Check out the link and think about sending a few bucks. I send money to Idaho, Utah and why not Arizona to help keep the kind of places my plane is well suited for open.

http://www.utahbackcountrypilots.org/de ... ?newsid=86

I say we have a fly in to there as soon as it is reopened. Well asuming it is opened in the spring. Summer is prety hot there.

Tim

Wow, you're quick on the draw, qmdv! You beat me to it. Thanks for posting that...

My bad: That news item has been on the website for a couple weeks. The UBCP membership just now got this email update this morning, and it's almost identical:

Greetings everyone,

There have been some favorable developments regarding Tuweep Airstrip (L50). UBCP has championed the preservation of Tuweep for 7 or 8 years now. The State of Arizona finally “closed” Tuweep about 2 years ago and this spurred everyone to begin to find a way to take over the administration of Tuweep from the State. The Arizona Pilots Association (APA) has made great strides establishing a dialog with the State of Arizona, defining the details of what will become a lease of the Tuweep property by the APA and an Archeological Survey has been completed. UBCP supports this effort.

At this point, APA is beginning a fund raising campaign, and we hope that backcountry pilots both inside and outside of Arizona will step forth to help save Tuweep. Arv Schultz speaks about this in his news release which is reprinted below, but I'd like to say something on the subject too. Americans, as is often said, are among the most generous people in the world. We rush to the aid of many causes and respond to many disasters both here and abroad. In this season of giving, I'd like to ask each and every one of us to remember to support an activity that is close to your hearts and close to home. The backcountry recreational airstrips and the groups that watch over them need support too. Please remember to send in your dues and donations as you see fit, to help the volunteers in these organizations with funds to do the heavy lifting. Thanks to you all, safe flying an Happy Holidays.

Karl Spielman

Utah Back Country Pilots (UBCP)

(Feel free to pass this along to other interested people.)


Resurrection of a Back Country Airstrip

If ever there was a time the need existed for the aviation community to come forward, to pitch in and help support the re-opening of an airstrip, the time is now! Please accept this request to both physically and monetarily, assist the Arizona Pilots Association in re-opening Tuweep airstrip (L50).

This aviation treasure, located on Arizona State Trust Land on the Grand Canyon’s north rim, was temporarily closed by the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) approximately two years ago. They sighted a lack of response to their lease request as the reason for the closure. The Arizona Pilots Association (APA) submitted an application to lease L50 from ASLD, and was subsequently informed that APA is eligible to obtain a lease, if the following conditions are met:

1. An archeological study must be conducted that meets ASLD requirements.
2. Five million dollars worth of liability insurance must be provided.

APA has recently engaged the services of an Archeologist to conduct an L50 archeological study. Once this study has been completed and the insurance requirement has been complied with, the State indicated they will draw up a lease for APA to sign, and L50 will again be re-opened to the public as a recreational airstrip.

The archeological study is anticipated to cost approximately $3,000 (a one time charge), and APA has secured an insurance quote for approximately $3,500 (annually). We have offered $1,000 per-year to the State for the ground lease at Tuweep.

You can help!

APA is absolutely committed to obtaining this lease and keeping L50 open. We will provide the long term leadership and administrative staff required to accomplish this. We will also appropriate all the funds we possibly can, but we can’t go it alone. Pilot’s with previous concerns about L50’s closure, as well as all other interested parties, need to come forward at this time to answer APA’s call for help. It has come down to this: L50 will be lost unless the aviation community decides it is worth the price to keep it open. We have received some donations, but are still far short of our ultimate goal.

The Utah Back Country Pilots, The Recreational Aviation Foundation and other aviation organizations have expressed an interest in helping re-open this magnificent gateway to the Grand Canyon, which has existed for more than 50 years.

APA has set up a special fund and is accepting tax deductible donations to off-set the cost of acquiring this lease and restoring the operation of L50. All interested parties should make their checks out to The Tuweep Restoration Fund and mail them to:

Arizona Pilots Association
P.O. Box 61242
Phoenix, Arizona 85082-1242.

Any donations, large or small, will be accepted and gratefully appreciated. APA is a 501c-3 corporation and you will receive a receipt for your fully tax deductible donation.

As the season of giving approaches, we hope that you will consider supporting this historical landmark of backcountry aviation. Thank you for your understanding and generosity in resurrecting a lost but not forgotten airstrip.

Arv Schultz, President
Arizona Pilots Association

Thought I would bring up the Tuweep issue again. My son and I flew into the place in March of 04. Son Roy had a family web site with some photos that he took of the trip. The site has been down for a bit but now it is up again.

This trip was some of the best father son bonding that you can get. Two night camping, mtn bike seven miles the the north rim of the Grand Canyon, hiking around some old homesteads. Boy those folks were way tougher than me to scratch a living out of that place.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/tuweep/

The photos are a bit out of order. The blue lake is Lake Arrowhead in So Cal cus we flew over it getting from Corona, CA to Tuweep.

The old handsome guy is me.