I'm going to embark on my longest XC in my Savannah in about two weeks. I need to do something in Phoenix April 24th & 25th, and my plan is to fly into Sedona on the 22nd or 23rd. I'll be flying through the gut of Nevada and plan on camping for two nights on the way down and back. So I'm seeking any advice out there... on where to camp? Where to stop? Anyone along the way wanna come camp with me or meet up for breakfast? Is the Sedona airport not friendly to the cheap experimental crowd? MoGas in Nevada? Haboobs? etc etc.

Thanks!

I usually call the manager of an airport if there are critical logistics needed. Like fuel times, car, MoGas...

The "backside" of the Sierras will be a great flight. Watch out for the desert winds.

This is the route I have mapped out on skyvector...

Corvallis, OR (KCVO) > Lakeview, OR (KLKV) > Winnemucca, NV (KWMC) > Ely, NV (KELY) > Cedar City, UT (KCDC) > Sedona, AZ (KSEZ)

Maybe a stop in Colorado City to pick up a couple of wives? Or a stop in Tonopah to stay at the Clown Motel?

You might want to consider Payson (KPAN)instead, it has a flyin campground on the field with bathrooms and hot showers and a great restaurant and self serve fuel. I've never seen anybody camp at Sedona.

Red Creek

Let me know when and maybe I could meet you down there somewhere. I second the red creek idea.
Sounds like a fun trip no matter what.

Very cool Dude!

While the scenery surrounding SEZ is beautiful, it wouldn't rank very high on my list of places to try and camp. Hafast's suggestion is probably a nicer choice for 'airport camping' OM's suggestion is nice if you are really camping and don't need showers and such.

Vulture mine just SW of Wickenburgh gets you closer to your destination, and is kinda pretty...

If Phoenix is the ultimate destination and you are looking for somewhere 'grassroots' and GA friendly to overnight you should consider the old Turf Soaring airport (Pleasant Valley P48). pretty much right in town and super friendly.

Take care, Rob

Thanks guys!

I don't plan on camping when I get to KSEZ, just going to rent a car an hotel it for my stay in that area. Camping along the way down in rural NV or elsewhere would be fun though.

I sent a message to Pleasant Valley Airport via their website asking if I could get a rental car dropped off there. No response yet. So I thought it would be fun to fly into Sedona get a room at the Best Western and then spend the next day driving and exploring on my way to the Phoenix/Mesa area.

Rezrider wrote:Let me know when and maybe I could meet you down there somewhere. I second the red creek idea.
Sounds like a fun trip no matter what.

I plan to leave Corvallis on the 20th and get to Sedona on the 22nd... where exactly are you located?

OregonMaule wrote:Red Creek

And where might this be?!

I'm working those days so can't make it. Next time tho.

Rezrider wrote:I'm working those days so can't make it. Next time tho.

No worries. I'll be flying back the 26th-29th.

I found Red Creek, so I think I might try and camp there on the night of the 26th if anyone wants to join...

I guess I made my post at the perfect time! I was in Sedona at the end of March. If you have questions.. nine one 6 six 2 2 two five 9 three

Hey Chosstronaut,

The Sedona airport can be tricky with some crazy winds at times so look out for that. In town near bell rock is a coffee shop and mtn bike rental place. It's called the bike and bean and they have 2 rental units in the back they rent to tourists and my fiancé and I stayed there once. It's on VRBO but if you call them you might be able to rent it direct and its a much cheaper alternative to the touristy places. It's a nice clean studio below with a bigger unt above, but only downside is you might get woken up by the bike employees in the morning. Also go to Jerome if you have a car. It's an eccentric old mining town. Climbing in the sedona is freaking hard and your lucky to find much under 5.10. If your considering climbing let me know as a friend of mine wrote the guide book. Also there is a cool canyonerring canyon that goes from Flagstaff to Sedona. It's an all day affair. Also maybe fly into Tusyan which has a GA airport about a mile from the Grand Canyon gate. Take a free buss to the Kaibab trailhead and walk down about an hour into the canyon. It's worth it and much better trail then the bright angel.

I'm sending your mount out Monday so you should have it in time for your trip.

Marc

I've camped at the Battle Mountain airport which is along your route about 50 miles SE of KWMC. It's a nice family run FBO. They have a nice grassy area with trees and a picnic table (IIRC) 200' west of the FBO. Was a nice spot to camp.

Ditto on Grand Canyon. Get yourself the Grand Canyon VFR Airspace Chart so you can fly the transition routes correctly.

Another vote for Red Creek. The weather can be really nice that time of year. Temps are usually 5-10 deg cooler than Phoenix. Land to the west and takeoff to the east unless the winds are strong, in which case you'd probably want to avoid it all together. Mechanical turbulence creates a bad sink on the E end of the strip.
http://azpilots.org/images/attachments/ ... mphlet.pdf

Have a great trip!

Wow, thanks a lot guys! I wish I would have some time to go climbing but will only have the 23rd and the morning of the 26th to do any exploring between Sedona & Phoenix. A stop at the Grand Canyon would be sweet! Last time I drove through that area it was socked in and pouring rain so we didn't even bother checking it out.

Bryan, your pictures look awesome, I can't wait to get out of Oregon... Its been and interesting winter here!

There was a rumor Sedona had 360 days of VFR a year. I beleive it.

8GCBC wrote:There was a rumor Sedona had 360 days of VFR a year. I beleive it.

I dont. Ive been there while it was socked in and snowing. During my honeymoon to be exact...

A1Skinner wrote:

8GCBC wrote:There was a rumor Sedona had 360 days of VFR a year. I beleive it.

I dont. Ive been there while it was socked in and snowing. During my honeymoon to be exact...

Yeah some years it gets frick'n nuts in AZ

The sudo "monsoons" in Arizona can kill. Seen rain that took out entire towns with flash floods! 1/4 mile wide rivers in the desert that destroyed everything, then dry up and you would never know. Very dangerous.

I spent the real monsoon season in India next to the Himalayas . But, Arizona with the right weather can be extremely dangerous too. But, like Hawaii it 's beautiful but deadly if people lose situational awareness.

The VFR 360 days was a marketing ploy I believe.