Airstrip Junkies
by Colin M. Graham

Memaloose – Imnaha, Oregon
Public-Oregon Government
Elevation 6,500

25U- Memaloose is another good one for those looking for a little adventure. Nestled 6,500’ above the raging Snake River and Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. Some pilots elect to fly in from the south while others from the north. It depends on how badly you want to live. Memaloose is currently owned by the forestry service and maintained by them as well. Be careful with the downdrafts over the edge on the south side, it’s literally a 4,000 sheer drop.

(Looking at Memaloose from the north)

Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
P.O. Box 907
Baker City, Oregon 97814
(503) 523-6391

Mile Hi – Payette NF, Idaho
USFS
Elevation 5,800

photo by Sparky Imeson

NO ID: Mile Hi. The name says it all. This one is deep in the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in the middle of Idaho’s backcountry. It rests about 1,500’ over Big Creek as it meanders into the Middle Fork of the Salmon 15 miles downstream. It’s one way in one way out, that’s for sure. At only 500’ usable length it’s not for the light at heart, it’s got a 30% uphill slope to make your heart pump even faster. The strip is suited for tail dragger aircraft such as a Piper Cub, Super Cub or Maule.  Elevation is about 5,800’.  Pictures can be seen in Galen Hanselman's book “Fly Idaho”. Many thanks to Galen for showing me this one on our trip into the backcountry in May 2002. Do NOT fly into this airstrip unless you have been shown how by a local pilot. You will kill yourself and your airplane.

Negrito Airstrip – Reserve, New Mexico
Forestry Service
8,100’ elevation

Photos by Christopher Martindell (see below)

Negrito airstrip is high & long, simply put. It lies about 20 miles southeast of the town of Reserve, New Mexico.  The elevation is 8,100’ and the main runway is 7,500’ in length. Very, very long by backcountry standards. It also has a shorter crosswind runway, which is 4,500’ in length. The airstrip is well maintained and primarily used as a stop-off for the many firefighting aircraft in the area during the fire season.

Airnav.com warns that livestock may be on the runway. The contact (more than 20-year-old listing) on that site has since passed the surly bonds of earth, as I found out in September 2002. I called and asked for the gentleman and heard nothing but silence for a few seconds and then a long drawn out breath. “Ooooohhh, he’s been dead for 10 years.” I quickly apologized and hung up.

During a trip to New Mexico, I stopped at the Reserve location of the USFS and inquired about the airstrip. You can drive to it about an hour and a half down a dusty dirt road. I did not do so due to some bad weather that was moving in over the area at the time. This airstrip is listed as private, but people go in and out of it all the time.

The USFS will probably grant you permission

When I took the pictures, I was out there doing a study for the Air Force and was based there for four months every summer for three years. They (the USAF) wanted to lower their VR route through there and in order to do so, they needed to do an Environmental Impact Study (of course. I'm an ex-SONARMAN on Los Angeles class submarines. I was hired to go out there to make the acoustical measurements of the overflights and then I submitted them to the Biologists to do their study. It was pretty fun. I don't think the Air Force or the Air National Guard is going to stop flying through there anytime soon. So watch out for F-16s, T-38s and German Tornado's screaming through the Gila National forest at 500 feet or lower going about 500 kts. They also have F-117s flying the route at night and I've seen a couple of C-130s fly the route. It's fun when they have to gain altitude so they can bank without their wings hitting the ground and then drop back down after their turn. Their route is several miles south of the airstrip, but keep an eye out for them. They are trained to try to avoid it, due to fire-fighting traffic, but don't count on it.

As far as the airstrip goes, it's a pretty easy in and out. It's just the density altitude you have to watch for, but there is plenty of room to get up to speed. I rode in and out of there a couple of time's in a Cessna 206 and 185 when some missionaries were using the airstrip to practice what it will be like flying supplies to unimproved strips in Africa or wherever they had missionaries. RW17 has a slight uphill slope to it. Unless there is a lot of crosswind, the best approach is from the south (runway 35) and the ideal departure is to the south (runway 17). There is a little dip in the runway that might kick the plane in the air a little prematurely and then it'll settle back down before you get enough speed to get into ground affect.

I live in San Diego and fly out of MYF and am always looking for fun places to fly that are close enough for a one day trip out to and back. I really enjoy your site and hope you keep updating it.

Thanks, Christopher Martindell
 

 Orchard Ranch Airstrip (WY38)
S. of Big Trails, Wyoming
(26 NM S. of Ten Sleep)

Private

Owner: Robert Orchard

This beautiful Wyoming airstrip sits about 10-nautical miles south of the Otter Creek Ranch. It is open, and well maintained by its owner, Robert Orchard. Mr. Orchard is a delightful gentleman and we got into quite a conversation about flying in his area.

The airstrip has a single 3,000-foot x 50-foot turf runway that runs through a large grass-covered plain. There are a several obstacles on the west side of the airport, including a power line that runs the length of the airstrip and a T-hanger that sits about halfway down the runway.

