Backcountry Pilot • Hilton at Owyhee Reservoir

Hilton at Owyhee Reservoir

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I like to fly down to the Owyhee Reservior strip and sit on the front porch of the Hilton hotel and read the log books that all the pilots sign. I like to read where they are from and where they are headed. It is so peaceful and the only sounds are the birds and an occasional boat going up or down the Res. It is one of my favorite spots. I wish I could post a couple of pictures here of landing at the airstrip and a pic. of the hotel. Bob

I do have a video here of the landing at 28U. www.youtube.com/skybobb
search for a landing at Owyhee Reservior State.
skybobb offline
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My back country videos are here: http://www.youtube.com/skybobb

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skybobb wrote:I do have a video here of the landing at 28U. www.youtube.com/skybobb
search for a landing at Owyhee Reservior State.


Here is a direct link to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BNXoI480BI

You made it look easy, Bob.

That's a great collection of video clips you made. I've stumbled upon them once before by accident while searching youtube for backcountry flying.

You have quite a few with some real scenic places including Minam Lodge. BTW, where is that?

However perhaps my favorite is this one where you pretty much sum up the meaning of life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOm7XbMS_5c
...doing something that makes you happy for someone and it makes them happy, well that's like double, triple, or quadruple the happy...

:)
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John

John----- Thanks for the compliment on the video clips. The Minam Lodge is on the Minam River about 14 miles up River from the little wide spot in the road called Minam. The lodge is about 16 sm east of the city of LaGrande, OR. In NE corner of Oregon. It is in the Eagle
Cap wilderness area. It is a beautiful place, ridges on each side are about 7,500 ft. MSL and the lodge is 3589' MSL. The place called Reds Wallowa Horse Ranch, which is a few hundred yards up river used to be the going place to fly into, but the USFS traded some property for it and then closed it for business. It was a sad day when they did that. Bob
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skybobb wrote:I like to fly down to the Owyhee Reservior strip and sit on the front porch of the Hilton hotel and read the log books that all the pilots sign.



Check out the new photo section for a picture of the Hilton.
tom
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I like the wing camera mount, and the picture of the Hilton Hotel. I was in on the fixing up project of the Hilton. Last Memorial Day a bunch of guys got together and fixed the porch, the floor, replaced the rear window, and strengthened the ceiling braces. You look good on the front porch. I think there were about 20 aircraft there on that work weekend. The Son of the original builder from Winemuca NV. was there, a group from Hood River, OR. and some from Madras, Or. We had a lot of fun also. Bob
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skybobb wrote:I like the wing camera mount, and the picture of the Hilton Hotel. I was in on the fixing up project of the Hilton. Last Memorial Day a bunch of guys got together and fixed the porch, the floor, replaced the rear window, and strengthened the ceiling braces. You look good on the front porch. I think there were about 20 aircraft there on that work weekend. The Son of the original builder from Winemuca NV. was there, a group from Hood River, OR. and some from Madras, Or. We had a lot of fun also. Bob


Wish I could have gone to help last year, but if I remember correctly, the weather was iffy for getting out of the Willamette valley. I've been there several times before by boat, and always wanted to go by air. I'll be back.
tom
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Tom---- Why don't you try to make it Memorial day weekend, that same bunch of guys show up every year and are a great group of pilots and friends. When you are sitting on the front porch of the Owyhee Hilton the troubles of the world seem very far away. You can't imagine traffic jams, terrorist attacks, muggings, as you are looking out over the Lake and listening to the geese honking as the fly up the reservior. I guess there is a more peaceful place in the world but I haven't been there. Bob
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I'll definitely keep that in mind. If family and weather permit, I'll be there.
tom
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I have posted a few pictures of the Owhee Res. state airport and pictures of the Hilton before the work was done last Memorial Day. If you click on Skybobb Gallery in my avatar it will take you there. I will hope to see you there next year Tom , If you can make it.
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I heard a story that the whatchamacallit hanging on the porch beam is actually a spar from a Staggerwing that ran off the runway many years ago. Is there any truth to that story, or is it just something that the regulars tell first time visitors?
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I don't think it was a staggerwing, but there is a story in one of the log books that tells about a overloaded plane that crashed on takeoff. That part is off of that particular plane supposedly. Bob

