Backcountry Pilot • New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

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New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

Just a quick heads up for those who are interested in fly fishing, whitewater rafting, and most importantly flying. :D FlyColorado.org has recently worked with Gunnison River Farms to open up their airstrip (uncharted) for public use.

The airstrip is situated 16 nm North of Montrose, CO. The lodge serves meals, rents cabins and has their own fishing/rafting guide service on the property. This area is just downstream from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison and provides access to some great Rainbow/Brown Trout fishing/float trips. We hope to host a spring fly-in there during the 2015 season, but in case your travels cross this area at a different time, be sure to check them out.
Detailed write-up and airstrip details here: http://www.flycolorado.org/index.php/ai ... ver-farms/

Thanks to MountainMatt who put together another great video showcasing the grounds, airport, and nearby flying opportunities.

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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

can you put that info on shortfield.com please!!!
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

Hey Bryan- Got you covered. We just added it on Shortfield shortly after posting ;)
http://www.shortfield.com/sfx/index.php ... iver_farms
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

That looks like a really cool place, thanks for helping to put this together. Hopefully people make use of it.
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

Awesome. Thank you! =D>
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

Thanks to Matt/the owners and anyone else that helped to make that happen
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

Thanks Alec for posting this.

Gunnison River Farms is indeed a great place for those who are passionate about great fishing and flying. The farms are wonderful and the relaxation level is off the charts. If this sparks your interest, book a reservation and head over for a good time.

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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

This just made my Wednesday! I hope to make it over in the spring.
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

Just a heads up, pretty high wire upstream. Has balls now. Also a wilderness area going upstream. And a low wire downstream. Not marked. Both have fatal accidents associated with them.
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

It used to be a lot of fun to float that section of the Gunnison down to the bridge in Austin. Fishing was pretty good to.

Those power lines are no joke. I was at the forks about 2 hours after a helo clipped the wire and sheared the rotor system off. It was still a smoking hole in the ground, no survivors. That scene sticks with me to this day.
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

Meat Servo wrote:Just a heads up, pretty high wire upstream. Has balls now. Also a wilderness area going upstream. And a low wire downstream. Not marked. Both have fatal accidents associated with them.


Any chance you can add that info to the shortfield.com entry?
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

Glad this has become available. This area was my stomping ground as a kid and dang near my back yard. I have floated that section of river on a blow up couch countless times! There was some pretty sweet sections to do some cliff jumping as well. Nothing really high, but fun. Fly fishing was really good right at the mouth of the Black Canyon, about a half mile upstream from where the North Fork and the Gunnison meet. We always fished from the western bank.

Times 3 on those wires! I still remember those accidents clearly. If I remember correctly, the wires are real visible crossing over from up high, and the accidents were from guys flying down low in the canyon.
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Re: New Colorado Airstrip on the Gunnison River

[quote="If I remember correctly, the wires are real visible crossing over from up high, and the accidents were from guys flying down low in the canyon."[/quote]

Flying low inside a canyon without knowing where the wires are is always a risk no matter the location. We checked with the river guide service (local knowledge), sectionals, and G.E. before flying over the canyon. The nearest wire crossing downstream is 5nm West. Upstream it is 3nm East at the forks and then again 8 nm East at Hotchkiss. These are depicted on the Denver sectional.

Better yet, let Black Canyon Anglers handle the canyon part of the trip :wink: The owner of the farm is also pilot and is excited to host a fly-in this upcoming spring ~ May 2015.
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