Just want to let you pilots know of a great place that just got opened up to the public. Butch & Karen Brown run Hell's Canyon Packers out of the Temperance Creek Ranch on the Snake R. in Hell's Canyon. They just got the OK to open up there strip to the public for fly-in business including breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight stays. Hats off to the USFS and those folks within the USFS who did the leg work to get this done....

They lengthened the strip and it has to be close to 2800'-3000' long. It is located on the Oregon side just across from Big Bar (which is on the Idaho side). There is no sock on the strip, but you can get an idea of the winds by looking at the sock on Big Bar....

Karen and Butch have a SAT phone and would appreciate a phone call before you come in if you are going to stay or eat....Their deer and elk hunting area got burned out during the recent fires and they cancelled all their hunts, so to insure they are there give them a call and leave them a message as to when you'll be there...

They are great people and I know you would enjoy them also, just don't believe anything Butch says about me....

Thanks for the info. Every time I go to Big Bar I over fly the ranch, someone always waves. Next time I'll drop a newspaper! Do they own the ranch?


Idaho SuperCub

SWEET!! I know where I'm goin to breakfast this weekend!!!

Idaho Supercub,

No, unfortunetly, they don't, it is owned by the USFS, and they have the lease on it to run their business there....I can attest that Karen is a great cook, but I can't say that about Butch, but he's one hellava jet boat operator......Karen and I were talking the other day and nearest we could come up with is that they have been there 12 years.....

Abe,

Thanks,

It's nice to know there is a place to go in the winter . Any thing special that they would appreciate ? Coffee, fruit, beer, etc.?


Idaho SuperCub

Idaho Supercub,

Thanks for asking....cause I've asked the same of them and Karen says molasses horse mix (they have 16-mules and they'll make it right with you) and Butch says beer (and he'll drink it with you).

Has anyone landed at this new airstrip/ranch? Any PIREPs?

Does anyone know the runway surface conditions?

I'm thinking of going there for breakfast.

Thanks,

Lazflyn

Lazflyn,

Was in there a couple of weeks ago and it was great...sandy soil covered with very short grass/weeds. It's over 2000' long and and good side clearance as you'll see. Don't go bare foot as you'll find there is no shortage of goatheads.

You can make your approach from either up or down river in a calm wind setting. They have Mules and Horses that like to hang out on the runway, so watch out for them.

But, as I said in the above posts, call ahead as landing in there has to be affiliated with using their services and.....watch the winds in the canyon. I'll attempt to post a recent photo....but don't hold your breath.

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Temperance Cr. strip in the foreground & Big Bar strip on the Idaho side

Thanks for the GREAT photos. Looks like a great place to visit. I've never been to Hells Canyon, so Big Bar could be just as fun. How's the food/service? Anyone ever eaten there?

Thanks again for the photos and I'll be sure to bring my shoes.

Lazflyn

Mark, are you headed this way any time soon? Between work and non-flying family get togethers (need to get MY sisters to move somewhere I'd like to go fly) won't be in the air much till May or June. The nice weather and great flying we had in your neck of the woods on Friday will have to get me through - sure was a windy trip back on Saturday, though.
Bill, do know when Karen and Butch are planning to head back into the canyon and start regular operations? I know their animals are in the pasture, but wasn't sure if they were there full time and ready for visitors after shutting down for the winter.

Matt,

No I don't, but I'll be talking to them in next week or so and if I get anything definite from them, I'll post it here. Nice photo album, you look like you're having a bunch of fun with those skis and floats....keep it up....

Hey Matt,

I'm glad you guys made it back okay. I was a little worried when I got back and looked at the weather. I remembered that you said you were going to stay down there and hit some more strips. So I guess you found a "hole" and made it back. I tried to email you, but I didn't get a response.

Glad to see you're okay.

Lazflyn