Hello Backcountry Pilots,
Sometimes a guy needs a Weather Alternate with valley fog this time of year. Creek Creek was fogged in today so I landed on a ridge above my place. My neighbor let me borrow his ATV to decend the 1000' feet to my place on old logging roads, and cow trails. Flying around VFR this time of year is a real crap-shoot.

Merry Christmas,


James
Clear Creek, Idaho



Decending into the fog.

My wingman today in a Husky landing on Parker Ridge north of Viola, Idaho with a 30 knot x-wind.

James,

You need to set up your own personal GPS approach into that crevasse. Take videos.

That's got to be awesome being able to land at your own strip. I can see you should have kept those tie downs you took to Alaska with you. I can't wait to get 04D over your way and onto Clear Creek International. I've got a couple of chukar and coy dog hunts planned for the Canyon after the New Year arrives. I'll give you a heads up when I'm able to do them.

Take Care Fellow & Merry Christmas!

Also jealous of all ya'll with private strips. I've got a retirement goal to build one, but that's a few years off yet.

Abe wrote:That's got to be awesome being able to land at your own strip. I can see you should have kept those tie downs you took to Alaska with you. I can't wait to get 04D over your way and onto Clear Creek International. I've got a couple of chukar and coy dog hunts planned for the Canyon after the New Year arrives. I'll give you a heads up when I'm able to do them.

Take Care Fellow & Merry Christmas!

Hello Bill,
Great to hear from you. My wife makes me do all the hunting, fishing, and flying in our family so I'm really busy. Actually this has been a real good year and this airstrip project is the biggest thing I've ever attempted. Chasing chuckar behind a good brittney along the Snake River is almost heaven too. Stay in touch, and have a Merry Christmas my friend.

James & Family

Yes, that looks like some terrible flying weather, I don't know how you guys do it:-)

In all seriousness though, James has a great point. Be careful out there.

GB

Nice job James. Keep in mind S68 is usually open towards Lewiston when the rest of the river is fogged in. Call me if you ever need transportation or fuel.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

See you in the Canyon soon.

Oh yeah.... glad to see the pic "descending into the fog", was taken from the atv! Way to go James.

Nice pics James. Look forward to coming over your way. Did you get the power line underground?

Merry Christmas...Rob

OregonMaule wrote:Nice pics James. Look forward to coming over your way. Did you get the power line underground?

Merry Christmas...Rob

Hello Rob & Paul,
There was a hole as I was flying over Orofino yesterday, but skud running up the Clearwater at 100 feet AGL with numerous power-lines to Kooskia is just no fun. I write a big check to the Idaho Power Co-Op on Friday the 28th. The conduit is in and backfilled. Depending on weather they are moving 4 poles at their expense, however this is still pretty expensive on my end too. Maybe January 2nd if it isn't snowing, they will get it all done. I'm hanging one "marker ball" on the wire and painting the top of a pole on the neighbor's/approach end of my runway.
Maybe a small low key Maule fly-in at Clear Creek this spring? Big tailwheels are requested until everthing drys out. The windsock goes up as soon as the overhead wires come down. I'm re-seeding the small section of conduit trench on Thursday too.

Merry Christmas friends!


James