence.

Regardless of who did what when, this brings up a good point:

Every USFS airstrip, campground, and administrative site I'm aware of has a prohibition against discharging firearms. I don't know about Graham specifically, but I'd be surprised if it was somehow exempt from that regulation, seeing as how it has all three.

I know people think that they're helping the airstrip by getting rid of some ground squirrels, but there's a reason that those shooting prohibitions exist. Even careful and conscientious shooters can have accidents. Personally I'd rather take my chances with gopher holes than with stray bullets, regardless of who's doing the shooting.

Hammer wrote:Regardless of who did what when, this brings up a good point:

Every USFS airstrip, campground, and administrative site I'm aware of has a prohibition against discharging firearms. I don't know about Graham specifically, but I'd be surprised if it was somehow exempt from that regulation, seeing as how it has all three.

I know people think that they're helping the airstrip by getting rid of some ground squirrels, but there's a reason that those shooting prohibitions exist. Even careful and conscientious shooters can have accidents. Personally I'd rather take my chances with gopher holes than with stray bullets, regardless of who's doing the shooting.

Very good post. Agreed.

I started to distance myself from public airfields due to similar reasons. Campgrounds across the US in certain places have become increasingly dangerous in many ways. Several years ago a stray projectile hit my tent and I was forced (decided) to leave in the middle of the night under the cover of darkness.

I’m not a guru on the subject of camping on the mainland. Just my timid observation.