Airstrip Junkies |
Rael Ranch Horse Pasture NM68- Rael Ranch Horse Pasture is in a beautiful area of Southwestern New Mexico. I speak from having seen it with my own eyes in October of 2002. The elevation of this one is right at 7,000’ and is currently un-maintained and suitable for emergencies only. Pedro Rael owns the airstrip; he’s an attorney in Los Lunas, about 3 ½ hours away. He built the airstrip about 6 years ago for his own personal use; apparently he owns a ranch out there. Pedro intends on fixing the airstrip so it can be used as soon as he has the time. To his knowledge no one has landed there in the past two years. The airstrip runs uphill to the southwest, extending for 2,500’. The surface is dirt and currently very rough because of out-of-control clump grass. The surrounding terrain is a beautiful high desert setting; going to the west you will find many pine trees. Rael mentions the fact that there are several other airstrips in the area, but they must be unpublished. He didn’t make any specific remarks about whether he wanted visitors, but you could always call him and ask: (505) 865-6811 Rogers Roost Airstrip (UT06)Thompson Springs, Utah Located just north of Interstate 70 and about 50 miles north of Moab, Utah, Rogers Roost lies in poor condition. It runs along a 2-lane road that eventually dead ends. The runway surface is gravel in very poor shape. I made a visual inspection in December 2004 and could barely make out the runway ends and sides. Airport elevation is reported as 5,100 feet MSL and the length around 3,000 feet. The owner is reported as Lester Rogers, but no one answers the number listed. My inspection was by vehicle and I do not recommend flying here in its current condition. The airport does not appear to have been used for many years.
Root Ranch AirstripWest of Cold Meadows, Idaho The Root Ranch airstrip, Idaho, lies just 3 miles west of Cold Meadows Ranger Station, which also has it’s own strip. (Check out Galen’s book for that one) It’s about 1,500 feet lower elevation than Cold Meadows because it sits in the bottom of a small canyon. Bill Guth is the general manager of the airstrip and requests all pilots wishing to fly in to this airport call ahead at 208-756-6295. There is a $25.00 landing fee for any pilot flying in who isn’t using the ranch facilities. Bill told us the airstrip is nice and flat, and approaches can be flown from either direction. He did say that taking off downstream is the best because that end of the canyon is upstream. Field elevation is 5,650’ and the single dirt/turf runway extends for 2,100’ and is about 50’ wide. “Our airstrip is in a grassy meadow at the bottom of the canyon”. Mr. Guth said. The Root Ranch itself is a fly-in resort tucked deep into central Idaho and currently has about 150 residents. The airport is open from Early June to November. Bottom of canyon -- Either way in or out -- Downstream takeoff -- No grade -- meadows -- Surrounded by mountains, but not deep -- closed in winter (December through May)
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Silver Heels Como, Colorado
No Images Available No contact information available to date 01-17-05 An e-mail from Stewart Kissel reports "Update with image from last summer...nothing grows more then 1/2" tall in these parts...so the strip is very landable ... although a little hard to see from the air. A road still permits access to it as well."
Silver Lake USFS (45S)Silver Lake, Oregon I found this airstrip one evening while surfing the web for a different strip 1,000 miles away. It is located off of Rt. 31, just west of Silver Lake, Oregon. The runway is a dirt surface and stretches for about 3,000 ft and is 50’ in width. It is not regularly used and does not see a lot of maintenance, but is in useable condition according to the forest service. It’s primarily used by the USFS during the fire season and during that time it sees a lot of helicopter traffic. The local terrain is "fairly flat" as described by the forest service and is mainly of sagebrush nature. The runway is known to be soft when wet, as with any dirt airstrip. Airnav.com lists the airstrip as having a gravel surface, but the forest service and numerous images do not show this to be accurate. You may call 541-576-7520 for current conditions. I talked to a gent named Phil. Simko-STOL Strip (1ID9) Owner: Tom Simko Somewhere off of I-15, Idaho This private airstrip is perhaps one of America’s toughest, to say the least. Owned by Tom Simko who has successfully developed a MO-GAS airplane (www.skylinesolar.com) The strip is on the side of a mountain adjacent to Interstate 15. The runway is a rough mixture of dirt; a mere 400’ in length at an elevation of 6,150’ MSL. Any & all approaches are made uphill (east) because of the immense 14% upslope. And if there aren't enough obstacles to suit you, the runway has a dogleg in the middle to navigate. This is a one-way strip with no chance of a go-around because the terrain to the east climbs steeply to 9,000-feet MSL. A climb rate of about 300 fpm is needed just to touch down on this strip. It is not, in any way, shape or form recommended that you try using this airstrip, period. A pilot in an emergency would be better off to land in the valley down by the Interstate. Taking off is interesting as well, you simply point the aircraft down hill and the minute it breaks ground you reduce power to cruise so as to initiate a steady descent towards the valley. The valley floor is at about 4,500’. Photo: www.skylinesolar.com Fly by and throw Tom a wave, he’s a pretty cool guy, just don’t bother the runway Skeen Airstrip (82NM)Owner: