Backcountry Pilot

[drifter offline]

I was cruising around the Owyhee canyon a week or so ago and noticed that two strips that I've landed on in the past have been "X'ed" out. One is in the area I think is referred to on USGS maps as Jackson Hole. The other is up river about 3/4 of a mile from the old Griffith Ranch. Both are on the west side of the river. Do any of you know why someone put X's on 'em?

[58Skylane offline]

No Shit North and South?? If so, I understand those two strips are with in the new "Wilderness Study Area".

[Throttle Pusher offline]

"Wilderness Study Area" Is just another way for the granola eaters to give us the finger.

Another two strip gone into history.That just Sucks!!!

[58Skylane offline]

"Wilderness Study Area" Is just another way for the granola eaters to give us the finger.

Another two strip gone into history.That just Sucks!!!

I'm not too happy about neither!! It didn't effect just two strips. There were lot's of other great landing spots out there, too!!

[taildrgfun offline]

There are lots of fun places I USED to land before I knew about the pathetic WSA's. The easiest way to know where they are is to get the BLM's Off Road Rec User maps. It really sucks but they will nail us for landing in "their" precious WSA's or Scenic rivers. I found out the hard way.
Steve

[mtv offline]

Okay, guys, instead of pissing and moaning on an internet forum about a WSA closing your favorite airstrip, how about getting off your arse and DOING something about it???

If you think the "granola eaters" win all these discussions, consider the case of the Missouri Breaks. There, the BLM (Bastards, Liars and Morons, I've been told) announced that eight back country airstrips in the Missouri Breaks National Monument would be closed to aircraft use. A fellow who lives in that area, and has a long history of using those strips, took them to task. Now, he didn't scream and yell on an internet forum, though he did use the internet to document a pattern of use of those strips, which it turns out went back MANY years. Actually, one of the strips that BLM asserted was a tresspass by a rancher, it turned out was built by a BLM fire crew, at the direction of the BLM District Manager, many years ago.

The net result of someone actually taking the time to research and DISCUSS these issues and strips with BLM (as opposed to just bitching about the closures, and getting in the face of the current District Manager) was that six of the eight strips are now open as part of the proposed final plan. Oh, and one of the closed strips is actually within a hundred yards of one of the strips that will remain open. The other that will be closed is very close to another of the open strips, and has little history of use in any case.

So, come on folks....the SYSTEM can work. It's not a lot of fun, and you have to act like grown ups at least occasionally, but it IS possible to beat the greenies at their own game.

The key is to talk to the manager of the district office, find out when the meetings are to be held, and SHOW UP. At the meetings, act professional, and point out that these strips have been used for decades by law abiding citizens. And, we aviators don't require a road in, and, while we make a little noise coming and going, it's very brief.

Really--it is possible to win these deals.

MTV

[fern_hopper offline]

Well put MTV.

I did a little poking around on the internet and saw that portions of the WSA's were absorbed into the Owyhee Wilderness in 2009. I am not sure if the airstrips were sucked into the wilderness as the boundary maps are real vague and I don't know the exact location of the airstrips.

http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/owyhee/0.html

[shortfielder offline]

TTT

[58Skylane offline]

I'm not sure what can be done now about this particular area. But I moved up to the Boise area in 2007 and didn't know much of anything going on with this area and other area's. Heck, I was so wrapped up in learning to fly and busy with work, I didn't think to think of thing's like this. So, maybe my bad for not paying attention to stuff like this.

But, I think this was one of those quite kind of things. Because not too many pilots/friends in the Boise area knew much about it and still don't know much about.

[shortfielder offline]

Pat, or anyone else familiar with this area
I am planning on flying that area next month for a few days on my way to Austin from Idaho. Are there other strips/places to land, in that area that are still available.near the water?

Thanks Gary

[58Skylane offline]

Pat, or anyone else familiar with this area
I am planning on flying that area next month for a few days on my way to Austin from Idaho. Are there other strips/places to land, in that area that are still available.near the water?

Thanks Gary

This is about the only one I know. http://airnav.com/airport/28U

There's also this one: http://airnav.com/airport/0OR6 I would recommend calling ahead for hours if you want food. They may also have mogas (might contain ethanol), but also give them a call ahead to make sure.

Too bad I won't be home to met up with you. I'm in Ohio for the weekend.

Oh.....if you fly to Owyhee State and then on down to Rome, Austin. Stay along the river and follow it up stream. Of course, what ever Altitude your comfortable with. The lower, the better!! Unless the rafters/kayakers are still on the river. Very beautiful through the canyons!!

