This is short notice but if anyone is in the area, Northwest New Mexico, we are having a breakfast fly-in at a nice dirt strip just south of Gallup.
All are welcome. More details below. Let me know if you can make it.
RR



Join NMPA Backcountry pilots for a fly-in at Mystic Bluffs (NM56). Mystic Bluffs is located in a beautiful valley just a few miles northeast of Ramah. Breakfast burritos and coffee will generously be provided by Mr. Perry Null.

Please contact Clay Phillips at [email protected] if you plan to attend so he can keep a headcount and ensure there is enough food for everyone. Although Mr. Null has not asked for reimbursement, as a courtesy, please leave a small donation for food and coffee.

Airstrip Briefing

NOTE: As always, you as PIC are responsible for safety and decision making per FAA regulations, considering your capability. This briefing is provided for your information only and is not considered to be complete or to be solely relied upon for safety decisions. If you have questions, please consult knowledgeable flight safety personnel. We’d love to have you join us but don’t come unless you are comfortable with your capability.

Unicom is 123.0 and there is no published CTAF so use the Unicom frequency to announce your position as you approach.

There is a single runway, 6-24, about 5100 feet long. Field elevation is 6980 feet. The runway consists of hard packed dirt and clumps of grass but no ruts or potholes. Runway 24 slopes downward fairly significantly from the east end to the west end with a few roller coaster ups and downs in the second half of the runway.
Not readily visible from the air, there is a fence that runs along the north edge of the runway, an older fence that crosses runway 24 about 2/3 the way down with the wires removed but the old fence posts are right on the edges, a windsock about midfield also right on the north edge of the runway, and there are power lines about 20 feet high right on the approach end of runway 24. There are two orange balls attached to the power lines but they are still very hard to see ----so be aware that they are there! There are berms on both sides of the runway toward the end of 24.

Due to terrain it is recommended that you use a right-hand pattern for runway 24. It is also recommended that you both land and takeoff on runway 24 despite and because of the power lines and slope. When taking off on runway 24 you can either climb in a right-hand pattern or fly down the canyon over the lake toward Ramah before heading on course. The parking area is on the south side of the runway at the approach end to 24. That means everyone will have to back-taxi.

Note also that cell coverage on the ground is very limited (Clay uses Verizon and had only "1 dot" of signal strength).

We will be there with the Rebel.

Is it possible to pitch a tent there the night before? Sounds like little tire friendly, but can anyone say for sure?

Crenshaw wrote:Is it possible to pitch a tent there the night before? Sounds like little tire friendly, but can anyone say for sure?

Yes, feel free to camp. The strip is in great shape for tyres of all shapes and sizes, ok well the round ones anyway!.
pm me for more details.
RR

Rezrider,

I wish I could make it. My wife and I taught at Tohatchi High School from 1974 to 1990 with 2 1/2 school years out spraying full time here in Missouri. I grew up here but sure miss the desert. Does G-Town mean Gallup? I had a 2600 feet strip of abandoned 666 south of Chuska Boarding School after they changed the road around. How are things on the Rez?

Best regards,

Jim
[email protected]

contactflying wrote:Rezrider,

I wish I could make it. My wife and I taught at Tohatchi High School from 1974 to 1990 with 2 1/2 school years out spraying full time here in Missouri. I grew up here but sure miss the desert. Does G-Town mean Gallup? I had a 2600 feet strip of abandoned 666 south of Chuska Boarding School after they changed the road around. How are things on the Rez?

Best regards,

Jim
[email protected]

Yip, G-town is Gallup. The rez is still here, hot, dry, vast, poor, dirty, scenic, wonderful.

We got stay in a motel in Farmington for the Kirtland Invitational basketball tournament. My kids were impressed with the new mall and the sign out front said, "Thirty six stores in here." In the middle of the night, pulling into Tohatch High on the road by the Curio (trading post) one of the kids pointed at it with his lower lip and said, "Thirty six stores in there." Navajo humor. I loved those kids.