Ok, here's the deal. Mountain Matt and I are planning a spur of the moment camping trip to Marble Airstrip in Colorado this coming weekend. It's a private grass strip in the Colorado Rockies. Must have a waiver and high mountain flying experience to attend. This isn't lower Idaho altitudes. If you are interested in going shoot Matt or myself a PM. Flynbeekeeper or Shortfielder may have info as well. I have the owner's phone number in order to get your waiver done. Do not land here without permission! No meals planned, bring what you need. Remember, spur of the moment. I'm planning on drowning some flies in the Crystal River and few beers aound the camfire.

Damn Bill
I was gonna take the plane to the prop shop and get it O/H'd , guess I'll have to post pone that so I can go to Marble and drink Beer with you guys .

Hope Woody's is open.

Have you talked to Kirk(Curt????) to see how the strip is?

Hopefully C-ya next weekend

Gary

As stated, count me in.

Oh, and Shep wants to come too.

I'd like to drop in just for a day to fish and hang out a little.

This is shaping up nice. Remember, we are not calling it a fly-in, just a bunch of backcountry pilots going camping.

Gary, I don't have the number to the caretaker house. I do plan to call Glen this afternoon to make sure he is okay with it. I don't see it being an issue since he said during the CPA dinner that we were welcome to use the strip anytime as long as he had our waiver. Hopefully the family will be there since it is a holiday weekend. They are awesome people.

Hey Blu
You might want to bring a tent, there might be some drinkin. Also, there's only 3800' o runway. Ihope that willbe enough forya.

Bill
Caretakers names are Kirk and Sue Blue. Their # is 970.963.1073

I emailed Mr.Gallegos this AM to see if he would be up next weekend, and asked if he and his wife were planning on being there, and told him there were a few planning on stopping by.

Gary, still haven't got a hold of Glen, but talked to Kirk. Said the runway is in great shape but been windy as hexk like the rest of CO. He sounded excited to have us come up. Said we can use his Exploder to run to town and that Woody will fix us up some roadkill. Kirk says he remembers you well. You gotta stop leaving that impression on people

Sounds like loads of fun. Count me in! (I hope the heck these winds abate this next week!)

Have fun guys!

Small setback for me guys. I just finished doing the Burl’s firewall battery mount and lost 21lbs. The reason I did it now was because my plane would start fine sometimes, then barely at all on others. Figured it was my ancient battery. During the process of removing all the old heavy stuff from the tail we notice my battery solenoid making rattling sounds when we moved it. We opened it and sure enough the roll pin that holds the spring/pin for the contact was gone. Figured maybe it was making contact sometimes and not so much on others, thought for sure my problem was solved. Ordered a new battery solenoid and completed the firewall mount. Same darn starting issues, argh! Did a bunch of trouble shooting with a multimeter and turns out my dang 57 year old starter has finally went south. I have been wanting a new lightweight 6.5lb Skytech starter for a while but couldn't justify getting it when I had a good starter. Ordered one today. Next up, light weight alternator. I feel like my plane is on a diet

I'm hoping to have my new starter delivered and installed by Thursday. If not, I may not be going.

bushwagon wrote:Small setback for me guys. I just finished doing the Burl’s firewall battery mount and lost 21lbs. The reason I did it now was because my plane would start fine sometimes, then barely at all on others. Figured it was my ancient battery. During the process of removing all the old heavy stuff from the tail we notice my battery solenoid making rattling sounds when we moved it. We opened it and sure enough the roll pin that holds the spring/pin for the contact was gone. Figured maybe it was making contact sometimes and not so much on others, thought for sure my problem was solved. Ordered a new battery solenoid and completed the firewall mount. Same darn starting issues, argh! Did a bunch of trouble shooting with a multimeter and turns out my dang 57 year old starter has finally went south. I have been wanting a new lightweight 6.5lb Skytech starter for a while but couldn't justify getting it when I had a good starter. Ordered one today. Next up, light weight alternator. I feel like my plane is on a diet

I'm hoping to have my new starter delivered and installed by Thursday. If not, I may not be going.

