Join Utah Backcountry Pilots Association, lots of stuff there for members to download which will propagate on your ForeFlight map.

Once you get Utah strips down and are comfortable, join Idaho Aviation Association. There is a lot of info online and they have a must have map/chart available in their store if you are heading into the Idaho backcountry.

I did Idaho for the first time last week…. It is several levels more difficult than the Utah BC stuff. Step up incrementally and you will be good to go.

I was very happy with the 5+ hours of instruction I received flying with Dick Williams last week in Idaho. Idaho backcountry is not the place to go alone on a learning expedition.

Hey Debug, I'm doing some training and time building out of KBDU with Journeys. They've got a number of airplanes, reasonable prices, and the concerns about long taxis, extended downwinds and holding for other traffic is much less than at centennial or broomfield. You will get really good being heads up and on the CTAF with the busy airspace, it can be nuts with the gliders and tow planes, plus all the flight training and transient traffic. Good fun tho, and a good community up here. I'd recommend checking it out, if it's not to much of a commute. Good luck with your decisions!

COkoolaid wrote: I do know of a couple guys with a 140 partnership up at KEIK that do PPL and tailwheel training if your more interested in that approach (don't know if they are full up currently though). Good Luck on your journey! Enjoy it!

-COkoolaid

COkoolaid, reading this piqued my interest, I'm working on my tailwheel out of KBDU, they've got a nice Citabria, and a good tailwheel instructor. The short short is that I'm looking for a partnership on a taildragger, working on my commercial hours. Any chance you'd put me in touch with these guys? Thanks!


Erik

just got back into getting some instruction for a add on, looking back as a higher time guy and some who CFIed a lot and is now wearing the student hat

If you’re going to go 61 or a club, that’s ideal, but requires a very experienced CFI, who’s not going anywhere on you and is taking ownership from 0hrs to check ride, to work well.

If it’s going to be multiple CFIs, or lower time (under 1800hrs or so) CFIs, I’d go 141

flynbeekeeper wrote:Get your PPL then come on down to Del Norte sometime. My friend Jay has a 100hp (at our altitude, more like 70) champ that he does instruction in. Tailwheel, dirt strips. Just like Contact says, learn to fly the wing.
As far as checking out backcountry strips, check out http://www.airfield.guide
Very useful tool.
Tom

Hey there Tom! Couple years later now and I have my PPL and a bearhawk 5 kit ordered so I need to get my tailwheel endorsement along with back country flying experience. I've also purchased a property in South Fork and plan on building a hangar out of the del norte airport! Would love to meet with you sometime.

Pat

So interesting to come back to this forum post from two years ago! Thanks everyone for the advice. I ended up getting my PPL through rocky mountain flight school with leigh as my instructor who is great and did my checkride with Elliot. Just passed it a few months ago. I have a bearhawk 5 kit on the way and can't wait to build that and start exploring. Currently living near colorado springs. Any recommendations on where to get my tailwheel endorsement and some backcountry flying experience?

Congrats on the PPL! Jay is still doing tailwheel work in the Champ. Insurance has gotten too steep for me and the Super Cub.
PM sent with my contact info.
Tom

Congrats on your PPL!

I share in your excitement as I just passed my check ride a few weeks ago. I am up in Montana so unfortunately that doesnt help you but I am currently working on my tailwheel endorsement and am super pumped to get going! I own a 41 j5 and although my primary training didnt work out to train in it, I have been able to spend some time in it more recently with my tailwheel training. Feels like an old army jeep compared to the 172 I got my ppl in. haha I just feel like a giddy little kid!

Im totaly jealous of your bearhawk kit!

Congrats, Debug. I share a hangar with your Eliot - you might have seen my 180 in there if you did your ride at LMO. Come see us up in BDU and go for a glider ride while you build your bearhawk. I tow for them and give scenic rides in the gliders.

I'm not on here consistently any more, but dm me for contact info.

Kevin Kellog at tri county taildraggers near here in Erie (KEIK) is the best around doing tailwheel instruction. You can't solo is 140 but you will get a thorough introduction and he's a seasoned Alaska backcountry pilot.

https://www.facebook.com/kevin.kellogg.186/


I know nobody down south - but you might try hooking up with the glider operation at Kelly Airpark. Gliders are fantastic stick and rudder and will help you as much as tailwheel. Their tow pilot may have a lead on a tailwheel instructor closer to you. Can't hurt to ask:

https://soarbfss.org/

Kevin Kellog at tri county taildraggers near here in Erie (KEIK) is the best around doing tailwheel instruction. You can't solo is 140 but you will get a thorough introduction and he's a seasoned Alaska backcountry pilot.

Holy shit, didn’t know the old cornflake, don’t tell him I called him that, was still burning up blue gas!

I soloed etc on floats at hood but Kevan had the inglorious luck of teaching me how to land on wheels in my squerlly as F’ tripacer couple years later out west at 5NK We traded for work on his 180hp 170B then later his 180.

One of a kind and a kind soul, I would recommend him for sure!

Rocket

soyAnarchisto wrote:Congrats, Debug. I share a hangar with your Eliot - you might have seen my 180 in there if you did your ride at LMO. Come see us up in BDU and go for a glider ride while you build your bearhawk. I tow for them and give scenic rides in the gliders.

I'm not on here consistently any more, but dm me for contact info.

Kevin Kellog at tri county taildraggers near here in Erie (KEIK) is the best around doing tailwheel instruction. You can't solo is 140 but you will get a thorough introduction and he's a seasoned Alaska backcountry pilot.

https://www.facebook.com/kevin.kellogg.186/


I know nobody down south - but you might try hooking up with the glider operation at Kelly Airpark. Gliders are fantastic stick and rudder and will help you as much as tailwheel. Their tow pilot may have a lead on a tailwheel instructor closer to you. Can't hurt to ask:

https://soarbfss.org/

Yo, soy, I wondered when you'd catch on the the experience on the "correct" end of the towrope . I second the skills part, especially pitch control and coordination, which are foundations of everything else.

Thanks. cubscout