I just got to the computer that I could post this on You tube. So here is my landing at Johnson Creek at the BCP fly-in this past summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjONA7HyL-w

You made that look easy, Bob.

My first time to JC was this last August. My flight instructor Chris Butler had me go further down around the mountain and turn around over Yellow Pine, then came back around along the river to land to the south. I guess if I was good enough and set up better, I could have come in the way you did.

After I get some more backcountry instruction, JC will be one of my regular stops!!

The group last summer was trying to discourage the over Yellow Pine route, as some were landing like I did. There was a danger of the two running into each other. Also the residents of Yellow Pine don't like all of the traffic over town.

That looks like a really nice place, and the the video and the flying and everything are well done.

I've been holding off saying it for a long time because I'm sure it'll piss everyone off, but isn't it stretching things a LOT to call this a "backcountry" airstrip???

I mean come on, there's huge threshold markers, a windsock, sprinklers, at least 3,000' useable, and didn't somebody on this site take a fund drive for a computer for internet??? There's also at least 10 times more planes there than any of the strips I base out of, and all of those have commercial air taxi operations based at them.

I'm not saying it isn't a great resource to have, and power to the pilots in Idaho for having a great set up like this. But are we gonna let them get away with calling this "backcountry" ?

Guess I need to stop and go to bed before I get blacklisted from this site... (If it's not too late already)

Denali, I agree with you. JC, I think you could operate DC3's out of there. What I think it is used for, is a base camp to operate from to go to the other more challenging strips. jg

denalipilot wrote:That looks like a really nice place, and the the video and the flying and everything are well done.

I've been holding off saying it for a long time because I'm sure it'll piss everyone off, but isn't it stretching things a LOT to call this a "backcountry" airstrip???

I mean come on, there's huge threshold markers, a windsock, sprinklers, at least 3,000' useable, and didn't somebody on this site take a fund drive for a computer for internet??? There's also at least 10 times more planes there than any of the strips I base out of, and all of those have commercial air taxi operations based at them.

I'm not saying it isn't a great resource to have, and power to the pilots in Idaho for having a great set up like this. But are we gonna let them get away with calling this "backcountry" ?

Guess I need to stop and go to bed before I get blacklisted from this site... (If it's not too late already)

You know.............I was going to say something in an earlier topic this last summer about how easy I found it to get into and out of JC. Same thing, I just didn't want to piss anyone off myself. Especially since I'm a still a newbe! But my first time into and out of JC, I was thinking what a simple strip it was after hearing some other people talk so much about it being some what challenging. But, I guess it all depends on what aircraft your in, winds, time of year, and time of day that makes it challenging for some.

denalipilot wrote:That looks like a really nice place, and the the video and the flying and everything are well done.

I've been holding off saying it for a long time because I'm sure it'll piss everyone off, but isn't it stretching things a LOT to call this a "backcountry" airstrip???

I mean come on, there's huge threshold markers, a windsock, sprinklers, at least 3,000' useable, and didn't somebody on this site take a fund drive for a computer for internet??? There's also at least 10 times more planes there than any of the strips I base out of, and all of those have commercial air taxi operations based at them.

I'm not saying it isn't a great resource to have, and power to the pilots in Idaho for having a great set up like this. But are we gonna let them get away with calling this "backcountry" ?

Guess I need to stop and go to bed before I get blacklisted from this site... (If it's not too late already)

I think it might be a stretch to call it a backcountry strip. It is the camping area where pilots stay when they go into strips like Loon Creek and the likes. No, If you can't land at Johnson Creek you better not try any of the others. It is a great treasure for pilots. I didn't think I called it a backcountry strip, only that the BCP had a fly-in there. Bob

JC is just a great base for daily fly outs... Big Creek is equally as easy. I suppose we classify them as Back Country cause they're not paved and not easy to get to. It requires no great back country skills to go into JC and you can land half way down the runway and still get stopped. Same at Big Creek.. But as a base camp who can argue with Hot showers and clean outhouses and provided firewood....Yeah Alaska is pure wilderness and truly back country with it's short and rough strips and someday I'd like to get up there, but Idaho will do for a while... And yes there has been a DC 3 into JC. THe forestry service also lands their DC 3 at Moose Creek which is the longest up there. See my Avatar....

