Backcountry Pilot • Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Get together with other pilots or enthusiasts. Plan it or get info about it here.
Post a reply
21 posts • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Mon Mar 11, 2019 1:24 am

Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Planning a cross country from Newport, Oregon via McKenzie Bridge to Powers, Oregon:
Image

The driest month on the Coast of Oregon is July. But, it’s windy, because the massive Pacific High Pressure is at it’s strongest. Powers, Oregon is about (20) NM from the Pacific Ocean at an elevation of 326’ MSL.

Questions:

How are the winds in the Summer season on the airfield at Powers? Good to camp there...etc? Locals friendly?

https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/datasets
Image
Image
Image
Image
8GCBC offline
User avatar
Posts: 4623
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:55 pm
Location: Honolulu
Aircraft: 2018 R44
CFII, MEI, CFISES, ATPME, IA/AP, RPPL, Ski&Amphib ops, RHC mechanic cert, RHC SC— 3000TT
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 1:52 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

I love flying/camping at Powers, OR. Great little town you can walk to from the airport. They have a market in town with just about anything you need for a nice weekend. The best part is the river/natural swimming pool below the bridge. It is a 10 minute walk from the airport.
Dog is my Copilot offline
User avatar
Posts: 433
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:38 am
Location: Portland
Aircraft: 1958 Cessna 180A
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 2:03 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Dog is my Copilot wrote:I love flying/camping at Powers, OR. Great little town you can walk to from the airport. They have a market in town with just about anything you need for a nice weekend. The best part is the river/natural swimming pool below the bridge. It is a 10 minute walk from the airport.


Ahhh. Sounds very good to me. I like the idea of getting into the Coquille River!

Thank you for the reply!
8GCBC offline
User avatar
Posts: 4623
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:55 pm
Location: Honolulu
Aircraft: 2018 R44
CFII, MEI, CFISES, ATPME, IA/AP, RPPL, Ski&Amphib ops, RHC mechanic cert, RHC SC— 3000TT
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 7:51 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Hey Ted. Powers is a great place. PowersTom is here on BCP. If he is around he loves to come hang out. Great guy. Lucas lodge is over the ridge to the south. Linda puts on a hell of a good spread. Calvert peak is a fun stop. Funny runway number system. Both ends X what ever. [-X

Headed to Madras today for the Maule annual. 4° there now.
Image

Cheers...Rob
OregonMaule offline
User avatar
Posts: 6977
Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:44 pm
Location: Orygun
My SPOT page

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety". Ben Franklin
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 10:50 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Here is a photo of the natural swimming pool near the airport. The water is nice and warm in the mid summer. Watch out for leeches near the waterfall. I saw a 10 year old kid with about 5-6 of them stuck to his face swimming near the waterfall.

Image
Dog is my Copilot offline
User avatar
Posts: 433
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:38 am
Location: Portland
Aircraft: 1958 Cessna 180A
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 11:00 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

OregonMaule wrote:Hey Ted. Powers is a great place. PowersTom is here on BCP. If he is around he loves to come hang out. Great guy. Lucas lodge is over the ridge to the south. Linda puts on a hell of a good spread. Calvert peak is a fun stop. Funny runway number system. Both ends X what ever. [-X

Headed to Madras today for the Maule annual. 4° there now.
Image

Cheers...Rob


Great! Glad you relayed the info! Thank you Rob!

82F and windy here yesterday:
Image
8GCBC offline
User avatar
Posts: 4623
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:55 pm
Location: Honolulu
Aircraft: 2018 R44
CFII, MEI, CFISES, ATPME, IA/AP, RPPL, Ski&Amphib ops, RHC mechanic cert, RHC SC— 3000TT
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 11:16 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Dog is my Copilot wrote:Here is a photo of the natural swimming pool near the airport. The water is nice and warm in the mid summer. Watch out for leeches near the waterfall. I saw a 10 year old kid with about 5-6 of them stuck to his face swimming near the waterfall.

Image


Thank you for the PIREP. Is this the location in the picture below?
Image
8GCBC offline
User avatar
Posts: 4623
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:55 pm
Location: Honolulu
Aircraft: 2018 R44
CFII, MEI, CFISES, ATPME, IA/AP, RPPL, Ski&Amphib ops, RHC mechanic cert, RHC SC— 3000TT
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 11:44 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Yep - that's it just below the bridge.
Dog is my Copilot offline
User avatar
Posts: 433
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:38 am
Location: Portland
Aircraft: 1958 Cessna 180A
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 12:07 pm

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Dog is my Copilot wrote:Watch out for leeches near the waterfall. I saw a 10 year old kid with about 5-6 of them stuck to his face swimming near the waterfall.


That's crazy. I grew up in SW Oregon, and have swam that little part of the Coquille many times over the years, as well as many other southern Oregon rivers. I have never encountered a leech! I thought they were only in swamps and the movie Stand By Me.
Zzz offline
Janitorial Staff
User avatar
Posts: 2854
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:09 pm
Location: northern
Aircraft: Swiveling desk chair
Half a century spent proving “it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 12:38 pm

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

It appears that Leechs can live almost anywhere wet and above freezing?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leech

Never seen one in Oregon. Fast moving cold water (white water river rapids) may inhibit them? Just guessing? Better than Tiger sharks in the water!
8GCBC offline
User avatar
Posts: 4623
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:55 pm
Location: Honolulu
Aircraft: 2018 R44
CFII, MEI, CFISES, ATPME, IA/AP, RPPL, Ski&Amphib ops, RHC mechanic cert, RHC SC— 3000TT
top
Mon Mar 11, 2019 11:46 pm

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

I just saw the leeches one day when that photo was taken. I have been back since and have never seen them again. But I stay away from the waterfall. It sits up stream from where the photo was taken.
Dog is my Copilot offline
User avatar
Posts: 433
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:38 am
Location: Portland
Aircraft: 1958 Cessna 180A
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 12:45 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Looks like there are some interesting gravel bars up river. Added waypoint: Coquille.bar.1:

Image

Image

Image
8GCBC offline
User avatar
Posts: 4623
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:55 pm
Location: Honolulu
Aircraft: 2018 R44
CFII, MEI, CFISES, ATPME, IA/AP, RPPL, Ski&Amphib ops, RHC mechanic cert, RHC SC— 3000TT
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:15 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

470 feet long via google maps.


