Just flew direct from my gjt to apa today and went over the little group of 14'ers north east of Leadville. I flew lower than usual, prefect VFR and only 5kts of wind. A few of them and one in particular looked pretty flat and relatively smooth on top.

Has anyone landed any of them? Looks like if you set down safe u would be able to take off heading back down hill. There didn't seem to be anyone up on them and I'm sure it's something a guy would want to takle early in the morning. Any way the idea is really working on me.

Is it just a dumb idea?

There is a thread on here somewhere about a fella who landed a cub on Mt. Rainier back in the '50s that is certainly worth the read.....

I will look for it and add it as an edit....

lc

http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?Di ... le_id=8469

Try that....

....and here is the BCP thread/topic.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=7136

I've been standing on the top of a CO 14er 69 times to date and have thought this over MANY times. Yes there are defiantly summits one could land on. Yes, if you get caught, and you probably will, you will face heavy fines.

Everyone that hikes 14ers has a camera. Most everyone is part of 14ers.com. Most everyone starts very early and summits by 6-9am. The easier 14ers (one's a plane can land on) are filled with dozens of hikers every day in the summer/fall. If one were to do it, one would have a better chance in the evening. I'm pretty sure many 14ers are either in a wilderness area or on private land.

It sounds like something to try in the winter with skis when you will get best performance out of the plane. Of course, if you ball it up, no one will be there to rescue your stupid ass.

Make sure it's not a designated wilderness area. Federal regulation 36 CFR 261.13 appears to specifically allow aircraft operation in the National Forest. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=36&PART=261&SECTION=13&TYPE=TEXT

[edit] Also, 36 CFR 212.51 http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?YEAR=current&TITLE=36&PART=212&SECTION=51&TYPE=TEXT

Join Rocky Mountain Rescue or St. A's Flight For Life: eventually that will get you a legal flight to the top of a 14'er.

There can be deceptively large rocks and uneven terrain on the tops of those peaks.

Don't shut the engine off while you're up there.

tcj wrote:Don't shut the engine off while you're up there.

Why is that?

It will be hard to restart at that altitude, if it restrats at all.

Then, just do a dead-stick takeoff!!!

Gump

This weekend on the 8830' level of 12,002 Hydeman Peak (I was cruising by on the way home, and this was a spur of the moment thing), it seems most Idaho big mountains are pretty damn pointy on top, these are typical. The good thing is there is a lot of smaller ones with real landable ridges due to the sparse vegatation. One of the things I like about SE Idaho, not so many trees on the mountains like other places!

People have landed on the flat part on the top of Corona Pass before. with skis. This is obviously on the east side of the ridge. It is pretty flat up there on the top, I have been up there on snowmobiles before. It is really fun when your flying at 13k and happen to see snowmobilers up that high. You are up there in the air and they are not that much lower than you ripping on the snow.

Nice spot courrierguy!!

Not so certain about the engine not re-starting. Have not had much problem re-starting around these parts at or above 10K MSL. It does make sense with the density but honestly think its rare for it to not re-start. Reading a book now about a guy (Jack Wilson) who lands on Mt Wrangell (16,233') in his wheel equipped ski plane. He made 70 plus landings on the summit in the early 60's. He shuts down every time.

We need to start a thread on high altitude landings. Its about all I have been thinking about as of late. Ground roll, performance, air density, winds aloft, etc.

AKT

I was wondering when u would chime in Quinner..........Tweeker

Your here too...great minds or (dumb ones) think a like...That high boy I was discussing around that lake is on BLM in Nevada....lets go...

Blu wrote:Just flew direct from my gjt to apa today and went over the little group of 14'ers north east of Leadville. I flew lower than usual, prefect VFR and only 5kts of wind. A few of them and one in particular looked pretty flat and relatively smooth on top.

Has anyone landed any of them? Looks like if you set down safe u would be able to take off heading back down hill. There didn't seem to be anyone up on them and I'm sure it's something a guy would want to takle early in the morning. Any way the idea is really working on me.

Is it just a dumb idea?

Blu..why not try Mt Evans..there is a paved road to the top.

[/quote]
Blu..why not try Mt Evans..there is a paved road to the top. [/quote]

Motorized! That would make it legal!!

mountainmatt wrote:I've been standing on the top of a CO 14er 69 times to date and have thought this over MANY times. Yes there are defiantly summits one could land on. Yes, if you get caught, and you probably will, you will face heavy fines.

Everyone that hikes 14ers has a camera. Most everyone is part of 14ers.com. Most everyone starts very early and summits by 6-9am. The easier 14ers (one's a plane can land on) are filled with dozens of hikers every day in the summer/fall. If one were to do it, one would have a better chance in the evening. I'm pretty sure many 14ers are either in a wilderness area or on private land.

Do u know of any that are just on forest land, seems like if I circle first and make sure no one else is up there would kind of be a no harm no foul situation. The one I was checking out is just dirt and rock for the most part with a little grass, nothing to really damage for the next person.

One other thing to consider is altitude sickness should you become stranded up on top of a big one, it could become a real emergency, especially late in the evening (having to make it through the night). It probably would not be to cold this time of year but you could be pretty screwed up with out oxygen.

I would consider anything that high a serious risk, I am not saying you should not do it but be smart if you do.

Anything above 9,000 is real nice to have a turbo, or lots of room!
Also where that real long prop turning real fast is a biggggggggggggg help!
GT

Blu wrote:Do u know of any that are just on forest land, seems like if I circle first and make sure no one else is up there would kind of be a no harm no foul situation. The one I was checking out is just dirt and rock for the most part with a little grass, nothing to really damage for the next person.

Better make certain you know your regs about USFS land and/or the land holder (controlling authority). Its different everywhere. Generally, if it has a road its good to go. That means motorized generally. If its BLM its generally good to go. USFS, thats a whole different deal. No road, you better be careful and for certain do not post about it! Take it from someone who knows about posting certain things. You where never there....