HC, I got the same tail wind, that made a great trip even better as I was able to (with the help of my new ABW gas bag along with my existing tankage) make the entire trip/weekend without refueling. 8.7 hrs total time and an average of 3.5 GPH, I landed back home at 9:30 AM today with enough fuel for another 1.7 hrs! Yeah I'm slow, but I'm up there a long time! That gas bag takes so little space I forgot all about it and
loaded all my gear on top of it in the baggage compartment before I realized it was even there (it was early), which I guess is the general idea.

Hope the rest of you with longer to go then 222 miles (direct, for sure longer the way I went) get home OK, and now I am going to google "best damn sleeping pad available", time for a new and better one! I may turn the heat up tonight also.... good to be home.

I am having a hard time describing the event and participants (you people) to my non flying friends, but WE know it went GREAT, what a blast, and I really like meeting the real person behind the avatar. I had fun denying I was Courierguy, (just borrowed the plane I said, he couldn't make it) until I decided the person asking was not looking for a fight

Home in two hours in my back country tripacer and the ice cream bucket cleaned out and ready to return next year. Next year we will try and bring three buckets, too many sad faces when it ran out. Thanks to those who helped turn. Good week end, good times. I don't think I heard one lie told around the fire Saturday night. Of course I don't hear so well.

3.4 back home, unpacked... well at least what is not hanging up drying is in a pile on the garage floor. We had an awesome time and it was good to meet many of you. Sitting in a chair and watching airplanes land and takeoff right next to you has got to be one of the best ways to spend a day .

Wow! What an awesome time. Great to meet so many new folks. Hearing the wolves on the ridge howling when we sitting at our camp fire last night was a pretty awesome cap-off.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put it all together. My family had an awesome time.

Our adventure continues as we're taking off from McCall for Polson, MT tomorrow morning. The plan is to camp at Meadow Creek and Schafer Meadows this week, and then head to Cavenaugh Bay on the way home.

I'll get some pictures together when we get home next week.

Oregon180 wrote:Wow! What an awesome time. Great to meet so many new folks. Hearing the wolves on the ridge howling when we sitting at our camp fire last night was a pretty awesome cap-off.

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to put it all together. My family had an awesome time.

Our adventure continues as we're taking off from McCall for Polson, MT tomorrow morning. The plan is to camp at Meadow Creek and Schafer Meadows this week, and then head to Cavenaugh Bay on the way home.

I'll get some pictures together when we get home next week.

We we're at Schafer Meadows two weeks ago, several black bears hanging around the area munching on grass near the runway. While we were talking with the volunteer caretaker (the Station was not yet open due to the snowed in pack trails, I would guess they are open now) he asked if we had bear spray with us. On cue, a little black bear came in and snooped out our planes. My buddy just had to get a picture, moved around to get the perfect shot... about that time the bear winded him, snorted a couple of times, then spun around and false charged where he thought he was... guess Steve got a little too close... should have been no difficulty scenting him after that I think he messed himself! After that, the caretaker told us he had used most of a can of spray on a large black bear the day before and that he had never seen so many bears around the station. He thought thought the extra heavy winter snow pac and late thaw had pushed them down and made them more agressive this year.

I would guess the bears, elk and maybe the deer that seemed everywhere will moved up higher as more thaws out… it was pretty wet when we were there but truly an amazing place!

OC

Thanks for the very useful and sobering report, OldCrowe. We were prepared for bears there (camp clean, bear spray, etc.) but will check with the rangers what the current conditions are before camping there.

As much as we enjoy wildlife, getting eaten isn't on our vacation agenda...

Thanks again, OldCrowe.

I talked to Dave the care taker. Over all he was happy, BUT. There is always a butt.

Someone swiped a can liner out of a garbage can, then the can got filled with nasty stuff. Who do you think has to clean that mess? Dave said someone saw or knew he did it. He ask if we would please police stuff like that our self's.

Guys were unplugging sprinklers so they could park. There was lots of parking available. The pump is designed to run a certain number of sprinklers, when you have less the pressure goes up and you can break stuff.

My personal bitch is beer bottle caps. They go in the garbage, please.

This is minor stuff compared to a campgrounds open to non pilots.

Lets all try to leave the place better than when we got there.

I forgot to leave a donation when I left. I'll bet some of y'all forgot too. I'll get a address so we can mail a checks.

Next year we need to buy the tents and leave them for our Super Cub friends. Dave if you see this, PM me so I can get the info for where the tents came from.

Good day

OregonMaule wrote:I forgot to leave a donation when I left. I'll bet some of y'all forgot too. I'll get a address so we can mail a checks.

I asked this before, but no one answered: Whose pocket does the donation actually end up in?

Nevermind... just got off the phone with Dave Kirsten from the Super Cub group (he is also "dave" here on BCP.) He informed me that any donations to JC go to the Idaho Dept of Aeronautics.

This year our raffle was designed and advertised as 100% of the proceeds going to RAF and IAF. Perhaps in the future we can discuss how that money is used, but I think we have a pretty solid objective with donating it to access advocacy groups, and no one really makes any money-- that could end up a Pandora's Box. Anyway... that's another thread or conversation. Thanks Rob for being the lightning rod on the campground faux pas.

Z

Perhaps we need to appoint someone next year who is maybe not leaving till Monday to do a walk through of main camp area after everyone leaves to police it. I felt bad about leaving first thing Sunday morning but with an 8 hour trip to get home we kind of have to.

AvidFlyer wrote:Perhaps we need to appoint someone next year who is maybe not leaving till Monday to do a walk through of main camp area after everyone leaves to police it. I felt bad about leaving first thing Sunday morning but with an 8 hour trip to get home we kind of have to.

