An RAF grant has partially funded the ice base. the USFS and inquired about the airstrip. The airport master plan was reviewed and self-serve fuel and AWOS are in future plans. We have made inroads in the aviation community and are looked at as the "go-to" guys for aviation-related issues pertaining to both public and private recreational airstrips and backcountry airstrips. Photo by Alan Bobo. The RAF offers tax and legal assistance for donors, and the Board members receive no compensation. Photo by Bill Ables. Backcountry Airstrip Preservation (2014) . The strip has I would strongly suggest that you take the time and see what your state is working on, and how you can help. With 80+ volunteers and three days, the airstrip was made usable again. There are two schools of thought when flying Hells Canyon. Hells Canyon Packers can arrange guided fishing, hiking, hunting, rafting, or jet boating trips. These airstrips allow access to various areas of our great state, many of which inaccessible by other means. The RAF sponsored a campout and Sinful Sundae social as part of the 2017 RAF Trail, and donated profits to Lee Bottom Aviation Refuge, the nonprofit that helps maintain the airfield. Through a grant from the RAF and donors, the old black barrel solar shower was replaced with a new three-stall shower house with sinks, mirrors, and charging ports. Thus the RAF was formed, by-laws established, incorporated in Montana, and received its non-profit public charity, 501(c)3, determination by the IRS in December 2003. With only two years having gone by since we organized, the results have been rewarding. There is primitive camping available on the airfield with a pit toilet, but no potable water. Nothing worthwhile ever is. Reserve Airport (T16) is a public use airport located approximately 6 miles west of Reserve, New Mexico. please See our Event Calendarfor a list of upcoming places where you can visit with Team RAF members. Most pilots announce their landing direction on 122.9 as upstream or downstream, rather than the runway numbers. She has single-engine land and sea ratings. doi: 10.17226/22368. If youre like the rest of us and answered yes, then youd be surprised to know that with time and energy (and some money) that the option of landing there could become a reality. Login Register Cart Help. As far as the airstrip goes, it's a It also provides more reaction time, is safer in turbulence, and decreases your turning radius if you decide to turn around. Private / M.E. Oftentimes we have friends or acquaintances who built their own airstrip and want to see their dream continue long after they are gone. Backcountry Airstrip Preservation. Contact Us | This The strip sits on a 70,000-acre cattle ranch you enjoy this web site, please support it with a financial Read chapter Front Matter: TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 55: Backcountry Airstrip Preservation catalogues the uses, benefi. would you pay for a good aviation magazine, or a good aviation book? Do not land here unless you have secured John McKenna, founder and president of the RAF, shares his vison and outlook for the accomplishments of the foundation, and the mission ahead. In 2013, RAF California Liaison Rick Lach initiated conversation with the BLM about reopening Johannesburg Airport in California, a two-runway dirt airport which appeared on charts until the 1970s. View a PDF of the Copperstate Forum - Camping with Your Plane (Approx 6mb) airport including a power line that runs the length of the For a Located in a beautiful wilderness setting, the Minam River Lodge is the perfect fly-out location for a relaxing lunch or a long, peaceful weekend retreat with that someone special. 406-582-1723 Hells Canyon Packers can arrange guided fishing, hiking, hunting, rafting, or jet boating trips. United States Please The ability to fly in, camp, and explore the surrounding area at a beautiful backcountry airstrip is a priceless experience. Updated 7/30/22. The John Day River is dam-free for all of its 280 mile length, and is the nations third-longest free-flowing river. Set up camp and fish in La Garita Creek; BLM access from the Ranch allows for hiking, biking and rock climbing. A lower pattern, if safe, allows you to fly a tighter base while not having to lose so much altitude and still keep a little power on that you can pull off if necessary. The airstrip is the result of a partnership between The Recreational Aviation Foundation, The Montana Pilots Association, and the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Flying a left downwind for Runway 36 (downstream) at Temperance Creek, on the Oregon side of Hells Canyon, 20 nm south of Dug Bar. New Mexico State Liaison Ron Keller represented RAF at an initial meeting in 2017 with the Catron County Manager to