It just never seems to end does it. Dang, well glad you got it figured out.

Hey Bill

If it's any concession, I been runninng the firewall/odyssey battery, skytec starter for 4 years and been very happy with it.

I had read where several had mentioned funny noises when their skytec engaged, but I have never noticed anything out of the ordinary with mine.

Hope everything goes according to plan. I am rescheduleing my prop O/H so that I can go.

Good luck Gay

I see Bill, the old bait and switch routine. Kidding of course.

Diets are a good thing if you can afford them. I may have an open seat if you still want to go. But, I'm not sharing a tent with you, my ears are sensitive.

I hope your starter issues are a thing of the past. Let me know if you need any help!

I have been known to cut down a few trees while sleeping, but I wasn't the only one. Heard some snoring coming from somehwere other than my tent at Caveman. No need to worry about it at Marble, the Crystal River drowns it out.

Thanks for the ride offer to Marble, hope my plane is back in the air by then.

bushwagon wrote:I have been known to cut down a few trees while sleeping, but I wasn't the only one. Heard some snoring coming from somehwere other than my tent at Caveman. No need to worry about it at Marble, the Crystal River drowns it out.

Can't put the blame on me this time!

Bill / Gary:

It has been a couple of years since I have been to Marble. Do I need to redo the waiver, or will they still have a copy?

Don't know if I can make it, but it would sure be fun.

Has the runoff come down enough to allow for any kind of fishing. This time of the year, I suspect the Crystal will be pretty high? Could we arrange transportation to some of the higher lakes maybe??

Regards, Larry

Larry,

There are new owners so I'm sure you will need to redo it. I think they want them reaccomplished yearly but not 100% sure. I still haven't heard back from them yet but will ask the question.

No idea about arranging transport to higher lakes. Kirk (caretaker) does have an explorer he said we can use to run to town, not sure how he would feel about taking it fishing.

Bill

Hey Bill
Just got an email from Mr. Gallegos, and am responding to that. He says 4 are comeig from CS. I assume that would be you and your buddies.
As far as ther car, I would think takeing it fishing might tie it up so others couldn't use it if they wanted to run to town.
Later G

Gary/All interested,

Diane called me today to give us the green light. I told here so far there was 4 definites that were camping. Those being Matt, Tom, Gary (you) and myself. Told her 2 other possibles since Blu only mentioned a day trip and Larry (88H) wasn't sure yet. She asked me to email her a final list of names and to assure we all already had waivers. They are pretty tight on this requirement. I know Tom H can back me up this one but there was a few really close calls on departures last Sept. The owners (not pilots) just stood there with their jaws dropped. We were worried they would have second thoughts about letting planes in there again. Luckily they are still welcoming us.

We need to finalize the list of names by Thursday. Some of us are going up Friday morning. I'm having Bill Meine (Colorado Pilot's Association Rep) forward me the waiver for those who do not have one. You will need to sign it, scan it, and email it to the Gallegos' and possibly Bill Meine (since he handles the waivers for the owner) prior to landing.

A couple side notes. Diane said there is a good possibility their family will be there for the weekend. This will be a good opportunity for anyone willing to take them up for a ride. Also, she wanted me to remind everyone that there are no facilites and whatever we bring in we must take out. She did say their well is working so potable water is available. I agree with Gary on the Explore, it is Kirk's personal vehicle and it might not be a good idea to be gone long with it. The guys in town that run the Jeep tours may be able to hook something up for the higher lake fishing.

Bushewheel, what a good idea. Unfortunately for YOU Girlscout and I had planned an outing to Saddle Mountain the coming weekend. But shake an' howdy all around for us, eh? And of course any of the Glenwood Airforce who sneek in

Thanks. cubscout