The runway has an orientation of 04/22 and runs uphill to the southwest. It’s ideal to land going uphill if the wind conditions permit.

Mr. Orchard said there is a road that intersects the airstrip on the southwest side at a 20- to 30-degree angle. If the landing rollout needs to be extended, it could make the turn and continue to use the road as a runway providing the speed is not excessive.

Mr. Orchard has a Maule STOL plane based on the field that he uses daily (watch for him if you’re flying in) for herding his cattle around the enormous ranch. He didn’t mention how many acres he owns, but one can assume it’s well into the thousands upon thousands.

The approaches to runway 04 and runway 22 are wide open and there is a good windsock located 300 feet south of the hangar.

If you would like to land there, Mr. Orchard has no problem with it, but he asks that you CALL FIRST before landing due to gopher holes or other adverse surface conditions … 307-366-2450

 Otter Creek Ranch Airstrip (03WY)

Ten Sleep, Wyoming
~ Private ~

Not currently in operational use

Located about 10 miles southeast of the tiny Wyoming town of Ten Sleep, Otter Creek Ranch airstrip lies in the middle of thistle weeds. The airstrip is still considered open but is no longer used by its owners, nor is it maintained in usable condition.

The strip sits on a 70,000-acre cattle ranch according to manager Dennis Johnson, with whom I visited one evening in January 2004. It’s not been used in three to four years. He had no problem with us listing it, though. A very nice cowboy I’d say.

The layout is interesting; the strip has 3 runways, varying in length from 1,100’ to 2,500’.  Mr. Johnson did not confirm this, but usually this type of runway configuration is reserved for airstrips where the wind can (and will) blow from any direction, so it’s desirable to have an into-the-wind takeoff. I went through Ten Sleep in May 2002. I can imagine the wind would blow from different directions. The strip is south of town and east of the Big Horn Mountains, the terrain is mostly high grasses. 

Mr. Johnson made a comment that a “pilot may be able to get down on the strip during the summer months, depending on whether or not it’s been mowed.” The strip is difficult to locate in its current condition as it looks like nothing more than a regular old field.

Go have a look, but it is private, so you’d better call Mr. Johnson if you want to touch down … 307-366-2447

Oxbow – Homestead, Oregon
Private/ Idaho Power Company
Elevation 1,800

OR12- No specific information is known. All phone numbers failed to go through but we can tell that: Runway 17/35 is 2,900 X 50 asphalt. Airport is located in deep narrow canyon just north of the Oxbow Dam. Airstrip is about 15 miles south of Memaloose.

Pasayten Airstrip

Okanagon Nat’l Forest
 Washington State

~Closed Indefinitely~  

Pasayten Airstrip was built in the early 1930’s by the CCC (Civil Conversation Corp) which was created by then President Franklin D. Roosevelt to provide jobs for thousands of workers during the Great Depression.

The airstrip was used primarily for fire suppression for many years and from what I’m told it was used on quite a consistent basis. The strip itself is VERY good for “back country” standards…it’s nearly 4,000’ in length and at least a couple hundred feet wide.

The runway lies along a bench above the Pasayten River in the Okanagon National Forest. The strip was closed when the government passed a forest preservation act in 1968. It has remained closed since that time and to our knowledge, is not being used at all.

The USFS maintains a cabin at the airstrip and they WILL fine you if you fly into this airstrip…so do not come in here!

Surrounding terrain is a fairly new growth pine forest, which was ravaged by a forest fire in the 1920’s. Airport elevation is a little over 4,000’.

Porter Ranch – Kennedy Meadows, California
Private/ M.E. Fox
Elevation 6,800

68CN- Airstrip is currently suitable for emergency use only. Its owner was unavailable for contact. We also tried to reach the owner of the near by Sacatar Meadows airstrip and ran into the same problem.

Don’t come in here until you secure permission.

No Images Available

Possum Creek — Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Private/ David Force Jr.
10,010’ elevation

photo by Kay Cooper

NO ID: Possum Creek could well be the Nation’s highest airstrip, period. Although the one that actually is could be un-registered just like this lil' devil, so no one can find it. I don’t know. But for now, we’ll make Possum Creek the highest at 10,010-foot elevation. Now, don’t have a cow, the runway is only 1,360’ long. Right about now you’re thinking, “No way, it can’t be done”. But here is the little bit of information that will help ... It has a 30-percent uphill slope.

Yep, the runway starts at an elevation of 9,840’. At each end of the strip is a so-called 700’ cliff, though I’ve not seen proof of this yet. To land here, you have to first get permission from Mr. Force, which he will probably not grant you. And, second, have knowledge of how to land here, just like at Mile Hi (Idaho). Except in this case, Mr. Force is the only person to have such knowledge. So for now, fly by and wave, because you sure as hell aren’t landing at this one!

No Contact information available to date – As of 03/17/03 word has it Dave Force may have sold the Possum Creek Ranch. No one knows the new owner yet or what he intends to do with the countries highest airstrip.

Note: Colin, Don't know if this is proof enough ... SI

Click to enlarge (photos by Sparky Imeson on 04-02-2003)