Michael Skeen 15 Miles South of Picacho, New Mexico Mike sure is a nice gentleman. We talked one fall evening in October about his airstrip(s). Only one is listed on the ABQ Sectional chart but he actually has two very well maintained airstrips at the ranch. He also had some good information about other nearby airstrips. First, his "headquarters airstrip" is the one that’s on the chart, it’s a 3,800 grass and dirt combo, well graded and fairly smooth. Mike says the airstrip is located in a canyon but still fairly friendly to get in and out of. He recommends a landing from the north (to the south) at the main airstrip. Both airstrips have 24" windsocks and the "outer strip" is located about 2 miles NW of the main one. The outer strip consists of an east/west runway up on a flat plateau which Mike said can be easier getting into than the lower one which can have some tricky wind patterns. The surrounding terrain is dry, rocky, cactus-covered hills. Each airport is located on an active ranch so be advised cattle and sheep can and often will be on the runways. Mike keeps a 1952 Piper Super Cub based at his lower strip which inside a hanger. Each airstrip is open to anyone wanting to use it so long as you give Other airstrips include the Diamond A, which is north of Skeen, and the Flying H which is south of Skeen. Mike said the Diamond A is a pretty nice 6,000-foot-paved runway that has changed ownership a number of times in the past. It’s runway is oriented north/south but lies deep in a canyon that has very tricky winds, not for the novice pilot. The northern end opens into the Hondo Valley. Mike said the Flying H is mainly used for powered parachutes ... he did not elaborate.
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Skyote Airstrip – Steamboat Springs, Colorado CD02- The name Skyote comes from a one-place kit aircraft that Mr. Bartoe designs and builds. I thought something totally different before calling him one day in March 2003. This airstrip is very dangerous and just like Barker Creek, strictly private. Mr. Bartoe says, "If you plan to land here, you’d better bring your bill of sale, cause you’ll never get out alive.” (Is that a threat, or the nature of the airstrip?) The strip is 1,600 feet in length, downhill to the south, at an elevation of 8,200 feet. Mr. Bartoe reports there is about a 75 foot difference in elevation between the runway ends. Land to the north, depart to the south at Skyote. It’s in a region of mountainous terrain and tall trees surround the entire airstrip. This is another “fly by and wave” … don’t bother landing here! No Images Available
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Saguache Airstrip Elevation: 7,900’ Public
However fairly high at 7,900’ Saguache’s only runway more than compensates for it’s elevation at a length of 7,750’. The airstrip is publicly owned and maintained by the Colorado Division of Aeronautics. The airport condition is described by it’s manager as “very good”. The surrounding terrain is rolling & sage covered.
Airnav.com claims “vehicles may be on runway at any given time”. This apparently is not the case, according to the manager. However, deer and antelope are free to meander anywhere they choose. The airport is little used, probably less than 30 aircraft each year land and take off. There are no facilities, except a windsock and new AWOS system, which is not yet working (04/08/03).
It’s a short ride into the town of Saguache (pronounced SA - WATCH ) … Less than two miles. Most of the airstrip's usage comes from the Division of Wildlife and USFS / BLM. State highway 141 runs along the northern edge of the runway.
Enjoy! You can call the manager at: (719) 655-2890 ….Her name is Peggy.
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Spencer Landing Strip – Keuterville, Idaho ID90- According to www.airnav.com this airstrip is an uphill/downhill format. According to Craig Spencer it’s rather flat. I think I’ll believe the owner. It lies high on a bluff over the Snake River just south of where the Salmon River confluence. It’s owned by Spencer Ranch, INC. which is a Commercial cattle company. It’s considered a very ill used and decrepit airstrip with a dirt runway reaching 2,000 in length at an elevation of 4,200. It has not been maintained in over a decade according to Craig Spencer upon a call to him in March of 2003 and it would be best to consider the airstrip closed. It was originally built for flying in mail and food for the ranch when the roads were not as good. In the past 10 years, roads have gotten much better and the company abandoned the airstrip and all use of it thereafter. Craig says the strip ends at the edge of the bluff, or “very close to it.” I can imagine it’s pretty beautiful if indeed it’s as close to the edge of the cliff as it shows on Microsoft’s flight simulator. The airstrip lies about 25nm north of Memaloose. No Contact information or images available to date
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Tavaputs Ranch – Green River, Utah UT09- Tavaputs Ranch is one of the highest airstrips in the Desolation Canyon and the Green River, 7000’ below. The runway was originally built to be one mile in length, but now only half is being used, approx 2,500’. Surrounding terrain is sage and evergreen pines. To fly in here, you’d better know the area, the approach and last but not least, secure permission from Mr. Jensen.
Taxiing up the hill at Tavaputs Ranch The ranch offers western style accommodations on the rim of Desolation Canyon. Feel free to see their website at: www.tavaputsranch.com
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