Last week, instead of going to Johnson Creek (I wish we could have done the show earlier), my dad and I and a couple of friends from the Spanish Fork Airport shot an episode of Hooked on Utah - an outdoor show that's on after the News on KUTV Channel 2 in Utah. Check it out if you can, if not it will be on their website and on Youtube next week sometime. I'll post a link here when it's up.

We flew down to Caveman Ranch with our 170, a Top Cub and a R44 Helicopter and spent the night there. In the morning we flew down the Colorado River, over to Mexican Mountain then to Hidden Splendor. I had the idea for the show a while ago, since they do hunting, fishing and outdoor adventure stuff all the time. I called up the host, Gary Winterton, and he was excited to do it. Turns out he's a pilot, but hasn't flown in a couple of years and his 182 (stol kit, 260hp? engine, etc) was just sitting there. He got the bug again, got his plane in annual, but didn't feel comfortable flying it in the backcountry, so he rode in the helicopter. Anyway, it should be a good, positive show on aviation in the backcountry. I wish we had more time, it's only a 30min show, to go to more strips and show more from the air. We're thinking about doing a running segment on the show every few weeks where we'll highlight some new strip for a couple of minutes.

Anyway, check it out if you can! I haven't seen it yet, so I hope it's good!

Here are a few pictures:

The top cub and the mighty 170b parked at Hidden Splendor:


Me saying something probably un-intelligeble for the camera:


R44 landing at Mexican Mountain:

Dude, you're going to be a celeb. If you can somehow combine some Bear Grylls bug-eating action with your aviation gameshow host schtick, this could make it all the way to Discovery.

Dang!!

Don't be telling folks what a neat place Utah is or we will have to start reserving some of the better spots for "locals".

Last week at Corona Arch:



It's frikkin HUGE!!

Nice job! That is just the kind of positive exposure we need. Been trying to head there for a few weeks but this 100 degree heat is no fun.

Uh, I'll have to come up with something else besides bug eating - I don't think I can do that.

Im only watching it if you and Noreen do a singing duet..

Crap, Noreen isn't on the show this time, and I'm sure they cut all my singing. But you can still watch it, Johnny from Caveman Ranch made the cut!

Yellow - I've been to Corona arch, it is huge! I'm guessing you've seen the video of the guys using it as a swing?

Cant wait to watch it Allen! Nice work... That country is sure beautiful!

Every time I see the title of that video I cringe...only for the sake its about 900' short of the world largest.

We were doing 1000' rope swings in Yosemite until our mentor decided he wanted to add another 100'. Google Dan Osman

Not that it matters anyhow...Fired up to see your show man!!!

AKT

aktahoe1 wrote: Google Dan Osman

You knew Dan? I used to watch that guy all the time in the early 90's climbing movies Masters of Stone by Eric Perlman. Felt bad when he had his accident.

I'll post the link to the show as soon as it's up on the web.

Zane wrote:

aktahoe1 wrote: Google Dan Osman

You knew Dan? I used to watch that guy all the time in the early 90's climbing movies Masters of Stone by Eric Perlman. Felt bad when he had his accident.

Yep he was one of my roommates here in Squaw for a few years. He started taking us rope flying (as he called it or Flossing the sky) off the Forest hill bridge as we were all a bunch of pirate bungee jumpers at the time. Jumped the Golden gate bridge the night they retired Joe Montana's jersey with him (bungee). Going by the security booths on the way out, all the guards were watching the game on their TV's.

It was very unfortunate that Dan passed on his final jump. You can google all about it (facts are way off however). Miles Daisher (whom you will see if you google Dan and the 1000' rope swings) was also my roommate at the time and fuel guy at my heli op. Miles is the one the got all of us into jumping. Well, actually Frank Gambalie did (he was the one that jumped El Cap and got chased by the feds and ran into the river and drown).

All of this is for another thread.

Fired up to Allen on TV!!

Great show Allen.

Let me know if I can help next time!

Thanks Cory - I was going to call you last minute (one of the guys who was supposed to go bailed, but we got Cris and his Top Cub last minute) but you were already up at Johnson Creek when we shot the show. That's why I wasn't up there with Noreen.

Ok, here is the Hooked on Utah episode I'm on with my dad an our trusty 170b. Let me know what you think!



I have some work to do because apparently my dad thinks our 8.50's are big tires. Sheesh, it's a little embarrassing!

Nice work Allen! It's very cool to see some backcountry flying on tv!

Allen,

You guys did a great job on the video!!!!

hope it hasnt gone to johnys head, but as they say "THERE YAA GO"!!!!

Johnny, as always, was incredibly helpful and happy to do whatever he could to make us feel at home.
I wanted to show more of Caveman and the other spots we went to as well, but there is only so much you can squeeze in between all the sponsors and commercials in a 30 minute show. We're planning on doing another full episode in the fall, too.

Cool great job!!!!

Allen:

Great video.

Question:

How did you get the intercom and pilot audio spliced in when you are flying? I have a GoPro and would like to link into the GoPro "microphone" jack from my intercom to record voices and transmissions.

Thank you for the excellent program.