I just looked at a video tape I had and the plane was a cabin waco according to the log. 6 people and a dog and the plane landed in the water on takeoff. Thats what is in the log book. Bob
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skybobb wrote:I don't think it was a staggerwing, but there is a story in one of the log books that tells about a overloaded plane that crashed on takeoff. That part is off of that particular plane supposedly. Bob

I just looked at a video tape I had and the plane was a cabin waco according to the log. 6 people and a dog and the plane landed in the water on takeoff. Thats what is in the log book. Bob


Didn't a Cherokee 140 end up in the water a year or two back?
I thought it was Owyhee. It was a hot day and the pilot neglected to do a density altitude calc before takeoff. :oops:
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A tomahawk ended up in the drink last year...
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whee wrote:A tomahawk ended up in the drink last year...


That must have been it. Pipers, they're all pretty much the same. :wink:
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NTSB List for Owyhee

4 records meet your criteria.
A docket of supporting materials may exist for factual and probable cause reports. Please contact Records Management Division.

Probable Cause
Factual ,
Probable Cause
8/27/2006
4/25/2007
Owyhee, OR
Aviat A-1B
N94HY
Nonfatal
Part 91: General Aviation

Probable Cause
Factual ,
Probable Cause
12/17/1995
11/11/1996
OWYHEE, OR
Cessna 172K
N143JP
Nonfatal
Part 91: General Aviation

Probable Cause
Factual ,
Probable Cause
8/15/1995
4/18/1996
OWYHEE, OR
PIPER PA-18-150
N6854P
Nonfatal
Part 91: General Aviation

Probable Cause
Factual ,
Probable Cause
9/29/1989
7/23/1991
NYSSA, OR
CESSNA 177RG
N8055G
Fatal(2)
Part 91: General Aviation




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Quail offline
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Re: NTSB List for Owyhee

BobWhite wrote:4 records meet your criteria.
A docket of supporting materials may exist for factual and probable cause reports. Please contact Records Management Division.


Probable Cause
Factual ,
Probable Cause
8/15/1995
4/18/1996
OWYHEE, OR
PIPER PA-18-150
N6854P
Nonfatal
Part 91: General Aviation



Like I said, they're all the same. :P

Here's a link to a harrowing report of the Tomahawk going in. Feb 6 2007.

http://www.lifesaving.com/spotlight/sho ... pot&id=170

They were pretty lucky to survive and a good thing help was on hand.

Kudos to the rescuers.

On the other hand, can't really blame it on density altitude. Makes me a bit concerned about trying it in the 150 come May. On paper it looks fine.
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the hilton

Bob, I enjoyed your comments about relaxing at the hilton. It is one of my favorite spots to go. Hope to meet up with you some time. I live in caldwell, and fly a red and white scout. If you see me come over and say hi, I will do the same.
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I think I can!!!

Scouter, I will look for you, I sometimes go over to Caldwell and have breakfast at the airport. I hope I can run into you sometime.
About the accident last Feb. I think they took off up hill and I wouldn't doubt but what he pulled back on the yoke when he should of been pushing forward. I think he stalled it out and made it settle back into the Res.
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Stinging Hilton

Last time I was there, the 4th of July, gosh 3 years ago? Well there were some bad bugs in the Hilton. I got hit and stung by some sort of black bee. Do take some smoggers with you. I got them cleaned out when I was there, but no doubt they invade every year.
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JC wrote:You have quite a few with some real scenic places including Minam Lodge. BTW, where is that?
:)


Hi JC

There are some stills of Minam Here:
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=211
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