A few of us from SZP went out to Grand Gulch Mine in Arizona during the weekend of May 14, 2009. Both runways are in good condition as of this date.

I walked both runways and they are clear of medium and large loose rocks. There is some small (5"-8" tall) brush growing on both runways, but it is not a factor.

The wind sock is ragged and difficult to see (could be my old eyes) and would be a nice project to replace it. I always carry my portable wind sock with me. It is a river rock weighing about 2# that I tape a bright orange crepe paper streamer to with duct tape. I keep the crepe paper rolled up with a rubber band. Here's the trick - remove the rubber band and drop it from your window when doing your low and slow fly by. The crepe paper unfurls on the way down.

If the rock sinks - don't land. If it bounces and stays on the surface you know it is solid enough to land. The streamer becomes your portable wind sock when it lays down on the ground.

I posted a couple of videos on this site and vimeo, if you want to see the condition of the strip.

Grand Gulch is one of the "mine" strips about 80 miles northeast of Boulder -I go there quite a lot. North /south strip (north end) is pretty rocky until you go past a big bush about 600' from north end. Narrow is the word . Shorter Northeast/southwest strip is shorter and softer.Did you go down to "ghost town"mine ? I've been meaning to take out a fresh windsock (near intersection of runways ) and put it up. There are 3-4 more strips north and east of Grand Gulch . Several more directly west -one with twin beech sitting in front yard of house. I fly the area alot and have found no less than 2 dozen strips from L-25 (Pierce Ferry ) north and east . I fly along and mark them on my GPS or SPOT and record them on a map.

I've got a request for lat/long for Arizona Strip > This should get everyone started > more in my GPS

Should have big tires and minimum of 180 hp. Land and take off before 9am in summer . I've decided to add a "degree of difficulty" number from one to five - five being toughest .

> Bill
> Here are the coordinates for the Az Strips I have located.
> I'll attach them in Microsoft Works Word and paste them here in case you
> can't open it.
>
> I'll talk to you on Tues about the Wednesday flight up.
> Mark
>
>
> ARIZONA STRIP coordinates
>
> Bar Ten N 36 15.74 W 113 14.08 authorized 2
> Black Valley N 36 55.98 W 111 58.17 overgrown 5
> Buckhorn Springs N 36 19.26 W 113 58.67 3
>
> Cliff Dwellers N 36 44.10 W 111 45.11 good condition, private 2
> Copper Mountain N 36 09.67 W 113 20. 89 inside SFAR 3
> Colorado City N 36 57.14 W 113 01.05 authorized 1
> Craig Ranch N 36 27.17 W 113 08.57 4
>
> Grand Gulch N 36 19.37 W 113 47.19 3
> Imlay N 36 40.91 W 113 37.57 authorized 2
> Kinney Flat N 36 21.66 W 113 18.49 3
> Lake Flat N 36 08.51 W 113 31.92 inside SFAR? 4
>
> Marble Canyon N 3648.67 W 111.38.70 eat, lodge authorized 1
> McDonalds N 36 14.89 W 113 34.73 4
> Mt Trumbull N 36 25.39 W 113 19.87 5
>
> North Rim N 36 23.28 W 112 07.81 destroyed NPS-but still landable! 6
> Pakoon Springs N 36 24.95 W 113 57.83 on list of Desert Tortoise 3
> Pakoon Well N 36 31.13 W 113 52.15 authorized 3
> Pipe Springs N 36 51.14 W 112 44.30 3
>
> Tassi Ranch N 36 15.08 W 113 57.95 in the Grand Canyon >wast end possible NPS pilots will harass you 3
> Tuweep N 36 18.11 W 113 o3.35 pending lease, APA open or closed >landable 3

rfinkle wrote:I always carry my portable wind sock with me. It is a river rock weighing about 2# that I tape a bright orange crepe paper streamer to with duct tape. I keep the crepe paper rolled up with a rubber band. Here's the trick - remove the rubber band and drop it from your window when doing your low and slow fly by. The crepe paper unfurls on the way down.

If the rock sinks - don't land. If it bounces and stays on the surface you know it is solid enough to land. The streamer becomes your portable wind sock when it lays down on the ground.

Hey! That's a snazzy and economical windsock! Cheap and it works!

Fisherman wrote:

rfinkle wrote:I always carry my portable wind sock with me. It is a river rock weighing about 2# that I tape a bright orange crepe paper streamer to with duct tape. I keep the crepe paper rolled up with a rubber band. Here's the trick - remove the rubber band and drop it from your window when doing your low and slow fly by. The crepe paper unfurls on the way down.

