Hello Backcountry Pilots,

Lousy weather so I'm on the inter-web. Anyway I'd sure like to see the Hoodoo Mt. airstrip in Idaho re-opened. This would be a real test of the RAF that I'd be happy to support. I'll be right up front with my motivation which is access for camping and hunting. I used to fly for Salmon Air Taxi years ago and am familiar with this area. Shortfield.com has a good description of the airstrip. I really appreciate both backcountry.org and shortfield.com. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.

James
Clear Creek, Idaho

wolf tracks:

Nice location. At 8400' elevation and 2100' long it could be an interesting strip on a hot day. It's hard to tell from the map if it's just inside, or just outside the Frank?

DEGJR

I recall a road went to the strip some 30 or 40 years ago on a family camping trip. I also seem to remember that was the way a few aircraft ultimately departed in pieces from the strip. It had a subalpine feel to it, and it is one of the more picturesque corners of the state. The area is really craggy. I got to work in the Bighorns and Yellowjackets on occasion. Goat and ram country.

lesuther wrote:I recall a road went to the strip some 30 or 40 years ago on a family camping trip. I also seem to remember that was the way a few aircraft ultimately departed in pieces from the strip. It had a subalpine feel to it, and it is one of the more picturesque corners of the state. The area is really craggy. I got to work in the Bighorns and Yellowjackets on occasion. Goat and ram country.

Hello,

I think there are some big mule deer in that area. A guy has to get pretty remote to get a big muley any more. It would have to be a light, coo,l early morning take-off for me.

James

There appears to be a road alongside the strip visible from google earth. Not sure if it's still used...

If there is some slope to the runway it might help compensate for the altitude. Anybody here been in there in years past?

DEGJR

great idea James...been watching hoodoo for a long time..know of a couple that have hiked in there...very rarely...good turbo country for sure, and lots of critters im thinking..!

There is road access. I had a buddy go on a Elk hunt up there a few years ago. They drove right to the airstrip, unloaded the horses and went hunting. He sent me a picture, that I can't find, and it looked like a cool strip. Unfortunately I think the strip is beyond saving; there is a lot of timber gown up on the strip and there is no way the FS is going to allow that much cutting to take place. If this gets any traction I will for sure do my part to support it, I'd love to fly in there, but I'm not holding my breath.

I've got a couple old Idaho AFDs that probly have some interesting info in them...I'll dig them out.

If there is a road that you can drive to the strip on it must be outside the wilderness area. That might make it easier to re- open.