Just came back from another great trip in Idaho. I was fortunate to have made 4 trips this summer with nearly perfect weather. There is an old strip that was recently brought back to life through the efforts of the IAA/RAF. 4D2 on the charts. It is listed as 8262 elevation 2200 feet long but the strip on Google Maps only measure 1900 feet. The trees to the South have been cutout making the obstacle clearance much more favorable. It is a beautiful spot and opens up access to the Yellowjacket mountains and campground. I didn't do the hike on this trip. I have to say the DA was a little intimidating. I landed at Telluride years ago but that runway is really not comparable to Hoodoo. There is an uphill grade I would estimate in the 4-5% range. Surface is gravel/rock. Not too rough. I posted some videos of the approach and takeoff. Had a couple of young bucks trot across the runway about 30 feet in front of me just to make it interesting. For a lightly loaded airplane and taking the DA into consideration it is a great destination.






Josh

Thanks for the awesome PIREP and videos Josh! I’m planning on going there in mid October if it is clear of snow.

It’s hard to believe that Idaho is opening new strips and reopening some old ones. I wish Oregon, California and Washington would follow this trend.

Very nicely done, Josh. The active throttle/pitch all the way to flair put you down slowly where you intended and the hill halfway across down drainage egress made takeoff interesting. Spoilers would be nice getting down into the second one. Good job.

Josh, thank you for sharing. We were at the B about a month ago and I noticed it on the sectional.......great to see what the approach and departure look like!

Brent

“Dog is my Copilot” is correct in saying reopening Hoodo Meadows was an effort. To expand a little, it was a multi year effort with hundreds of volunteer hours of meetings, hearings, construction, etc. Not only the IAA and RAF, but Idaho Division of Aeronautics and Salmon Challis National Forest worked together make it happen. Their was opposition to the project right up to the day construction began in July.
Hoodo Meadows is right next to the wilderness boundary and the biggest concern of the “anti’s” was that new air traffic would deteriorate the experience of the “Big Horn Crags”.
I’ve been monitoring the progress of Hoodo and was pleased to see the PIREP in this post anticipating making the flight in. But after watching the departure video I couldn’t believe he turned north into the wilderness busting the protocol of maintaining 2000’ AGL above wilderness, flying 9 miles, buzzing Ship Island Lake, and then buzzing down drainage to the Middle Fork. What could be wrong with that?
Departure from 4D2 should be down drainage to the SW.

Yep, Nice buzz job of the Craigs.

Jim 541 wrote:“Dog is my Copilot” is correct in saying reopening Hoodo Meadows was an effort. To expand a little, it was a multi year effort with hundreds of volunteer hours of meetings, hearings, construction, etc. Not only the IAA and RAF, but Idaho Division of Aeronautics and Salmon Challis National Forest worked together make it happen. Their was opposition to the project right up to the day construction began in July.
Hoodo Meadows is right next to the wilderness boundary and the biggest concern of the “anti’s” was that new air traffic would deteriorate the experience of the “Big Horn Crags”.
I’ve been monitoring the progress of Hoodo and was pleased to see the PIREP in this post anticipating making the flight in. But after watching the departure video I couldn’t believe he turned north into the wilderness busting the protocol of maintaining 2000’ AGL above wilderness, flying 9 miles, buzzing Ship Island Lake, and then buzzing down drainage to the Middle Fork. What could be wrong with that?
Departure from 4D2 should be down drainage to the SW.

Jim,

I took the departure video down. Not my intention to post an incorrect procedure into or out of Hoodoo Meadows. I tried to research as much as possible going into 4D2. I wanted to see the Yellowjacket Mountains up close - hence the Northwesterly departure. For the record the airplane was at idle power and was not making a lot of noise. Certainly not buzzing anything. Flying about as quiet as possible. There are a lot of places in the middle fork where there is much more frequent traffic within the boundaries of wildlife preserves.. I am not a local to the area and do not know which areas are particularly sensitive. I appreciate the feedback. The flight was particularly scenic and that was my only interest in sharing it. It is worth knowing the information you shared about the departure and hopefully educational for others going into and out of Hoodoo.


Josh

Glad I got to watch it before it was taken down. That was a beautiful flight through there.

Josh,

Great response! I look forward to seeing your future videos.

Jim