Backcountry Pilot

[iceman offline]

Ed note: Information about the 2008 fly-in is posted in this thread. -Z
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I suppose I should put this in FLy in and Events but I was wondering if any thought has been given to next summers BCP fly in. Would definitely make it if it is at JC again this year.

[qmdv offline]

For 2008, I think a couple of flyins would be in order at different locals. Iceman, have you been to some of the strips on the Arizona strip? I have been to Tuweep and it is supposed to be open pretty soon. It was way too fun.

Tim

[GumpAir offline]

Mina International.... 3Q0.

Dirt strip, RV park, bar, restaurant, and two houses of ill repute. Great place for a fly-in.

Gump

[Skylane offline]

Mina International.... 3Q0.

Dirt strip, RV park, bar, restaurant, and two houses of ill repute. Great place for a fly-in.

Gump

Gump, I'm for it. Man what more could you ask for.

See ya, Bub

[Savannah-Tom offline]

Mina International.... 3Q0.

Dirt strip, RV park, bar, restaurant, and two houses of ill repute. Great place for a fly-in.

Gump

Gump, I'm for it. Man what more could you ask for.

See ya, Bub

I'd vote for Mina, too. I'm more of a desert rat, and there is tons of neat stuff to explore in that neighborhood.

tom

[Bear_Builder offline]

FAI has one of the nicest Airparks in the country. Some good resturants nearby and lots of backcountry destinations within an hour, including a couple hot springs. There's even float plane parking for those of you who like to get your feet wet! Historic aircraft hard at work each day, including C-46's, DC-4's, DC-6 and Beavers. And More taildraggers than nose wheels.

Phil

[Grassstrippilot offline]

Kudos for getting to work on this early. I know I will be doing the bulk of my flying in June and early July since I didn't get to do the flying I wanted to do this year due to the fires.

Also, UBCP usually does a fly-in down at Ibex around the April time frame. Maybe we could crash their party (figuratively speaking) and make it a dual event.

[flyer offline]

I vote for Johnson Creek. These other places are fun places but they do not compare to Johnson Creek. If it were up to me, we would make Johnson Creek our permanent annual fly-in location. It does not get much better than there.

We could have fly-ins at other places also.

flyer

[CAVU offline]

Mina International.... 3Q0.

Dirt strip, RV park, bar, restaurant, and two houses of ill repute. Great place for a fly-in.

Gump

Sounds Great, Gump. We should form a subcommittee of BCP called "Back Rub Country Pilots."

The chicken strip is also loads of fun, if less civilized. Did I tell you about the time I was sitting in the soaker next to the shower and this beautiful--really, I kid you not--woman approached and asked if I minded if she took a shower right there next to me? I love the great outdoors!

CAVU

[GumpAir offline]

I'd vote for Mina, too. I'm more of a desert rat, and there is tons of neat stuff to explore in that neighborhood.

I was just kidding when I wrote down Mina, but actually, there's a heck of a lot of great places to fly to, explore, and camp down here.

Saturday I flew over to Bridgeport to get lunch, but my ex had flown in and landed ahead of me, and I didn't feel like dealing with her, so it was over to Mina for a burger and shake, then back home to hop on the four-wheeler to check out some old cabins I spotted from the air, and in the evening, a night flight to/from Yerington for Italian food at the New Airport Cafe.

A full day's fun and flying for about $50 in fuel.

Gump

[CAVU offline]

Any of you Nevada guys ever land at the Sweetwater strip south of Wellington, NV? It's marked as USMC on the chart, but I've been told that it's basically unmanned and no one cares. I haven't wanted to test that theory myself, but could be persuaded. I'd like to do some hiking and prospecting for trout up into the east side of the Sweetwaters. It looks like a few miles over the ground from the strip. Maybe a mountain bike could cover the ground. Anyway, any local advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

CAVU

[GumpAir offline]

Any of you Nevada guys ever land at the Sweetwater strip south of Wellington, NV? It's marked as USMC Anyway, any local advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

CAVU

It's VERY much USMC, and at any moment can be full of C130's or helicopters. It's inviting, but I won't land there...