advocate for the airport as an important recreational access point. Creating new airstrips isn't easy either. The owners also offer bunkhouse style overnight accommodation. Roughly one year later in 2014, the airstrip was cleaned up and pilots arrived for the first time in roughly 20 years in an effort to help preserve the site, its structures and history. The small cow town of Arcadia, Florida had long neglected its airport. foot turf runway that runs through a large grass-covered Updates Many of the issues that involve the RAF transcend state boundaries. Mountain Views Airfield is a private use/permission required airfield located in Condon, Oregon. Photo by Alan Bobo. a trip to New Mexico I stopped at the Reserve location of The Please it in about an hour and a half, down a dusty dirt road. What are the benefits of joining the RAF? Their most ambitious and expensive goal was to add a shower block. the north. Airstrips | Allenholm Airport (VT26), located in South Hero, Vermont, is a privately owned, public use airport. Find Bush Flying Events Lone Pine Backcounrty Fly-In Lone Pine Airport Greater Idaho STOL Drag Bowstring Lake is just off the west end of the runway and offers resort amenities. This strip is The RAF encourages various state pilots' organizations to form active committees that work on recreational airstrip issues. The shower house is the red building shown farthest to the left. Two Hells Canyon airstrips, however, offer longer runways and safer approaches. I live in San Diego and fly from MYF. have to watch, but there is plenty of room to get up to #KeepItWild via @WildernessWatch We have State Liaisons and Ambassadors who attend fly-ins and events in all areas of the country! From the airfield, it is a five-minute to the Pacific Ocean beach and a 40-minute walk into the town in Manzanita. If With mounting regulations, liability concerns, and environmental opposition it is important that these special airstrips are maintained and protected for future use. Backcountry Airstrip Preservation. trained to try to avoid it due to fire-fighting traffic. They were built amongst some of the countrys most breathtaking backdrops and allow access in to areas that would be considered out of reach for most people. OR12 No specific Reserve Airport is the location of the annual Gila Regional Fly-in. Photos All phone numbers failed, but the Each site now has an RAF fire ring, a picnic table and is just a short walk to a newly constructed outhouse. There is a shelter, running water, electricity, small refrigerator, toilet and shower available. over Big Creek as it meanders into the Middle Fork of the runway is 17/35, 2,900 feet by 50 feet asphalt. These laws considerably reduce a private airstrip landowner's liability when allowing public, non-commercial use of the airstrip. Pilots taxi to the shelter at Gallatin Field in Bozeman, Mont., to have lunch or camp overnight. It is not your typical airport that you are used to. At any backcountry airstrip, always push your airplane well away from the runway. The surrounding terrain was ravaged by a information can be found. RAF Wyoming State Liaison Lori Olson is the Upton airport manager and chairs the Upton Airport Board. Dug Bar is a beautiful grass airstrip located deep within Hells Canyon, adjacent to the Snake River. Winds can cause turbulence inside the canyon: if winds aloft at 9,000 feet exceed 25 knots, its best to scrap a canyon flight. Fly-in meals, especially breakfasts, are popular at Temperance Creek because the food is so goodbut please email first, dont just drop in. When winter comes to New England, the seaplane base at Alton Bay, (B18) on Lake Winnepausakee, NH starts to freeze. The following link shows all the webcams (on one page) that the Idaho Aviation Foundation has sponsored, along with a few others. This RAF hosted first work party N Fox Island. The airstrip at Grand Gulch, AZ is near the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Numerous river guides, outfitters, and accommodations nearby. Note: La Garita is not currently open to operations until further notice. and Backcountry Airstrip Preservation.Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Nehalem Bay State Airport (3S7) is located immediately adjacent to an Oregon State Park. The strip is south of town and east of the Big feet or lower and around 500 knots. . Chase Memorial Airport in Maine, which was threatened with closure, $750,000 of funding announced by Congress for backcountry airstrips on USFS land, 9700+ members, 48 State Liaisons, 40 Ambassadors, 9 Directors, 10 Vice Presidents of Appreciation, Awarded 16 grants to State Liaisons for mission-related projects, Launched RAF Podcasts and The RAF Outfitter online store, 52 State Liaisons, 61 Ambassadors, 9 Directors, 10 Vice Presidents of Appreciation, USFS renewed Memorandum of Understanding with RAF, Started seasonal camp host program at Ryan Field, Raised the pilot pavilion at Trigger Gap (, Preserved Las Trancas, CA via a private lease agreement, Signed the New Mexico Airstrip Network renewal, Collaborated with The Nature Conservancy, USFS, Hartzell, AOPA, and others to improve airstrips and advocate for recreational aviation, Received USFS approval for a $50,000 request to improve Childs Glacier airstrip in Alaska, Turf operations are acknowledged in the FAA Advisory Circular, Signed a collaborative agreement with Texas State Parks, The life of Agnes Butchie Ryan is honored. All Rights Reserved. Pictures can be seen in depending on whether or not it's been mowed." The Recreational Aviation Foundation preserves, improves, and creates airstrips for recreational access.. Lee Bottom, (64I) lies along the Ohio River six air miles south of the town of Hanover, IN and 26 nm NE of Bowman Field in Louisville, KY. The fundraiser was named Have a Heart and launched on Valentines Day, 2017. RAF conducted a work party at Jake's Bar. Sunrise Valley Ranch is a popular weekend fly-in location for local pilots. There is a USFS campground adjacent with seasonal camp hosts, water, vault toilets and bear-proof garbage receptacles. Those two questions were the basis for this organization we call the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF). heart pump even faster. Senator. The RAF is ready to assist you and your planning team wherever needed to match your desires to the RAFs needs. For our most up-do-date progress follow us on social media.Instagram: http://bit.ly/2D6DErZFacebook: http://bit.ly/2zwL2tjENJOY THIS VIDEO? Salmon 15 miles downstream. Russian Flat is the newest public airstrip on Forest Service grounds in the Continental United States. SUPPORT US WITHOUT PAYING A DIME!It takes us 40+ hours a week to document our journey on both our blog and our YouTube channel. Okanagon National Forest Pleasant Valley, (24AZ)is located on the Young District of the Tonto National Forest just outside the historic little town of Young Arizona and 21 miles east and south of Payson. Since our inception in 2003, we have prevented the closure of existing airstrips and even built new ones. this site was first put on the web in 1999, its popularity has grown The RAF approved a grant for half the project; challenging folks from across the country to donate the other half. Share your favorite destination in the AOPA Hangar: Places to fly, things to do, where to eat! Read chapter Appendix A - Survey : TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 55: Backcountry Airstrip Preservation catalogues the uses. Backcountry airstrips that lie amidst undeveloped and pristine lands are some of our most valuable assets, and allow us roadless access to our treasured national wilderness. Volunteers are restoring the airstrip surface, planting new grass, and conducting other maintenance. The Memaloose and Lord Flat airstrips, perched precariously near the rims edge on the Oregon side, can be snow-covered well into June, but airstrips inside the canyon, which sit on sandbars above the river, are usually available all year. Mile Hi. the field that he uses daily for herding cattle around the difficult to locate in its current condition because it Please call airstrip owner, John Meade, to receive instructions (781-308-2451). 2004 and he said the strip has not been used in three or Sacatar Meadows airstrip. I traveled through Ten Sleep in May The airstrip is well mainted and primarily used as a be able to get down on the strip during the summer months, The RAF was proud to assist the Fish River Flying Club to re-open Fort Kent airstrip in Maine. Photo by Crista Worthy. We believe that creation of new recreational airstrips will encourage the general aviation community to get out and recreate as well as provide more dispersed recreational opportunities. If you have even a little interest in backcountry or recreational aviation, then youll want to know about the IAA, which recently fought and won the right for pilots to continue use of the Big Creek 4 airstrips in central Idaho (full disclosureI edit their newsletter, The Flyline). You wouldnt believe how many airstrips on public lands are decaying as we speak. Dam. Memaloose is another good strip for those looking for a study. plain. Speed control is important too; flying slower allows you and your passengers to look around for the numerous mountain goats and elk inside the canyon; often youll see waterfalls cascading hundreds of feet down the rocks. 1711 W College St It is a 4,000-foot sheer drop. Late that year, a weekend fly-in was held with good attendance from multiple states. It may just have been the best landing you recall making. 