Backcountry Pilot • Wyoming Strips..

Wyoming Strips..

Discuss your knowledge of airports and off-airport strips. Help inform other pilots of status, warnings, noise abatement, and closure endangerment. See also: http://www.shortfield.com
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Fri Apr 17, 2020 11:13 am

Re: Wyoming Strips..

Subscribing.

Miracle Mile was in great shape last fall. The dam to the south nestled in the ridge is fun to poke along and around if the winds are not too bad (it gets ripping and rotoring through there).

Glendo Res is another that allows camping, although that is more eastern than western WY.
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Fri Apr 17, 2020 12:24 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

I'm frustrated with myself that I never knew Miracle Mile existed. That place looks idyllic for an overnight fishing trip.

A few years ago I took 2 friends and flew to Glendo and camped. We started drinking and decided to walk into town for dinner. Turned out to be a crazy night at the local bar - would highly recommend.
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Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:26 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

Miracle Mile strip is right next to a river/creek and there were lots of people fishing last time I was in. There are some sandy dry lake beds in the vicinity too that are BLM that you can roll wheels on for (what feels like) miles.

Thanks for the windsock at Miracle Mile, RAF!

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Sun Apr 19, 2020 3:55 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

A few years back I had the idea to follow the Yellowstone River north, to where it ties in with the Missouri. I started at the lake just east of Lovell WY, and as I entered the canyon had no real idea what to expect, and got a real surprise. It was incredibly scenic, lot's of sheer cliffs of different colors, the winding river, etc. To this day, I don't know what that area is called, and I have never heard anyone else refer to it....but I'd highly recommend that flight.

IF you start low flying the river a bit further north, and landing the numerous sand bars, watch out for one set of power lines, that have the poles hidden by trees, nuff said :shock:
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Sun Apr 19, 2020 5:13 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

I am a Wyoming Pilot also and reside in Cheyenne. I fly an 8GCBC Scout with 26 inch tires.
I've landed at the Miracle Mile and some other strips west of Laramie Peak. I'd like to explore a lot more of the remote strips and to hear about some of your flights..
I am a CFI, CFII, Tailwheel and Mountain trained if anyone would like to fly.
Thx,
Randy S.
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Sun Apr 19, 2020 6:54 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

courierguy wrote:A few years back I had the idea to follow the Yellowstone River north, to where it ties in with the Missouri. I started at the lake just east of Lovell WY, and as I entered the canyon had no real idea what to expect, and got a real surprise. It was incredibly scenic, lot's of sheer cliffs of different colors, the winding river, etc. To this day, I don't know what that area is called, and I have never heard anyone else refer to it....but I'd highly recommend that flight.

:


Thats Garvin (sp) Basin. And the Big Horn Canyon. One of my most favorite places in the world. I try to get there at least once a year.



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Sun Apr 19, 2020 7:46 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

S2D wrote:
courierguy wrote:A few years back I had the idea to follow the Yellowstone River north, to where it ties in with the Missouri. I started at the lake just east of Lovell WY, and as I entered the canyon had no real idea what to expect, and got a real surprise. It was incredibly scenic, lot's of sheer cliffs of different colors, the winding river, etc. To this day, I don't know what that area is called, and I have never heard anyone else refer to it....but I'd highly recommend that flight.

:


Thats Garvin (sp) Basin. And the Big Horn Canyon. One of my most favorite places in the world. I try to get there at least once a year.

Thanks for that, it was all new to me, and I was amazed! Highly recommended. I love to plan trips without knowing what I'm getting into, I prefer to be surprised, I don't over plan things, once basic safety parameters are met, this flight was a good example. =D> Other times...... #-o



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Mon Apr 20, 2020 8:14 am

Re: Wyoming Strips..

S2D wrote:
Thats Garvin (sp) Basin. And the Big Horn Canyon. One of my most favorite places in the world. I try to get there at least once a year.



That area looks great from satellite images. Yellowtail Dam is probably beautiful from the air, although it is good to note the charts call out "cable crossings" up there. Tom, did you go all the way up to the dam?

Any airplane camping in the vicinity? You guys in your speedy airplanes don't stick around and smell the roses like us J3-types do...
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Mon Apr 20, 2020 12:56 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

Way above the dam, in MT. Small set of residential service sized cables, with hidden poles. One of the most potential gotcha moments with cables I've had, good thing I was paying attention . Middle of no where.
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Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:55 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

I've flown by that canyon several times headed NW or SE... definitely seems like a good place to explore.

Had a great trip once from Casper to Thermopolis and on up to Bridger MT. Another time, I flew into Afton from Idaho and then around to Lander. Another great trip.

