Well everyone, this year we have a big change to our Backcountrypilot.org (BCP) Annual fly in that always occurs during the last weekend of June. For the last several years we have had a wonderful turn out at Johnson creek. It has been amazing and great seeing new people every year. This year due to scheduling conflicts we've decided to move the fly in. This will also open a new part of Idaho that a lot of people have yet to explore! I have already coordinated with Gary of the Idaho Aeronautics division and he's been a great help for planning our new location. He will likely send in grading crews to add parking if needed, he will also add new fire pit. He is already being very helpful, and I really like working with him. Anyway, the new location has a lot of great amenities that JC does not have. The biggest, Flushing toilets!! It also has showers, food nearby, groceries nearby, a FREE open gun range across the road, optional white water trips and more. They do have a courtesy car program as well. It will be a great new adventure for everyone! So what is this place???

27-29 June 2014

Garden Valley Airport, Idaho (U88) http://www.airnav.com/airport/U88



We'll call this (GV-2014) To bad it's not a Gulfstream V!

The airstrip is 3850 X 125ft and only at 3177 Ft MSL.

This means that for those that didn't feel comfortable with JC, you might be happy to come to this place.

The airstrip was featured in the May/June 2012 Pilot Getaways Magazine. And I honestly think it's a hidden Gem. Not as remote as JC but still

backcountry. By moving the fly-in here we also get a chance to visit some airstrips that people don't often get to visit.

All within 50 NM of Garden Valley (U88) aKa GV
- Coski Meml
- Landmark 0U0
- Sulpher Creek (Breakfast)
- Bruce Meadows
- Upper Loon
- Stanley (Food )
- Warm Springs (hot springs)
- Graham USFS
- Weatherby
- Atlanta
- Smiley Creek (Food)
- Pine (food 1 Mile+/- @ Pine Cafe)
- Smith Prairie
- Boise (If you can't handle short runways!)
- Nampa (Food - http://www.yelp.com/biz/starvin-marvins-nampa)
- Caldwell (Food)
- Parma
- Emmett
- Idaho City (Several Food)
- Ontario
- Payette
- Weiser (Food down the road with Courtesy car)
- Lee Williams
- Council
- McCall (Food)
- Cascade (food)




So you have a lot more options than you did at JC and we will get to explore some amazing new places!
Now, here is a video of a Bonanza taking off from Garden Valley so you can get an idea what it looks like!



Okay now that you enjoyed that lets talk about GV a little more

Here is a great link!!!! http://gvchamber.org/

Map of the area http://gvchamber.org/content/upload/201 ... 0page2.jpg

On Site
- Showers with plenty of hot water
- Fully flushing toilet
- Running water
- Power outlets
- Courtesy car
- BBQ pits
- Fire Pits
- Fishing (get a day License for $12.75 each extra day $6.00. --catch and grill baby!)
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/lic ... eCategory=
- Across the road - A FREE OPEN RIFLE RANGE THAT YOU CAN SHOOT AWAY AT!!!!!

Local Town Food
- Dirty Shame Saloon
- Coffee & Bistro (expresso!)
- Longhorn Restaurant & Saloon (http://longhornrestaurantandsaloon.com/index.html)
- A Full Grocery store!!! ( So you don't need to fly stuff in)

Things to do
- Fly...Fly...Fly...duh! But what about when it warms up!??
- White Water Rafting for adults & Children (Group rates) (http://cdn.instabuildsites.com/uploads/ ... 7834d0.png)
- Soak in a hot spring (1.25 mile hike (2.5 round trip)) to the East of the strip This is no bath tub!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/phalsephro ... otostream/
- Hiking Just to the northeast of the strip 2.5 mile out and back or a 4-5 Mile loop. There are a lot of options for hiking
- There is horseback riding but you'd have to check the GVchamber of commerce site (above)

More pics of Garden Valley Thanks to Gary of Idaho Aeronautics Division

There's a pic of the field on airnav:

I can't wait!

Google earth starting point to explore the area: https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Garden+V ... 3,76.479,0

Zane, I grant you and anyone else ad infinitum to use this proprietary Garden Valley illustration in perpetuity, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Man looks like it is going to be fun. I might have to see if I can make it over that way with my camera.

Nice work Scott! I'm going to print that out and take it with me.

Confirmed.

The Air Corps fueling truck is going to make the trip and help people get ethanol free mogas into airplanes from gas stations.

