Backcountry Pilot

[SixTwoLeemer offline]

After 2 crappy weekends in Utah, this upcoming weekend should be near perfect. Forecast shows severe clear thru Sunday. Epic, hopefully.

I'm planning on taking the Cherokee down to Moab or Green River this weekend for some scenic flying, photography and a hike or two. I will likely have my two sons, 3 and 6, in tow so I'm not sure how involved the hiking will be. I hope to fly down around Lake Powell and Monument Valley as well.

Just wondering if anyone else will be in the area doing the same?

I keep an older Isuzu Rodeo at the Moab Airport if anyone needs a lift-

Whos in??

[hicountry offline]

Really wanted to go down to the area a couple of weeks ago...getting over knee surgury but I might be able to make the trip. I will talk to Glasstar to see if he might be up for a trip over to Moab.
HC

[z3skybolt offline]

Oh boy,

Wish that I could join you. We were in the area last week. Unfortunately we were driving. But as you said...too crumy to fly anyway. We drove through monument valley and the monuments looked like "ghost" through the fog and rain.

Lake Powell was nice though. Spent a night in Page then drove to the north rim of the Grand Canyon, stayed in a nice cabin and spent three days hiking. The weather was georgous at the canyon.

I plan on some southern Utah, backcountry flying next summer. I will be watching your posts for further invites. Wish Missouri wasn't so far from all of you.

bob

[shortfielder offline]

I have a tentative plan to camp at Nokai Dome Fri. and Sat. nights, with some local flying during the days.

Gary

[Baddog offline]

I plan on trying to camp in Mineral Canyon on Thursday or Friday night. I'll probably stop at Canyonlands for fuel and advice. My wife and I will be flying in from WY and then leaving to the south through Monument Valley a then turn east for Indiana. Taking the scenic route home. I hear the snow has passed and the fall colors are peaking or have peaked.

[Stol offline]

Hey sixtwoleemer, were ya ridin in the grey ghost leaving JAC on tues afternoon during a rather steep climb out, ?

ben

[SixTwoLeemer offline]

Hey sixtwoleemer, were ya ridin in the grey ghost leaving JAC on tues afternoon during a rather steep climb out, ?

ben

Nope, I was waiting here in SLC to fix the Grey Ghost. Our pilots like the cold weather for steep climbs out............or they were just in a hurry.

[Grassstrippilot offline]

Hey, if any of you make it to Mineral Bottom or Nokai Dome, would you mind giving a report on the strip condition? Especially regarding if they are dry after the weather of the last few weeks. Thanks. I still want to make it down there if I can this Fall. Unfortunately I will be working this weekend so it won't be this weekend.

Fly safe and have a good flight. By the way, I flew over BCE this last weekend and the high meadows to the NE of BCE were all covered with snow.

[Prepared Pilot offline]

I'll probably be visiting Mexican Mountain on Saturday. I second the request for PIREPS about Utah's back country airstrips either here or on the Utah Back Country Pilots site.

[Zzz]

I suggest http://www.shortfield.com for adding/reading PIREPs, as we can embed the airstrip data right here into forum posts. More information on how to do that is available here:

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/phpBB2/airstrip-database.php

[flynbeekeeper offline]

Shortfielder called last night (Friday) and said Nokai Dome is in great shape. I am headed there now. Come out an join us! Lunch in Boulder, RON Nokai Dome.

[SixTwoLeemer offline]

Todd (Baddog) It was great to see you at CNY-

Hope you made it home to Indiana with as smooth'a flight as I did going to SLC.

That new Husky sure is pretty! You will have to bring it back to Utah and get it dirty next year.

Take Care

[Baddog offline]

Sixtwoleemer,

What a small world! Got home to Indiana with the red dirt from Mineral Canyon still on the tailwheel. I'm coming back next year for sure. Just beginning my back country career and can't wait to explore your state.

[Stol offline]

18 WY.. !!!!!!!!!!!!! That just ain't right for an Indiana based plane... Jus kiddin, glad you got home safely....


Ben.

[MikeMl offline]

Got home to Indiana with the red dirt from Mineral Canyon still on the tailwheel.

Just got back from Mineral Canyon. Landed there Sunday noon with a picnic basket, and went for a three mile hike. Warm: ~72 degF

Pacer '00Z

[Baddog offline]

It was born in WY and later moved to Indy. Hey I wish I had more time in your area it would be nice to look some of you up. I ran into Six Two Leemer at the gas pump at Canyonlands. He asked me if I was the guy on BCP with the white cub as a avatar. What are the odds.

My first flight in the Husky was to Jackson to take a picture for my wall. Went in town got a bite and then left for Mineral Canyon. I need a couple weeks just to get started in your beautiful state. 18WY is a tribute to the good people that build a good plane in WY.

[chrisg]

Does anyone have any video from these Utah strips? If so...I'll second Zane's suggestion and encourage you to upload pireps, photos, video, etc. (for the backcountry airstrips you visit) to shortfield.com. Then you can link to them like this:
[airport]ut75[/airport]

Thanks!

[Zzz]

Baddog...your new Husky looks sharp!

[SixTwoLeemer offline]

Descending over Green River into Moab-

My Flight Engineer and First Officer are ready to go-

Weather was okay, scenery was alright-

This area is called Monument Basin according to my hiking books. Apparently few pictures exist from ground level inside the basin because it is so difficult to access. Those towers are over 400ft. tall-

My FE concluded " Dad, dats not lake Pow, dats a ribber"

Dirty Devil River Gorge. That puny river carved out a spectacular canyon a few years back-

Can you spot the Poison Spring Airstrip??? Supposed to be one of Utah's toughest. Click here to see a killer video of a landing

here: http://www.katmai-260se.com/adventures- ... pring.html


Dirty Devil Airstrip. Jim Wark waxes eloquent when he describes landing/camping here. " Abolutely magical place, seven plus echoes off the canyons, drifting in and out of sleep, listening to scratchy AM radio station in Spanish" or something like that. Sorry Jim-


Pehaps by next year, I will enjoy the camping here.

[flynbeekeeper offline]

Noaki Dome, Colt Mesa, Boulder, Mineral Canyon, Tangri-la and return to Nokai Dome at dusk to camp Sat night. Eagle City and Happy Canyon on Sunday. All in great shape!!