Hey everyone. Help me get from Texas to Chilliwak, BC landing only on turf.

Texas has lots of muni airports with both hardpack and turf runways, and gas. Certainly we can't be the only state that has these. In addition we have a lot of hardpack only airports with turf between taxiways that we regularly land on.

I don't know about New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon or Washington. Nor British Columbia. But a lot of you do.

Here is an approximate route I plan to take.



I'll start a thread listing the Texas airports I know off along with Google Earth images, including markup. Please you do the same for your locale and help me get to BC without ever touching pavement.

Thanks

Marfa, Tx also has a grass/dirt runway and good fuel prices.

Grant County Airport, NM. It is at Silver City. Three different dirt runways. Good price on fuel. Great spot to camp on the grass or crash on the pilot lounge couch.

It is an easy leg between the two. Approx 275nm

You can try Scappoose Airport in NW Oregon, Its an asphalt runway but a lot of people (including myself) land in the grass between the runway and taxi ways on the east side of the field. I used to always fill up there when I lived in Vancouver, and I always stop there for fuel whenever I'm visiting my parents. It's usually some of the cheapest gas in the area besides maybe Starks Twin Oaks. It's too bad Evergreen is closed or else I would tell you to go there.

Edit: I just saw one of the other active threads and it reminded me of a nice little airport. Check out Lenhardt Airpark in the Portland area, they have fuel and a parallel grass runway.

Grass, Customs POI crossing both ways
No Gas
Further east than your route, though
Porthill, ID

Taxi as close to the stairs as possible

--Bill

Columbia, Ca (o22) grass runway and asphalt, fuel, camping, 1/4 mile walk to good food at Patty's shack

I know of no other place Ca with grass and fuel, but I'm not very familiar with airports south of Bakersfield.

Cottage Grove, Oregon (61s) has grass to the side of the 33 end where I was told that sometimes float planes will land on. I would certainly call before using. The grass to the side of the 19 end is NOT suitable. 61S is also home to the Oregon Aviation Historical Society and has really friendly people - also the blackberries are really sweet - not sure about camping on the airport - there is a campground according to Google maps 1 mile to the S.E.

Thanks everyone, keep them coming.

Anyone know about Madera CA? I need to stop there to pick up my nephews. Sat photos indicate grass along the runway might be land-able.

robw56 wrote:Edit: I just saw one of the other active threads and it reminded me of a nice little airport. Check out Lenhardt Airpark in the Portland area, they have fuel and a parallel grass runway.

My hangar is located here (7S9...with someone else's plane in it currently) so if you give me a heads up on your way north, I'll buy you a coffee and donut, or we can hit some lunch, depending on time of day.

Barnstormer wrote:Thanks everyone, keep them coming.

Anyone know about Madera CA? I need to stop there to pick up my nephews. Sat photos indicate grass along the runway might be land-able.

Yes there is a grass section mid-field next to the parallel taxiway, although not sure of its length, it looked plenty long enough to land. Only trouble would be if other planes taxiing around probably wouldn't appreciate it...ymmv

Most all the public airports I've been to have turf somewhere Phil. Take me with you and ill show you the really nice ones. Sweet trip.

c180bill you have intrigued me. The thought of landing at a International Airport that is nothing but a grass strip with a couple of buildings sounds so cool that if I can actually do that either up or back will take that route.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzane, thanks for the invite, if I come back that way I'll definitely plan on stopping in.

My schedule is constrained to my nephew's. If it was just me I'd be zigzagging all over the place and it would take a week to get back.

Bart, thanks for the info on Madera. Another thing that make direct which route I take is whether or not I need to scatter my Dad's ashes over Figeroa mountain outside Santa Ynez, CA.

Anyone know if Caldwell or Nampa Idaho can be landed next to the paved runways?

Barnstormer wrote:Anyone know if Caldwell or Nampa Idaho can be landed next to the paved runways?

At Caldell, I can't say for sure it's OK by the Airport Manager. But, I have seen planes land on the north side of the runway (30) at Caldwell.

Not sure about Nampa.

1O5 (Montague, CA) has a dirt/turf cross runway that I use most of the time. Has 100LL. http://www.airnav.com/airport/1O5 Hard to see the dirt strip but it crosses the paved strip at the top intersection in the photo on airnav. Less out of the way than Napa or Cauldwell

Tim

58Skylane & Tim thanks for the info. I've decided to alter my route for this trip.



Meeting my Nephews in Caldwell, ID. Included Salmon, ID as I hope to get some mountain flying instruction along the way.

Hmmmm, thought I did this already.


If you are flying East of the Cascades: S95 Martin Field College Place, WA which is essentially Walla Walla, WA has a nice grass strip and fuel.

If you are coming up the West Side ( probably the case if going to Chilliwack ) then:

As mentioned before: KSPB Scappose, Or has a grass strip on the East side of the hard surface and very nice gas prices

S43 Harvey Airfield, Snohomish, WA in Seattle, Everett, WA area has nice grass strip and fuel

KAWO Arlington, WA has grass strip and fuel.

Ok, flying to Salmon ID next Thursday. Friday morning taking mountain flying lessons. Will have Friday afternoon and Saturday till about 3 when I meet my nephews in Caldwell with nothing scheduled.

Where is a cool place to fly fish during that time? Or any other cool ideas on things to do?

It is hot in ID, afternoon temps pushing 100F; too hot for backcountry ops much after 10am or so. Rent a car from one of the dealerships and drive down river to the Panther Creek Inn and Shoup or some similar adventure. Camping at Indian or Johnson Creek would be good, too provided you fly in early before it gets hot... Sulphur Creek is a great stop if you just want to fly in, rent a cabin and have meals cooked for you.

Thanks blackrock, Sulphur Creek sounds good, I think you've figured me out [have meals cooked for you].

And thanks TomD for your info.

No joy in Nampa. I talked to an airport board member about it one time seemed there was no interest. Maybe I'll try again

Back from Canada, sort of.

This trip was all about taking my "20 something" nephews sturgeon fishing in British Columbia. A trip they dreamt about for months. And doing it all on turf strips.

The Nephews


The trip was fine until we met Canadian customs. When we landed a U.S. Customs officer directed me to parking. He then told us to walk across the border to Canadian customs, which we did. After taking our passports one of the custom's officers sent myself and the older nephew outside while he questioned the younger.

Two hours later he decided not to allow the younger into Canada because he'd had a DUI eight years earlier while in high school. But before telling us that, smiling, friendly and pleasant, he asked me to bring the plane to the Canada side, just an entry formality he said. I happily obliged, the older nephew and I went back to the plane and pushed it across the border. Of course it was just a ruse so he could search my plane.

Myself and the older were cleared into Canada, but not the younger. Obviously I couldn't leave him behind so we headed back to U.S. Customs to clear back into the states.

Now normally I'm fine with whatever laws a country has, after all it's their country not mine. But we were told by the Canadian customs officer that for $250, and about a week and a half for paperwork to clear, the younger would be allowed in. Apparently a little money overrides the younger's past criminal behavior, instantly making him a better citizen.

We turned around and fished in Idaho instead.