Re-open Riggins, Idaho Airstrip?

[Super-Maule]

Hello Backcountry Pilots,

It looks like I'm going to be involved in trying to re-open the Riggins, Idaho Airstrip. No one has landed there in probably over 30 years or so. This airstrip was or is located just across the Salmon River from Riggins. The new land owner has a restaurant in town and is up for the plan.

I provided a copy of the Idaho State Code for liability release for recreational use and airstrips to the owner. Salmon River Helicopters is very involved in this endevor and has agreed to help.

Riggins, Idaho is a great place for recreation such as whitewater rafting, hunting, jet-boat races, fishing, rodeo, and binge drinking. This airstip will be a very difficult one, only about 1,200 to 1,500 feet long in a tight canyon with "interesting winds". Not a place for an overloaded Cessna 172 on a hot summer day. That said, Riggins could become a real destination for the backcountry flying community.

The Slate Creek Airstrip is located downstream from Riggins about 10 miles, but is essentially worthless. It is not near any town, water, or even a shade tree.

The local government entities are trying to come up with the money for a foot bridge across the Salmon River to the Airstrip. This would only be wide enough for a ATV. To get the airstrip back in shape we would need some volunteers (please). Airstrip work would include cutting sage brush, painting markings, and moving some rocks that have rolled down the hill over the years.

Salmon River Helicopters will assist in this work too. I'm sure there will be jet-boat service to get pilots and workers across the river. I'll try to keep the backcountrypilot.org and flying community informed as things progress.

James



This ones for Rob aka: Oregon Maule

The Best Western in Riggins:

[Grassstrippilot]

Great news! Any chance that the strip could be lengthened? It's hard to tell slop from the overhead pic, but it looks like there might be some room to make it a bit longer.

Good luck!

[qmdv]

Hey SM that is neat. Is there any slope to the strip? I am sure you have walked it already so my question if some of us can do a work party can we fly in to help.

Tim

[OregonMaule]

James your a Saint. Thanks for your work on this! Does that liquor store sell Jeremiah Weed? uggggg never drinking that again

G'Day

[Super-Maule]

Qmdv said: I am sure you have walked it already so my question if some of us can do a work party can we fly in to help.

Hello Qmdv,

I guess the best way to do this would be to have people land at Slate Creek and they would provide transportation up to Riggins for those flying in. After we get enought sage brush cleared off we could land over there. As you can see in the picture below it is going to take some work. Anyway thanks for your interest. Riggins is a wild town, and re-opening this airstirp is a good thing for backcountry pilots.

James

This is the old airstrip:

[qmdv]

Fly in to Slate Creek, ground trans to Riggens, Boat to strip, set up camp and go to work. Rob can bring his generator. Gosh sounds like a lot of fun to me. Get a basic strip working then we can fly in on later dates for up grades. Any tentative dates?

Tim

[kevbert]

James, this icon is for you:

The strip is practically worthless without the bridge. It would also facilitate getting equipment and people across the river to work on the strip if the bridge were in place first.

Perhaps the city would move faster on the bridge if there was a petition where pilots could sign up saying they would visit the town if the strip and bridge were in place. Maybe a signup sheet could be placed at JC or something online.

[58Skylane]

Awesome!

This would be a great spot for a sightseeing operator to fly out of. 95 is a busy road with lot's of tourist up and down that road. Plus the busy touristy town.

[Super-Maule]

Fly in to Slate Creek, ground trans to Riggens, Boat to strip, set up camp and go to work. Rob can bring his generator. Gosh sounds like a lot of fun to me. Get a basic strip working then we can fly in on later dates for up grades. Any tentative dates?

Tim

Hey Tim and backcountry pilots,

I don't have any dates yet. There are a lot of meetings and behind the sceens stuff going on about this airstrip and swinging bridge. As far as landing there, Salmon River Helicopters can sling-load a few ATVs across the river to do most of the work. I think a good 4x4 ATV could pull the sagebrush out by the roots. It would then just be a mater of filling in some holes, and moving some rocks that have rolled down the hill. As you can see in the picture, it is pretty flat. I think the area could be landable in one day.