I kinda adopted lowflying3's terminology and would consider this a "front country" strip. Sure it isn't a standard airport but it ain't backcountry neither. But then again I have never flown into JC so i can't say much. From what I saw when i drove in last summer it is a great place to base out of, internet to check weather and get ahold of buddies at work to let them know all the fun they are missin

You guys are really messing up my grades...I was thing about this all during my class instead of paying attention.

While I would not consider JC or BC backcountry they are back there. In my opinion it doesn't really matter the length of the runway or if is has makers and a windsock, what matters is accessibility. Moose is backcountry, Indian is backcountry and there is many others. They are defiantly not Alaskan bush strips but they are backcountry. To me there is a very big difference between a bush strip and a backcounty strip.

I suppose it depends on your definition of backcountry. Is it distance from civilization and relative obscurity? Is it no access by road? Is it difficulty and unimproved status of the strip?

JC is a nice secluded grass airstrip located on the edge of a playground of more difficult airstrips, few of which are really that remote and unreachable by road. It's a great place for people of varying skill levels to meet and discuss where to go from there.

It now has wi-fi.

Zane, I don't know if this thread will continue, but you have my blessing if you want to split it. I never meant to cast aspersions on Skybobb's original post, which was a really helpful thing to share on his part.

-DP

Well, I saw some Canadians there...how about JC International?!!

What is that saying about a piper cub is just enough airplane to kill you. Well that is the kind of a backcountry strip Johnson Creek is. If I am not mistaken that happened in 2007. I know they were flying from Johnson Creek to Big Creek but you get my point. There was a pilot this last year that decided against trying to fly into Johnson Creek, just not up to the challenge. It depends on the pilot and his experience level. If you fly in the Alaska bush, it is an international airport. If you only land on asphalt in flat land USA it could be a challenge. Just my $.02. Bob

Yes, That is the one. thanks, Bob

skybobb wrote:

denalipilot wrote:That looks like a really nice place, and the the video and the flying and everything are well done.

I've been holding off saying it for a long time because I'm sure it'll piss everyone off, but isn't it stretching things a LOT to call this a "backcountry" airstrip???

I mean come on, there's huge threshold markers, a windsock, sprinklers, at least 3,000' useable, and didn't somebody on this site take a fund drive for a computer for internet??? There's also at least 10 times more planes there than any of the strips I base out of, and all of those have commercial air taxi operations based at them.

I'm not saying it isn't a great resource to have, and power to the pilots in Idaho for having a great set up like this. But are we gonna let them get away with calling this "backcountry" ?


Guess I need to stop and go to bed before I get blacklisted from this site... (If it's not too late already)

I think it might be a stretch to call it a backcountry strip. It is the camping area where pilots stay when they go into strips like Loon Creek and the likes. No, If you can't land at Johnson Creek you better not try any of the others. It is a great treasure for pilots. I didn't think I called it a backcountry strip, only that the BCP had a fly-in there. Bob

Whatever you call it every summer 3 or more aircraft get pretty well demolished going into JC. Just a heads up to those who think instructions are not required!

Try circling around Johnson Creek at several thousand feet and then take a look around. It's "backcountry". I understand what some of you are saying and it might not be the most difficult strip around, but who cares, it's pretty remote and filled with it's own set of challenges. I saw one of our most experienced mountain pilots almost eat shit on take off during the supercub.org event this summer when a mountain squall came through, shifted and intensified the wind instantly, and caught everyone off guard. His experience and skill got him through it but everyone watching had severe cases of sphincter constriction before running off to grab planes getting tossed. If the mountains around there don't qualify as backcountry I don't know what does. C'mon, give the mountains the respect they deserve no matter how long or wide the landing green is.

Bob... once again a very nice video! Keep em coming...

"Backcountry" to me isn't about whether or not it can eat your cookies. I think it has more to do with the presence (or absence) of hot showers, wi-fi, caretakers in residence, and a maintained runway surface that could pass for a fairway most places.

You mean the "BOONIES" Where if you screw up you bend over and kiss your ass goodbye. Lions, Tigers and Bears! Oh My

denalipilot wrote:"Backcountry" to me isn't about whether or not it can eat your cookies. I think it has more to do with the presence (or absence) of hot showers, wi-fi, caretakers in residence, and a maintained runway surface that could pass for a fairway most places.

You mean the "BOONIES" Where if you screw up you bend over and kiss your ass goodbye. Lions, Tigers and Bears! Oh My