2002 and can imagine the wind blowing from different the forestry service. After we informed them that almost a two dozen airstrips were in their districts, they became very cooperative in helping. American Falls Airport, Power County. 3rd Edition. Photo by Crista Worthy. This donation by Ben and Butche Ryan includes 152 acres of land surrounded by US Forest Service lands and only two miles from Glacier National Park. 2014. light hearted. Washington, Southwestern. doi: 10.17226/22368. It has a 30-percent uphill slope to make your airstrip and a T-hangar that sits about halfway down the Offering overnight camping, fishing and hiking opportunities, Dug Bar is a wonderful backcountry location to escape winter weather. . Backcountry Airstrip Preservation. The There is a little The airstrip served the nearby communities of Randsburg and Johannesburg, which are both functioning gold and quartz mining settlements that date back to the 1800s. Okanagon National Forest. Thanks to the efforts of RAF to commit to a maintenance agreement with the BLM and National Park Service, access to this historic airstrip has been assured for years to come. The approach to runway 04 and runway 22 are Volunteers from the RAF, Oregon Pilots Association, Idaho Pilots Association and Backcountrypilot.org used airplanes and helicopters to remove tons of abandoned equipment and debris, and to bring in hundreds of loads of new building supplies. Always monitor and make position reports on 122.9 when in the Idaho backcountry. Pilots who fly in here can enjoy meals, lodging, and hiking. Backcountry and recreational flying is the shining star in general aviation-- we must take advantage of this and use our resources for airstrip maintenance and protection. 2023 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail. Backcountry Airstrip Preservation.Washington, DC . It is essential that backcountry and recreational aviation is a part of state and national organizations. Bowstring airfield (9Y0) is a public use airport in the heart of Superior National Forest with ample recreational opportunities. Century Companies of Lewistown, MT provided donated labor and equipment for the airstrip construction. Aside from the obvious benefit of helping us preserve, maintain, and create public airstrips, you will receive periodic email updates of our progress as well as directed bulletins for issues that affect you. airstrip is at a high elevation and long. Backcountry Airstrip Preservation. Photo by Bill Ables. ?Providing backcountry access, supporting rural economies and recreational activities, and aiding forest management requires a nationwide policy to protect federal backcountry aviation issues, according to a bill introduced today by Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig. You can even go for a guided hunting, fishing, hiking, or photography trip with Hells Canyon Packers, based at the Temperance Creek Lodge. With no signs of civilization, you have a feeling that you are completely alone with nature. What do you guys do thats different? must first get permission from Mr. Force. Your contribution will allow someone a place to experience a part of aviation that we know you found unique. That began to change in 2012 when a group of volunteers formed Friends of Arcadia Airport or FOAA. You dont need a bush plane to operate here. With a 10.26-percent slope, landings are made upstream and uphill on Runway 13. contact me at: paulandterryfreeman@gmail.com. Elevation is about 5,800 feet. RAF volunteers completed two campsites, one with four tent pads and one with five tent pads. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest The Utah Back Country Pilots Association was created in 1996 to help preserve and protect Utah's premiere back country airstrips. feet. We know we're responsible users of these lands, but the perception to many is the opposite. Otter Creek Ranch Airstrip Ten Sleep, Contact us at the address, phone number, or email below: There are many accomplishments that we are proud of, including two new airstrips that are now publicly available as a direct result of RAF work, as well as our participation in the General Aviation Caucus in U.S. Congress. If you land at Big Bar on the Idaho side of Hells Canyon, you can walk about 3 miles north to the historic Kirkwood Ranch where youll find several well-preserved buildings. This created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide jobs Read chapter References : TRB's Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Synthesis 55: Backcountry Airstrip Preservation catalogues the uses, benefit. four years. The worst thing we can do is fail to be proactive. They also recognized that there was the need for a unified effort by pilots everywhere to protect public, aviation-related recreational opportunities.