[taildrgfun offline]

I don't think there is any actual wilderness area around Owyhee Res., but there is a lot of WSA's (wilderness study areas) They have had huge areas tied up this way out there since the 70's.

[OregonMaule offline]

We need lat and long so we can find them and get involved as MTV says.

Rob

[58Skylane offline]

We need lat and long so we can find them and get involved as MTV says.

Rob

I might have them on my GPS. Which I happen to have my GPS in the rig while I'm on the road right now. I'll check it out tomorrow.

Something I just thought of. There's some dirt roads around the airstrips in question. Are those dirt roads shut down to all or any vehicle (dirt bike, ATV, 4x4's) traffic with in the "Wilderness Study Area's"??

[mtv offline]

Remember, a Wilderness Study Area doesn't convey permanent status, and the open/closed status can still be changed prior to completion of the proposal. In fact, some wilderness study areas will never become actual wilderness.

Also, remember that many of the airstrips in central Idaho lie within actual Wilderness areas, yet they remain open.

I worked for a resource agency for many years, and whether folks believe it or not, agencies DO respond to public input. Of course, if the only input they get is from the tree huggers, what else would you expect them to do? But, offer rational input to the process and you might be surprised.

As to roads, they may stay open or be closed in big W wilderness. That too depends on the process and the public input/resource concerns.

These may already be a done deal, but I wouldn't give up until they're officially declared wilderness and permanently closed. There's always hope until then.,

MTV

[TomD offline]

Excellent points MTV.

The Seaplane community banded together to save seaplane access to lake Isabelle when that area was placed into a Wilderness area. Access for ATV and snowmobiles in certain areas was also included.

The earlier we get involved in the process the better chance of being included in the final plan.

Everyone has Two Federal Senators, and one Representative as well as State Representatives. The controlling agency certainly needs to hear from us on historic use, lack of impact, access for recreation, supply and benefits such as SAR etc.

In the aircraft excise tax battle in the State of Washington we were counciled to be positive, and "respectful" in our communications. You really don't want to tick off folks who hold your future in their hands.

TD

[drifter offline]

The lat./long. for the two landing areas referred to in my initial posting are:
1. What the topo maps call Jackson Hole: 43°11'25.08"N; 117°38'48.03"W
2. What I call "Deserted Ranch": 43°12'24.37"N; 117°36'5.83"W
Phil

[nmflyguy offline]

Drifter - in addition to all the other suggestions from MTV and others in this thread, you might also want to get in touch with the RAF folks. They've got a lot of experience dealing with the Feds and politicians when it comes to opening (and keeping open) backcountry airstrips on Federal land. One of the Directors of RAF (Rol Murrow) is also one of the leaders in our New Mexico Recreational Aviation Committee of NM Pilots Association, and he's been very helpful to us in making inroads with the USFS.

Good luck, and keep us posted on any developments. Any time they close an airstrip anywhere, it threatens all of us.

Duane

[58Skylane offline]

Looks like this might be a good thread for this info.

On my driving trip up from SoCal to Idaho, I stopped by the Owyhee, Nevada airport (10U) and noticed a bunch of construction equipment constructing a new northeast/southwest runway! May not be on most backcountry pilots wish list of strips to fly to, but at least a new runway is being constructed.

http://shopaitribes.org/spt-15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6:we-are-volunteers&catid=1:latest-news

Here's Airnav.com info: http://www.airnav.com/airport/10U. But, when I stopped by today (10-25-10), the were 3 big X's painted on the runway. And the asphalt was almost deteriorated.

[DavidB. offline]

Oregon Natural Desert Association is responsible for it. It is ran by a guy named Asante Riverwind, he lives in Bend. He was a founding member of Earth First and was one of the first to use tree spikes. Even though he is suspected of being involved in several deaths of loggers, he has never been charged. There is no reasoning with him, and he seems to have the power to have the police interrogate anyone he feels threatened by (I know this first hand) I gave up my fight against these guys. They just were paid $7,000,000 to leave the company building the Ruby pipeline alone. Yes, you read that right. Sold out to a big energy company for $7,000,000. They are using the funds to limit ALL use of the high desert through buying grazing rights, suing the BLM to force timber and ranching to provide multi million dollar studies on impact before renewing permits, illegally destroying roads and trails, and now airstrips. They actually teach a class on how to throw yourself in front of motorized recreational vehicles to get hurt just enough to sue the rider or driver so they can never afford to use their motorcycle or ATV again. I had the wise idea of bringing 200 of my closest motorcycle buddies to their class. Got me a nice interrogation and some legal threats from them.
Look up the Harney County ranchers association for more. There is also a down with ODNA Facebook page.