I'd like to fly northwest through Togwotee Pass and into Jackson Hole then back south along the Grey's River. Anybody know of any good strips in that area?
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Tue Apr 21, 2020 9:55 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

The last time I was in Thermopolis, 3 or 4 years ago, I was told it, (the original airport) was going to be shut down, when the new airport was completed. OF COURSE, unlike the old, close to town one, the new one is way the hell out of town.

Just googled earthed it, TEN miles out of town!. The old one, on the bluff, that was supposedly "dangerous", is about 1/2 mile. I hope the old one is still active. Not worth checking, it either is or it isn't. I make a point of mentioning, when I'm in a small town with a nearby human scale airstrip, that the money I am spending is because I was able to fly in and not be 10 or 15 miles out of town after landing! This is a losing battle I know. Kalispell MT is the best example of this, the old muni airport has everything within walking distance, the new controlled international airport is at least 8 miles out. Then there's West Yellowstone... the list goes on, I see a trend here #-o
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Wed Apr 22, 2020 8:28 am

Re: Wyoming Strips..

courierguy wrote: the list goes on, I see a trend here #-o


I agree with you. When I'm traveling and don't want to camp, I seek out small airports within walking distance of town. That's why I stopped in Bridger.

But I also get why people don't want airports on the fringe of their towns. In 2007, a Citation ran off the end of the runway at a small airport a few miles up the road and crashed into a house. A lady in the house was killed. That airport was replaced a few years later with a newer, bigger airport 10 miles outside of town. The only damage an overrunning Citation is likely to cause now is to the soybeans and itself.

Oh well, so much for Thermopolis! I suppose next time I need civilization in that part of the world I'll stop in Cody or Lander.
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Wed Apr 22, 2020 8:37 am

Re: Wyoming Strips..

courierguy wrote:The last time I was in Thermopolis, 3 or 4 years ago, I was told it, (the original airport) was going to be shut down, when the new airport was completed. OF COURSE, unlike the old, close to town one, the new one is way the hell out of town.

Just googled earthed it, TEN miles out of town!. The old one, on the bluff, that was supposedly "dangerous", is about 1/2 mile. I hope the old one is still active. Not worth checking, it either is or it isn't. I make a point of mentioning, when I'm in a small town with a nearby human scale airstrip, that the money I am spending is because I was able to fly in and not be 10 or 15 miles out of town after landing! This is a losing battle I know. Kalispell MT is the best example of this, the old muni airport has everything within walking distance, the new controlled international airport is at least 8 miles out. Then there's West Yellowstone... the list goes on, I see a trend here #-o



Would be cool if they did what Talkeetna did. Leave the village strip for people like you, but also have the new bigger airport to allow commercial operations and all. Funny thing is that both Talkeetna airstrips are within a half mile to downtown...
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Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:47 am

Re: Wyoming Strips..

Williston ND used to be a good stop. I liked to clear customs there. I’ve driven to the new airport. Haven’t flown in there yet. 12 miles further out than the old one. Sucks.
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Wed Apr 22, 2020 3:16 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

The old airport on the bluff in Thermopolis is in fact closed.
The new (open 9/15) airport is 10 miles out of town, but there were two courtesy cars
there last fall.Hope this helps.
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Wed Apr 22, 2020 6:15 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

RIP!

I assumed it was closed, probably being developed by now? Pilot's have been bitching about this trend for 80 years or so probably, so I see no need need to stop now. :evil:

Locally, Pocatello used to have an airstrip right where the university now is.
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Mon Dec 07, 2020 12:41 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

I’m based and rent at Cody (KCOD) and I’ve been looking for fun airstrips to fly to in the northwest part of Wyoming and found most of the dirt/grass airstrips are private and nothing else too exciting to visit. I’ll be watching this thread for anything new that comes up.
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Mon Dec 07, 2020 8:53 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

58Skylane — you are welcome to visit me at 46U and see my 77Skylane. Unfortunately I will be mostly out of town till March 15. Hope to see you in 2021.

Best,

Tommy
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Mon Dec 07, 2020 9:42 pm

Re: Wyoming Strips..

TommyN wrote:58Skylane — you are welcome to visit me at 46U and see my 77Skylane. Unfortunately I will be mostly out of town till March 15. Hope to see you in 2021.

Best,

Tommy

Thank you for the offer, Tommy! I’m leaving Wyoming this coming weekend for work and depending on my work schedule, I may not be back until May or June anyway. Most of my downtime from work is September through December, so a trip over the park and down over Jackson to Alpine would be awesome to do sometime.
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