If the rock sinks - don't land. If it bounces and stays on the surface you know it is solid enough to land. The streamer becomes your portable wind sock when it lays down on the ground.

Hey! That's a snazzy and economical windsock! Cheap and it works!

Better > go to 99 cent store pick up bag of balloons ------kid stuff ----- go by grocery and get a 5 lb. sack of flour . go home or to where ever and pour a good sized amount (about the size of tennis ball will do) in balloon and tie knot. When your flying along and want to check wind toss out and watch when it hits ground or trees,rocks etc. Bright yellow like they use in "chalk line -string "is very visable . Cheap and reliable and won't injure or kill some on on LZ.

Good morning Bill
Thanks for the list of strips and coordinates. I have plotted them. Will put them in the GPS later today. Hoping for a fall camping trip to that area and check them out.
Have a good weekend/cheers
Gary

Hey Bill
I didn't see anything in your list about Pearce Ferry. Anything good about it?
Thanks again Gary

shortfielder wrote:Hey Bill
I didn't see anything in your list about Pearce Ferry. Anything good about it?
Thanks again Gary

Pierce Ferry -(L25) sometimes called Meadview.Camping is ok -west end of Grand Canyon -in Park but ok for everything.
L-25 called "Bill's Favorite spot" take your lawn chair and bottle water. Watch out for Rattle Snakes -only 2 parking tie downs ( hard to see but there there ) on north west end of runway.Town of Meadview has all the typical stuff -including 2 more airstrips ! One next to "town center " Volunteer fire station-another a mile or so south along highway. Pierce Ferry is where the river runners used to get out of there boats after doing the canyon. I'd rate L25 as about 2-3 pretty easy. Just go down runway (going south) a ways -don't hit end and crash ____ I'll come out and meet you if you want -send me a email and we'll go "cruszin" . Bill Reid

Thankyou sir
I just got done putting the waypoints in my GPS.
Gary

Bill

Is it OK to use the other 2 strips there by Meadowview?

Thanks Gary

shortfielder wrote:Bill

Is it OK to use the other 2 strips there by Meadowview?

Thanks Gary

One thing strip in town has is wires and a big antenna very close to "runway" .One strip in "town" of Meadview has a wind sock and runway (next to fire station ) with "X's" on it but there are several airplanes there -tails sticking out of hanger of a Cherokee and a Cub. Second strip a mile or so south has several Motor homes near the south end and some ultralights parked , I once saw a cub parked there also. Both in town and south mile strips are plenty long and wide. I'd just stay with L-25 for camping -someone will come out from "town" if they hear or see a airplane land. Distance from L-25 to Town is maybe a mile walk or maybe ride a folding bike. I've found over the years that if you "buzz" town someone is bound to come out to the "international airport" . I've been ask to take kid for rides out at Meadview International,never have yet.

Another possibly I just thought of is AZ50 -not camping as I had in other PM but Bruce Bartons ranch house. He's got a heart bigger than Texas and lots of room. Lots of Airplanes and will talk airplanes until the wee hours of the morning
and all day. The coffee pots always on and meals are close. I'm headed out there today as well.

Bill

AZ50 is Triangle Airpark. Is that 1 and the same w/Bruce Barton?

Gary

I'd like to get these strips added to the shortfield.com database (for those that aren't already). Does anyone have information (photos, descriptions, videos, pireps, etc.) they can contribute once they are added?

Thanks!

Landed at Grand Gulch on 5/9/15. Strip is still in pretty good shape. The dirt is a little soft and there are small flowers growing on the runway, but nothing major. The middle of the main runway (where it intersects with the other runway) has some depressions about 2-3 inches deep and 4-7 inches in diameter from cows. We were off the ground/stopped before we ever reached them, but for the most part they look small enough that most standard tires should just roll over them and not be a problem. The condition of the crosswind runway is not as good, but still landable for most aircraft. Has more depressions, a little more overgrown, and has some cow pies. Still useable, though. Middle of that runway is also the worst condition. Super fun strip to fly into and the mine is really interesting. Hope to go back soon.

shortfielder wrote:Bill

AZ50 is Triangle Airpark. Is that 1 and the same w/Bruce Barton?

Gary

Absolutely ! Come on down and we'll go to Rosies

Planning a little expedition into the Arizona Strip. Any word on Tassi Springs being "open" ?