I walked the area between the showers and bunk house Sunday around 11. It looked real good, just a few bottle caps, butts, and 1 or 2 pop top tabs. Really good.

I thought of a few more things. No burning cans in the fire rings, I put 4 into the garbage. I'll hit costco next year for some paper towels and bathroom cleaner. It seems quite a few pilots have short pitot tubes and need to taxi closer to the hold short line. I detest restrooms that look like public toilets at a county fair beer garden.

Dave would like to have a onsite contact for issues that may arise. piperpainter couldn't make it and Dave didn't know who to talk to. I don't mind being the on site contact, for what that's worth.

I think we did a good job over all.

Cheers...Rob

was thinking about the same thing Rob...we damn for sure dont want to wear out our welcome at JC, or anywhere else for that matter...next yr. i would also volunteer to hang out till mon and make sure it is spotless...good excuse to be in mccall sun nite for cold ones and hot pizza...

OregonMaule wrote:
I forgot to leave a donation when I left. I'll bet some of y'all forgot too. I'll get a address so we can mail a check.

Got this info off the SC.org site and thought I would pass it along. Never to late to donate.

Johnson Creek Airfield
Cornelia and Dave Shotwell
2085 Johnson Creek Rd
Cascade, ID 83611-6004

mountainmatt wrote:

OregonMaule wrote:
I forgot to leave a donation when I left. I'll bet some of y'all forgot too. I'll get a address so we can mail a check.

Got this info off the SC.org site and thought I would pass it along. Never to late to donate.

Johnson Creek Airfield
Cornelia and Dave Shotwell
2085 Johnson Creek Rd
Cascade, ID 83611-6004

Just send the cash to me I'll make sure I deliver it up to JC

mountainmatt wrote:

OregonMaule wrote:
I forgot to leave a donation when I left. I'll bet some of y'all forgot too. I'll get a address so we can mail a check.

Got this info off the SC.org site and thought I would pass it along. Never to late to donate.

Johnson Creek Airfield
Cornelia and Dave Shotwell
2085 Johnson Creek Rd
Cascade, ID 83611-6004

I am curious about what/who is the recipient of your donation. Does this money go directly into the caretakers' pockets in hopes that they will do more/better work? Does it go into a general fund for Idaho airports, or just Johnson Creek airport? Are the caretakers paid a salary or stipend, and thus donations are extra on top of that? Or is it their only source of income related to the caretaking?

I'm not against donating, quite the contrary for beautiful airports. I just like to know the details.

Anybody heard from Oregon180? They were still traveling this week and I have not seen him update facebook since Monday??

Zane wrote:

mountainmatt wrote:

OregonMaule wrote:
I forgot to leave a donation when I left. I'll bet some of y'all forgot too. I'll get a address so we can mail a check.

Got this info off the SC.org site and thought I would pass it along. Never to late to donate.

Johnson Creek Airfield
Cornelia and Dave Shotwell
2085 Johnson Creek Rd
Cascade, ID 83611-6004

I am curious about what/who is the recipient of your donation. Does this money go directly into the caretakers' pockets in hopes that they will do more/better work? Does it go into a general fund for Idaho airports, or just Johnson Creek airport? Are the caretakers paid a salary or stipend, and thus donations are extra on top of that? Or is it their only source of income related to the caretaking?

I'm not against donating, quite the contrary for beautiful airports. I just like to know the details.

I think I can answer your questions....
When the position of caretaker for Johnson Creek came open last fall a bunch of people applied for it... The Idaho Dept of Aviation waded through the tall stack of applicants and narrowed it down to a couple. I went to Boise to interview as did the Shotwells. The compensation package is VERY small to say the least.. You really have to finacially do some soul searching before taking on that job... It is a seasonal position with the State, you make about as much as a burger flipper at the local burger joint,, no bennies, you have to pay the state a small fee to live in that cabin on site. 5 days on, two days off, that float during the week days. You are expected to be available from 7 am till about 10 pm on the working days to take care of all the details, like firewood, irrigating, rental van paperwork, trash pick up, bathroom cleaning etc,etc,etc,,,,, It looks on the face of it to be the dream job,, BUT. If you don't have a revenue stream to maintain your regular life you won't get by on the state paycheck.. IMHO...
Ya. I still do dream of doing it one day before I die too...

Ben Haas.

It's a labor of love by the Shotwells' would be my guess, they sure don't do the JC job for the money! All the more reason to show our appreciation. The "old man" is a long time pilot and I think everyone in the family has flown something at one time, great family to have their name attached to JC.

highroad wrote:Anybody heard from Oregon180? They were still traveling this week and I have not seen him update facebook since Monday??

Hey guys! We're alive and well, having a beer at the marina at Cavanaugh Bay after three nights at Schafer Meadows. What a beautiful place Schafer is! No problems with bears, although we saw some tracks. I'll post a more detailed report when we get home. Thanks for looking out for us!

Good to here from you guys. Sounds like a great time!
Brent

I am curious about what/who is the recipient of your donation. Does this money go directly into the caretakers' pockets in hopes that they will do more/better work? Does it go into a general fund for Idaho airports, or just Johnson Creek airport? Are the caretakers paid a salary or stipend, and thus donations are extra on top of that? Or is it their only source of income related to the caretaking?

I'm not against donating, quite the contrary for beautiful airports. I just like to know the details.

The donations go to the Idaho Dept of Aeronautics. They have the responsibility for Johnson Creek as well as several others and the donations go into that kitty. Hearsay from past caretakers have indicated that the donation box is not overflowing, even after large fly-ins. From windsocks to toilet paper to tractor fuel, as well as the caretaker's salaries are funded by Aeronautics for not only Johnson Creek but 3 others, as well as the other State Operated strips. None of the State maintained airstrips in Idaho have fees attached for camping for the State.