Just in case you've never heard of the World Championship Rock Skipping Contest at Lake Minchumina, Alaska, you are forgiven. The good news is that there's a chance coming up to make amends:

What:
34th Annual "World Championship" rock skipping contest, cookout, horseshoes, merriment, etc...

Where:
Lake Minchumina, Alaska (PAMH). Out on the spit beyond the far end of the closed runway.

When:
Saturday, July 31, 2010. 2:30 PM onward, weather permitting.

Only Rule:
NO IMPORTED ROCKS!

Additional Details:
Men's, Women's, and Children's divisions in the contest.
Potluck. This place is far off the road system, so bring in whatever you want to enjoy, and some extra to share.
No services of any kind (but it's a good bet the locals could tear down and rebuild pretty much anything in a pinch).
Limited supply of event T-shirts and hoodies available.
Plenty of free camping space, great pike fishing, and fine views of the Alaska Range (see picture).

p.s.- If you make it out there at any time of the year, please support the airport by signing the pilot register in the little phone shack between the ramp and the library.

For more information, contact the Lake Minchumina library at 907-674-3211 (Mon, Tues, and Weds, 1-5 PM)

Thanks
Might be the only flyin I make this year!!
GT

Daggumit! I'm going this year I swear! Chance to try out our new Pakcanoe.

As with most places in bush Alaska the folks in Minchumina are first rate. Having spent some time out there with them, I can think of no finer place to spend a laid back afternoon throwing rocks at the water Plus you can claim to have flown over the nearby geographic center of the state and have visited the largest lake in the state's interior (the folks who live near the Alaska Peninsula think this is a hoot - check out Illiamna or Becharof - but it is technically true.)

Anyone know if fuel is available? Sounds like fun.

Chris

slowhawk wrote:Anyone know if fuel is available? Sounds like fun.

Chris

No fuel, mogas or otherwise. Nothing really close either.

Still hoping to be there, weather permitting. Probably squeak in after 2:30 sometime since we will be returning north from Anchorage that morning.

Now it looks like I may not get there. Waiting on a cylinder replacement. We'll see

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:Still hoping to be there, weather permitting.

Apt choice of words. There used to be a long poem tacked up inside the old post office building at MHM called "Weather Permitting". I've looked for it since, but haven't seen it in the past several years. Need to ask Stella next time I see her. Anybody ever heard of that poem? It was pretty funny.

denalipilot wrote:Now it looks like I may not get there. Waiting on a cylinder replacement. We'll see

Wanna come with us?

once&futr_alaskaflyer wrote:

denalipilot wrote:Now it looks like I may not get there. Waiting on a cylinder replacement. We'll see

Wanna come with us?

Thanks- that's a nice offer. If it looks like a possibility I'll try to contact you day of. I was planning on coming back on the early side, so understand if that doesn't fit your plans.

(I'm also worried about exactly where a free taste of 165 HP might lead. Isn't that what they call a gateway horsepower?)

By the way, if slowhawk needs a refuel stop to complete the trip, drop me a PM.

-DP

Sounds like great weather tomorrow. Tailwinds to anyone hoping to make it.

-Denalipilot

George and Simon, wish this had been scheduled the first part of June, maybe next year. Raven is in training for Jake. Have fun.

Here's a link to the FAA Webcam for PAMH

-DP

Here's a nice write-up from Tom George on last year's event.

http://tgeorgeonline.wordpress.com/2009 ... inchumina/

Short of some ranger catastrophe developing in the next three hours around here we'll be wheels up and enroute

I never seem to be able to make fly-ins and the like during the summer madness so I guess I'm a little enthusiastic

I was BUMMED to miss the fun .

We had beautiful weather out here on the coast; clear skies, 80's and calm winds . Too bad i spent all of it inside working on the remodel job for the house we are going to be living in. For the last month the family has been "camping" in a 200 square foot cabin, needless to say, it's getting a bit cramped Oh well, making progress; the kitchen is almost done and as of this weekend we have a working toilet .

Anyway, hope you all had a good time. Hopefully next year!

Chris

Missed it myself- Managed to get a new cylinder on, but two days too late. Heard it was the biggest turnout in memory- Several wheel planes, three or four on floats, even a helicopter from Fairbanks.

Hoping to get a trip report from Richard, but I'm thinking that he probably became a busy man around 15:00 hours yesterday.

denalipilot wrote:Missed it myself- Managed to get a new cylinder on, but two days too late. Heard it was the biggest turnout in memory- Several wheel planes, three or four on floats, even a helicopter from Fairbanks.

Hoping to get a trip report from Richard, but I'm thinking that he probably became a busy man around 15:00 hours yesterday.

Well, I have been very busy, 'tis true

As DP said, the best turnout in anyone's memory. Even had a politician running for office stop by to shake people's hands

Unfortunately my photos aren't great. There was a Lake there, landed on the strip instead of on the water for some reason. Several float planes, a R22, two or three 170's too. Lots of friends and aquaintances made it there from the park. Kantishna Air Taxi filled up two plane loads of people and came out.

The spit they used this year isn't the normal one with the nice skipping rocks, due to high water (highest water in a while too) so they had to import flat rocks in buckets. At one point while no one was paying attention some small kids got into the pile and threw the best ones into the water before the contest started I was a bit off my game not having skipped any rocks since, well, since Bush I was in office probably. Pretty sad personal effort.

Weather was hot and sunny. Everyone complained while secretly rejoicing. Been a wet and cool summer.






Come out next year if you can.