Next week I'm talking to the land owner and confident things will go well. Anyway I'll try to keep all you guys, and gals informed. I really appreciate your offers to help! The Minum Lodge Airlift showed me what quality people backcountry pilots really are.

Thanks,

James

[Grassstrippilot]

Keep us posted. I think you could have a small army there if the work party was the right time of the summer...if it could happen that quickly.

[robw56]

Just make the work party right before the Johnson Creek fly-in!

[Super-Maule]

I found some great information in a 1956 Idaho Airport Facilities Guide on the Riggins, Idaho Airport.

James

[182 STOL driver]

Great news! Any chance that the strip could be lengthened? It's hard to tell slop from the overhead pic, but it looks like there might be some room to make it a bit longer.

Good luck!

Flight guide looks like 2500 ft. long -International Airport or what ? I agree a couple of atv's landed by boat or helicopter would be great .Bridge to "town" would be great -how about a cable ferry with flat bottom boat ?
I'd like to go see what it's like now -picture out front of Bell Helicopter looks land able takeoff ?

[iceman]

geez you'd think you guys live in a state where things like this can get done without a environmental impact study , sixty lawyers, tree hugger demonstrations, federal and state studies, permits and impact on the local rat population studies...putting a bridge across a major river seems like a huge hurdle... but then I'm used to the peoples republik of Kalifornia.... in any case it looks plenty long enough as it is but if it gets lengthened and those two trees to the left of the panel are taken out, oh my god!!!! take out a tree??????? that would require another study!!!

[Super-Maule]

geez you'd think you guys live in a state where things like this can get done without a environmental impact study , sixty lawyers, tree hugger demonstrations, federal and state studies, permits and impact on the local rat population studies...putting a bridge across a major river seems like a huge hurdle... but then I'm used to the peoples republik of Kalifornia.... in any case it looks plenty long enough as it is but if it gets lengthened and those two trees to the left of the panel are taken out, oh my god!!!! take out a tree??????? that would require another study!!!

Hello Backcountry Pilots,

This is Idaho, not California thank God. Below is a copy of the Idaho Recreational Trespass Statute.

James

[iceman]

I know James,, It's a great thing that things can get done in Idaho . used to be that way here too..eons ago....

[qmdv]

Please leave all the trees that you can. Shade can be golden.

Tim

[iceman]

who needs shade Tim... there's Robs liquor store right across the river....

[qmdv]

[quote="Super-Maule"]
This is Idaho, not California thank God. Below is a copy of the Idaho Recreational Trespass Statute.

James

I will argue that at one time, California was just about the most overall apealing state in the lower 48. But that was when there were only 48. What happened here is an example of government wanting to do too much for too many people.

Tim

[dogpilot]

I love shade, but if you leave the trees, somebody will run into them. Luckily it isn't in the south, but rather Idaho, or there would be an engine hanging from one within a week. I would love to come up and help, I built a series of bush strips in Southern Sudan while I did my WFP contracts. Did all of them by hand with a cast of thousands. It really doesn't look to be a great challenge, just a major bush whacking exercise, that and looking to find all the critter holes to fill in. Perhaps you can enlist a Boy Scout troop to help as well. The kids looking to get their Eagle need a service project that involves the entire troop. They can camp and work, just have to feed them. This would be way more fun for them rather than painting yet another homeless shelter.

Yes it is sad about California. I am from Seattle, but spent a substantial part of my life there. It has gone from a great place to a Gulag, and only in about 25 years. I reduce it down to; Dicks, it is all about dicks. Who has a dick, who doesn't, who wants one who hates them, who wants to marry one or is repulsed by them, what they can do with them and how they should be restricted. Who can see them and when they can be displayed, when they can be used, how they can be used, envy of them, having them removed or added. Employment opportunities for those with them or without them. So as a result, the place is jammed packed with them. Remember the government is a reflection of the people, so they are...Dicks.