Image
Dog is my Copilot offline
User avatar
Posts: 433
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:38 am
Location: Portland
Aircraft: 1958 Cessna 180A
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:41 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Dog is my Copilot wrote:470 feet long via google maps.


Image

Glad you provided a measurement. Very handy tool. With the tall trees etc., I personally would not try it with a fixed wing. But, depending on conditions, try with the R44. The gravel bar appears to be 500’ MSL. The prevailing winds are from the Northwest during July. Mean temperature about 75F would give a 1678’ DA.

Thank you for the clarity!
8GCBC offline
User avatar
Posts: 4623
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:55 pm
Location: Honolulu
Aircraft: 2018 R44
CFII, MEI, CFISES, ATPME, IA/AP, RPPL, Ski&Amphib ops, RHC mechanic cert, RHC SC— 3000TT
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 10:01 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

It's kind of hard to tell from the sat photo, but the terrain in there is fairly significant. And those trees along the river are pretty tall.
Zzz offline
Janitorial Staff
User avatar
Posts: 2854
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:09 pm
Location: northern
Aircraft: Swiveling desk chair
Half a century spent proving “it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 10:44 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Been a while since I have been there but I remember that valley as narrow and steep to.

Powers is a great spot, a really nice place to camp.
daedaluscan offline
Supporter
User avatar
Posts: 1269
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:06 pm
Location: Texada BC
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 11:14 am

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Zane wrote:
It's kind of hard to tell from the sat photo, but the terrain in there is fairly significant. And those trees along the river are pretty tall.
“daedaluscan” wrote:
Been a while since I have been there but I remember that valley as narrow and steep to.
Powers is a great spot, a really nice place to camp.
Looking closer, it appears pretty dangerous. Steep canyon surrounding proposed LZ...

Image
8GCBC offline
User avatar
Posts: 4623
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:55 pm
Location: Honolulu
Aircraft: 2018 R44
CFII, MEI, CFISES, ATPME, IA/AP, RPPL, Ski&Amphib ops, RHC mechanic cert, RHC SC— 3000TT
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 6:25 pm

Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

8GCBC wrote:Zane wrote:
It's kind of hard to tell from the sat photo, but the terrain in there is fairly significant. And those trees along the river are pretty tall.
“daedaluscan” wrote:
Been a while since I have been there but I remember that valley as narrow and steep to.
Powers is a great spot, a really nice place to camp.
Looking closer, it appears pretty dangerous. Steep canyon surrounding proposed LZ...

Image

Perfectly understandable to be nervous on the map recon at your experience level. Especially just after the transition from fixed wing to RW.

See how your power margin is on takeoff, note the temp and altimeter. Check temp and altimeter (at the same altimeter setting) when you go over fly that strip, it’ll give you a ballpark of what your power margin should be (better/worse/same as takeoff).

Ridges and tall trees are a lot less scary when you can comfortably cruise around at an airspeed slower than Cubs stall. Give it a couple of medium/low passes, decreasing airspeed each time as long as you’re comfortable with the conditions. If you chose to make an approach or two, keep it right on the ETL shudder so your go around is just applying collective and increasing airspeed slightly.

At work we analyze a helicopter LZ using a few different considerations, of which “technical” are most applicable to civilian flight.

Technical characteristics of LZ/PZ (LONGLASSV)
-Landing formations
-Obstacles
-Number and type of A/C
-Ground slope of landing area
-Load suitability
-Approach and departure directions
-Size of landing area
-Surface condition
-Vulnerability


You probably only need OGASS. Add the second L if you’re planning to sling load your cot :D.

At the very least, fly over and enjoy the trip and the view! Mountains, ridges, and tall trees all get further apart the slower you go.

EDIT:

I just remembered another landing acronym:

Landing Considerations
Suitability
Long Axis
Obstacles
Wind
CamTom12 offline
User avatar
Posts: 3705
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:08 pm
Location: Huntsville
FindMeSpot URL: https://share.delorme.com/camtom12
Aircraft: Ruppe Racer
Experimental Pacer
home hand jam "wizard"
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 7:45 pm

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

CamTom12 wrote:-Vulnerability


I wouldn't be so quick to omit the V.

There's plentiful hillbillies with rifles and samurai swords in those parts.
Zzz offline
Janitorial Staff
User avatar
Posts: 2854
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2004 11:09 pm
Location: northern
Aircraft: Swiveling desk chair
Half a century spent proving “it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
top
Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:39 pm

Re: Powers, Oregon (6S6) July-2019 X/C & Camping?

Zzz wrote:
CamTom12 wrote:-Vulnerability


I wouldn't be so quick to omit the V.

There's plentiful hillbillies with rifles and samurai swords in those parts.


Image
CamTom12 offline
User avatar
Posts: 3705
Joined: Sun Jul 08, 2012 1:08 pm
Location: Huntsville
FindMeSpot URL: https://share.delorme.com/camtom12
Aircraft: Ruppe Racer
Experimental Pacer
home hand jam "wizard"
top

DISPLAY OPTIONS

Next
Post a reply
21 posts • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2
Return to Events/Fly-Ins and Trip Planning

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

Latest Features

Latest Knowledge Base