On the ground on the other hand... That Sweetwater range is probably the most beautiful little mountain range in Nevada and/or California. Great four-wheeling, camping and hiking, and probably my favorite place to go around here. In the winter, I ride my four-wheeler as far as I can go up Sweetwater Canyon till I get stuck in the snow, and from there put on the snowshoes and head up to the Nugent Cabin and overnight it.

I rode my four-wheeler from Hawthorne out that way today, and worked some canyons west of Flying M up towards the ghost town of Masonic, with great views of the Sweetwater. This is awesome country to live and fly in.

Gump

[Savannah-Tom offline]

I'd vote for Mina, too. I'm more of a desert rat, and there is tons of neat stuff to explore in that neighborhood.

I was just kidding when I wrote down Mina, but actually, there's a heck of a lot of great places to fly to, explore, and camp down here.

Gump

If we had the flyin at Mina we could offer a prize to whoever finds Steve Fossett.
tom

[qmdv offline]

Gump, I think you should organize a desert flyin this spring in your area. Does Mina have a gas station to get mogas at. Maybe a short walk.

Tim

[CAVU offline]

It's VERY much USMC, and at any moment can be full of C130's or helicopters. It's inviting, but I won't land there...

On the ground on the other hand... That Sweetwater range is probably the most beautiful little mountain range in Nevada and/or California. Great four-wheeling, camping and hiking, and probably my favorite place to go around here. In the winter, I ride my four-wheeler as far as I can go up Sweetwater Canyon till I get stuck in the snow, and from there put on the snowshoes and head up to the Nugent Cabin and overnight it.

I rode my four-wheeler from Hawthorne out that way today, and worked some canyons west of Flying M up towards the ghost town of Masonic, with great views of the Sweetwater. This is awesome country to live and fly in.

Gump

Thanks, Gump. I'll steer clear of the strip. I love the country, too. The Sweetwaters in the fall, with snow on the peaks and the aspen turning . . . It takes your breath away, doesn't it? I need to get serious and cut the old Honda 90 in half so I can expand my range from Bridgeport.

Thanks again.

CAVU

[shortfielder offline]

Gump

I like the way you are thinkin. If you ever get anything goin over that way, count me in.

Gary

[wannabe offline]

Well, now that this back up on top, I will make a sort of vote for Johnson Creek.
If is is at JC, then I could always stay in McCall and come over in the morning.
Actually we could probably arrange to have the Fly-in at McCall, I have seen them with the main "infield" covered with tent campers etc. Might have to arrange for a couple of porta potties. The nice thing about McCall is that I can stay in one of several homes or one of several motels just across the street with all sorts of amenities, transportation, various places to eat, etc. Not to mention quick access to fuel and mechanics if needed.
Another reason for McCall is that we would not be disturbing all the folks that prefer to sleep in on their back country flying vacations. At least not as early.
Just a thought from a senior member of the Old Fahrtz Club...

[iceman offline]

Well, now that this back up on top, I will make a sort of vote for Johnson Creek.
If is is at JC, then I could always stay in McCall and come over in the morning.
..

OK If it's in McCall then I'll stay at JC and come over in the morning. I've been jolted awake at JC early in the morning when I stay there by early departures, but it gets me going to fly out early when you're supposed to fly. Besides if airplane noise is annoying then we're in the wrong environment. I go to fish and camp but I guess there will come a day when I prefer cushier arrangements, but at 62 I'm thankful I still can crawl into and out of a sleeping bag and stoop over to pull my pants on in the morning in a cold tent. I enjoy a good fire and a good 15 to 18 year old single malt in the evening and the good company of other flyers who are enjoying the same things I am. Looking forward to JC this year. It's been too many years,(two) since I was there.

[shortfielder offline]

Doesn't really matter to me where the get together is, I will try and make it. I also think that JC is a wonderful spot. But it seems to me like it would be a little more interesting if it was held at different spots for different years.. I think the most important thing is getting the group together, but I think it would be fun to do it in other cool spots.
Later G

[Zzz]

The fly-in will be at JC again, it's just a great spot. We have a reservation for the campsite already.

I have really crappy internet access right now...will be home on friday and will post about it.

Aloha