No $$$, only

svanarts wrote:Zane, I grant you and anyone else ad infinitum to use this proprietary Garden Valley illustration in perpetuity, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

That's the design for the fly-in t-shirt right there!

Here are a few pictures from when I was there in 2012. Lots of smoke and fire activity.





















Our previous years BCP JC raffle donation to the IAF contributed to building the bathroom facility.


Anyone else have any pictures to share?

WilgaBeast wrote:Confirmed.

The Air Corps fueling truck is going to make the trip and help people get ethanol free mogas into airplanes from gas stations.

No $$$, only

Gas station 2 miles away has mogas without alcohol . Courtesy car is Chevy pickup - Crouch market has everything .

denalipilot wrote:That's the design for the fly-in t-shirt right there!

Needed one addition.

Just one observation. The rifle range is free - But - there is a donation box and there used to be a sign posted somewhere to police up your brass. I believe its a local club that does the maintaining and foots the bills by itself, including the john and repairs. I've seen the place a mess after a weekend, not to say its pilots, but it could have been, as I've seen cabbage being carried across the strip toward the range. It can look like a dump with fruit, vegetables, and various targets all over in tiny pieces - and often, those shooting don't clean it up and it takes a longer to degrade than when the next user comes to use it. Normally, the club does a great job keeping it policed up. Just be courteous, use targets and leave it like you found it (including brass). Think about at least something in the donation box.

Fires and wood. Is there 1 big main group fire ring? or multiple small ones like JC? I figure we need a cord if we have 1 big group fire Wednesday thru Saturday. Maybe one of the local BCP guys can find a local person selling GOOD DRY wood DELIVERED. Me and the other Oregon boys will pay. That will be our contribution to the group.

Cheers...Rob

OregonMaule wrote:Fires and wood. Is there 1 big main group fire ring? or multiple small ones like JC? I figure we need a cord if we have 1 big group fire Wednesday thru Saturday. Maybe one of the local BCP guys can find a local person selling GOOD DRY wood DELIVERED. Me and the other Oregon boys will pay. That will be our contribution to the group.

Cheers...Rob

Rob, I think Gary said they had a few fire pits not just the one. And he'll work to put in a few more so that we have several down the length of the strip for campers. Thanks for the contribution!

SVANARTS....LMFAO!!! That's awesome!

For those that went to the 3SGS fly in I want you to know that I'll be makign a kneedboard type page with lots of great information for this fly in. That wont come till around end of may early June!

piperpainter wrote:

OregonMaule wrote:Fires and wood. Is there 1 big main group fire ring? or multiple small ones like JC? I figure we need a cord if we have 1 big group fire Wednesday thru Saturday. Maybe one of the local BCP guys can find a local person selling GOOD DRY wood DELIVERED. Me and the other Oregon boys will pay. That will be our contribution to the group.

Cheers...Rob

Rob, I think Gary said they had a few fire pits not just the one. And he'll work to put in a few more so that we have several down the length of the strip for campers. Thanks for the contribution!

SVANARTS....LMFAO!!! That's awesome!

For those that went to the 3SGS fly in I want you to know that I'll be makign a kneedboard type page with lots of great information for this fly in. That wont come till around end of may early June!

There are several "fire pits and grills" plus electricity at buildings . Cell phone service is OK for Verizon at strip - I know because of a trip or 2 a year there . In town of Crouch there is coffee/breakfast place called "Wild Bills" where there is WiFi - Crouch market also has free WiFi. The gal that maintains U88 is Annie - phone number on maintance shed to get courtesy truck. On one end of strip is several peremanty residents - other end is forest service helipad . about mile past forest service location is hot springs . fuel and some times food is available at Emmit ,ID.

I want to become the Jeppesen of the backcountry.

Brian, feel free to use the chart for Garden Valley on the handout. Add any other information you think could be useful to pilots flying in. Bars, strip joints, speed traps, where to buy ammunition, etc.

For those driving in, they patrol the highway (Banks-Lowman Road) into Garden Valley heavily, especially on the weekends. That road probably funds a good portion of Boise County. Don't ask how I know this.

Hey Pat. You know any firewood guys?

scottf wrote:For those driving in, they patrol the highway (Banks-Lowman Road) into Garden Valley heavily, especially on the weekends. That road probably funds a good portion of Boise County. Don't ask how I know this.

So we can't do what we do in yeller pine and drive. ((((