I'm leaving tomorrow at noon with a few charts, a back-pack and tent for 3 days all by my lonesome. I freqent columbia (O22) and gravelly valley (1Q5) quite often and am looking for a few different ideas within one tank or so from home. Any off the beaten path strips or spots you might suggest where I can legally camp would be appreciated (walking distance from decent food would be a bonus).

Thanks in advance, gents.

Sierraville/Dearwater International (O79) might fit the bill. Don't think anyone would give a shit if you pitched a tent there. Town's a mile or so hike away. Naked hippy chick hot springs are an even shorter walk. Got some pretty country to fly over surrounding you, and Reno's just over the hills if you get bored.

Gump

Thanks...any decent restaurants you know of in Sierraville?

Chester / Lake Almanor (O05) is great. Close to small town, dirt strip (with permission), cool spot. Lake Spaulding (1Q2) is also pretty cool. Bring your fishing pole.

Quincy (201) is another option. Lots of off field spots to land around here with permission. As gump said, Sierraville (079) is also pretty cool. I was there today. You can land 21 right to get off the pavement.
My personal choice would be Chester or Spaulding. Go land at the others to say you did.

Pizza parlor and Brand-N-Iron place should be. Don't know about the fancier restaurant, haven't been up there in a couple years now. General store is a few hundred yards down Hwy 89 from all the rest of "town."

Chester is another favorite of mine too. Lots more eating options.

Gump

As hot as it is you might consider the coast. Klamath Glen (S51) or Shelter Cove (0Q5). Klamath Glem very remote but Shelter Cove has a campground next to the airport and a convenience store that sells fish and chips. Even though it says no camping at the airport I have seen campers a time or two at Shelter Cove.

Tim

Wouldn't recommend Klamath due to security reasons at night. Shelter cove is great but talked to the campground host who said they are charging $40 a night per camp spot. I would pitch my tent on the airport at the north end of the southern parking area.

I used to enjoy the small town of Hayfork.
Short walk from the runway across a swinging bridge into town.
Usually stayed in a small rundown hotel and ate at the local diner.
Just don't bath or shave for a couple of days and wear you truck fixin clothes and no one will pay any attention to ya.

If you do not need anything but a runway and a nearby river - stream you can try
DINSMORE no that is NOT Dunsmuir, but that might work also but never been there.

Dinsmore used to have a unique "vasi" in that they cut of the tops of the pine trees
and painted them white - So, if you just skimmed the dinner plates it put ya on a good glide path.

Ah, then there is always Trinity Center on the west side of Trinity lake.
Been over it a lot but never landed yet. Usually on my way up to a make it or brake it strip on the north side of the Klamath. That one is usually rated a bit above Soldier Bar in Idaho. But that was before we took out a lot of trees on the approach or river end.

Someday I will learn how to post a picture

Have fun but first be safe

Chris C

Hyampom is on the river. Pot gownin hippies will not bother you.

t

Thanks all...will likely do Chester or Dinsmore. Shelter cove looks to be a bit cooler and damp than I'm looking for...may fly a circuit tomorrow and hit a few of these! Will report back...

qmdv wrote:Hyampom is on the river. Pot gownin hippies will not bother you.

t

Where are the hippies going to??

There in the hills now growing there weeds.....

Shelter Cove can be foggy almost every day all day. Almanor / Chester is great! If your flying through Truckee, look up Low Rider and I.

Gump....you get your plane back yet?

Good luck

aktahoe1 wrote:Gump....you get your plane back yet?

Almost... Got the engine squared away, and we'll hang it and do annual in a few weeks. Too damn hot down here to fly anyway right now.

Gump

aktahoe1 wrote:Chester / Lake Almanor (O05) is great. Close to small town, dirt strip (with permission), cool spot. Lake Spaulding (1Q2) is also pretty cool. Bring your fishing pole.

Quincy (201) is another option. Lots of off field spots to land around here with permission. As gump said, Sierraville (079) is also pretty cool. I was there today. You can land 21 right to get off the pavement.
My personal choice would be Chester or Spaulding. Go land at the others to say you did.

Aktahoe, you ever been down to Alpine Co/M45? I heard you can camp on the field there and hike to some hot springs by the river.

Lake Almanor FBO had free loaner bikes when Erin and I landed there a few years back. Riding into town is way better than walking into town.

Yes i have been to Alpine Co. Not much there. You can walk down to the river (20-30 min) Good fishing, no real town to walk to and camping would be... just ok.

Almanor is a cool spot. They do still have loaner bikes as well. The airport owner is also on field, very cool and gives permission to land on his dirt strip. Lake Spauldiing is a short hop from there as well.

Another thought, Truckee is pretty cool with camping over by the glider port. Great fishing walking distance from the camp ground (not even 5 minutes) not baited, flies and barbless hooks only but big fish in Martis.

Truckee also has a dozen brand new loaner bikes avaible as well and you can ride to town in 10 minutes, golf, fish, swim and the camp ground is cool as you sit between the final approachs for 19 for 28 with lots of shade, running water, etc.

Feel free to call if your around. We have some great ranchs around here with permission to land. 530-412-2113

Good luck

So Chester it was...about 5 loaner bikes there and a place to pitch a tent off the gravel strip. Nice place for bbq and a beer on way into town (served only on weekends). Landed Spaulding and SIerraville and flew over Quincey. Beautiful trip...I wussed out on camping as I found a low cost room nearby...

Thanks for all the suggestions...will likely hit Hayfork next weekend or so.

Anyone get into Shelter Cover lately and is it true that is $40/night to camp there? If so I could get a room for $100! Come on people we are in a "recession"!

Shelter Cove is outstanding....just foggy more often than not. If you have the weather FX go for it....Just hope you can get out the next morning. It just does not burn off there. Have tried 3-4 times as of late with no luck. Trinity is a cool spot as well. Just not much there.

Anyone ever go into Gold Beach? Went in for gas but did not poke my head around much... Seems like a cool spot.

How low is the lake level at Trinity? Last year at this time it was LOW !!!