I saw an add in the Idaho Rudder Flutter where Big Creek lodge was for sale through the Backcountry Realtors with Mike Chapman

PS How do I start a new item

If you want to start a Poll, I think you need to go in and start a new thread. At the bottom of the post, there is a place to fill in the information for a poll and add it to the post. You might need to do two polls: one for the location and one for the date.

To start a new thread, go to the forums tab, click one of the categories, then hit the "new post" button.

I see someone just added a poll. Uh oh, it's a close race...50% / %50 between JC and SC. Of course, only two people have voted.

Can two polls be added to the same post? If so, let's get one there for the date too.

Talked to the aeronautics department today and found out how to make reservations. I'll be more than happy to make them when we know where and when we are going. All you gotta do is call Gary McElheney the Idaho airport manager.

I'm not to worried about reservations, if it gets done great. We didn't really use the group fire pit much anyway. As long as we don't show on SC or 180 weekend were fine.

But if we do decide on JC we can probably get a reservation no problem. We did help Cody with a PC and wi-fi I think we are on the good list.

Rob

whee wrote:Talked to the aeronautics department today and found out how to make reservations. I'll be more than happy to make them when we know where and when we are going. All you gotta do is call Gary McElheney the Idaho airport manager.

Thanks whee. I tried to email the dept of Aeronautic today but my e mail came back as not deliveryable.
HC

How come you guys seem to always go to the same place over and over?

tcartcharlie wrote:How come you guys seem to always go to the same place over and over?

Why do people go to Oshkosh, Arlington, Sun and Fun year after year. Why did the chicken cross the road.

For the mission (back country camp and fly) there probably is not a better place in the lower 48. But I'm still looking.

Rob

I second a place that has lots of close strips to fly out too. Any thoughts on a date yet?

tcartcharlie wrote:How come you guys seem to always go to the same place over and over?

If you've ever been there you wouldn't ask that question....

might strongly consider smiley due to easiest place for more people...
i love 'em all, and i'll visit wherever we decide to go, but will most likely
camp closer to maccall, or IN mccall...! smiley would be a lot less
intimidating for first timers, and still fun. lots of day trips to the m/fork
easy from there...start w/ bruce meadows and head north, slowly, to take
it all in...!

highroad wrote:I second a place that has lots of close strips to fly out too. Any thoughts on a date yet?

The next poll will be for the date. Probably June. Looks like the group favors Johnson Creek.

Johnson Creek has it all. Great camping, easy and hard strips. Close to McCall.

Rob

jomac

Smiley creek is at 7160 msl. That may make it more difficult for lower powered aircraft. The higher density altitude makes it not so easy. For our flat land pilots this may even be less safe than Johnson Creek.

Johnson Creek gives a real backcountry experience but does not require a lot of backcountry experience.

flyer

flyer wrote:jomac

Smiley creek is at 7160 msl. That may make it more difficult for lower powered aircraft. The higher density altitude makes it not so easy. For our flat land pilots this may even be less safe than Johnson Creek.

Johnson Creek gives a real backcountry experience but does not require a lot of backcountry experience.

flyer

My guess is that JC has more wrecked planes than SC. SC is in a wide open valley and the strip is plenty long for a 172 or 170 and similar powered planes. Just do not overload and leave in the morning when it is cool.

Tim

The advantage of Smiley Creek is that you can get a milk shake and MoGas accross the street at the lodge.

The advantage of Johnson Creek is that for us folks that like to mix shooting and blowin stuff up with flying, we can shoot at the end of the runway cus it is considered wilderness. I like the 182B cus I can pack lots of guns and amo.

Thinking of changing my vote from Chicken Strip to Johnson Creek.

I've shot targets at JC at the North end of the strip and also across the stream at the abandoned buildings on the way to town.. It's remote enough and both places are a good place to shoot.. If you want a real target range there's one across the road from Garden Valley.... but why go down there when you can walk to the end of JC and fire away amazes me every year all this apprehension about going into JC.. It's one of the easiest strips up there. It's 3400 feet long and half a football field wide.... You can touch down half way down the strip and still stop as long as you aren't stupid and do what that 182 pilot did last summer..

yup, jc can be easy...it just manages to eat a lot of a/c ea. year. i mostly
said smiley,even though it is high, cuz it has lots of options should your
slow-flight and such be a little rusty...friendly place w/good food,fuel,
and rooms across the st. should your tent suck...

I agree with jomac. Smiley is a pretty easy place, and lots less intimidating than JC. JC is a pretty easy strip, no doubt, but as folks have posted, there's a lot of bent sheet metal that's lain around there for some reason.

I really like Smiley Creek and it's not THAT far from a lot of good strips, actually.

MTV

That's the problem.. If your slow flight is rusty you shouldn't be attempting to land in the back country... I start brushing up a month before I leave doing hours of slow flight and short field T&G.. I'm not happy till I can hit within 20 feet of the line. Another thing to brush up on is flying in a canyon.. Most of us are up high most of the time... Flying in a canyon with trees out both side windows is a new experience to most of us... That's why i also get down in our canyons, such as they are and fly them as much as southern cal will allow. THat way if you go to Upper loon, say and get within 100 feet of that fantastic mountain on final you won't get so much of a pucker factor and screw up a landing.. I usually do a short approach into JC but flying the canyon from Yellow pine is the way most come in. It shouldn't be intimidating if we practice...

iceman wrote:That's the problem.. If your slow flight is rusty you shouldn't be attempting to land in the back country... I start brushing up a month before I leave doing hours of slow flight and short field T&G.. I'm not happy till I can hit within 20 feet of the line. Another thing to brush up on is flying in a canyon.. Most of us are up high most of the time... Flying in a canyon with trees out both side windows is a new experience to most of us... That's why i also get down in our canyons, such as they are and fly them as much as southern cal will allow. That way if you go to Upper loon, say and get within 100 feet of that fantastic mountain on final you won't get so much of a pucker factor and screw up a landing.. I usually do a short approach into JC but flying the canyon from Yellow pine is the way most come in. It shouldn't be intimidating if we practice...

After becoming complacent this winter I tried a short field landing yesterday
at 4000ft elevation I was down and stopped using 640ft of runway without heavy braking, with a gross weight of 2100lbs seemingly not bad but last year I could do it in 450 so I am not happy with myself and need to buy more gas practising instead of just flying.

I always like to include weight when talking about short field work, there is a big difference getting 2000-3000 lbs slowed down vs 1400-1500 same goes for take offs.

Zane had a pretty good one of the Scout flying the ragged edge out of JC last year. Don'T know if its still here or not