Changing Plans........

[petehowell]

VAF Nation,

Andi and I need some help. Our plans to visit Glacier NP over Labor Day are quickly going up in smoke(literally). We had planed to fly in and camp at Ryan Airfield, but the RAF has very responsibly closed the airport due to fires and conditions in the area. We could fly in to GPI, but it is peak season, we would be without a place to camp, and it appears visibility for flying is not so good.

Here is the request - looking for a place near a nice park with great hiking that we could camp with the plane, rent a car, and enjoy 3-5 days in the fresh air. We are based in Minneapolis, but long trips are part of the fun, so distance is not much of a concern.

We are flying the -9A so grass is fine as long as it is not super cub only grass.

Any ideas? Many Thanks!

[azonic75]

Lot's of interesting places in the Pacific Northwest. Southern Oregon, Crater Lake NP, Great Hiking around the Bend area (Three Sisters wilderness), sneak up to the San Juan Islands.

Quite a few fires but the flying is fine (fantastic!)

kai

[petehowell]

My brother lives in Bend, and that is one of our backup plans..... It is an amazing area.

[rockwoodrv9]

Pete,
There is always Johnson Creek and the several other back country airports in Idaho. I have to admit it has been pretty smoky here but a bit better today. McCall is a fun place with lots of hiking, fishing, and lake activities. Holidays are pretty crowded.

If you get down to the Caldwell - Boise area, let me know. Have fun wherever you end up!

[aturner]

The boys and I just returned from a fun hiking trip to the Adirondacks. We flew into Marcy Field, a very nice grass field, shouldered our packs, and hiked into the mountains for a couple of days. Climbed Porter Mtn and Cascade. Later in the trip we camped at the pilots shelter at Lake Placid. There is a shuttle into town, so no car necessary. Down side is that the Adirondacks are crowded. We also had a problem with the pilots shelter at LPK - there is a sharp lip at the asphalt to grass transition, making it unfriendly to our RV's. All in all, a fun trip.

[rv7charlie]

Might be too close to home, but Oklahoma has air strips in almost all of their state parks (at least they did ~20 years ago). I've only been to a couple, but the area east & south of Tulsa is really pretty (at least to me), and the area just north of the TX border between Dallas & OKC is nice, too.

And there's always Petit Jean, and lots of nice stuff a bit farther north in AR.

Charlie

[M McGraw]

There is 5TN4 and the Smokey Mountain National Park. I will be at work so I won't need my truck. You could drive to the state park and camp.

[49clipper]

How about Custer national park in S. Dakota. I hear its a great park with lots of wildlife and hiking. I have not been there yet, but its on my list. airport is at the Park.

[Caveman]

Hi Pete,

Carey and I just returned from Glacier National Park and Yellowstone a few weeks ago. If you haven't camped on the airport at West Yellowstone you should think about it. I'm not sure if the fires are affecting that area but we had a wonderful time at both locations. PM me if you'd like more info.

I believe Cedar Mills 3T0 may be the grass strip mentioned in an earlier post on the Texas / Oklahoma border. I can give you information on that also as my father in law has a cabin on Lake Texhoma and we fly in a few times a year.

Joe

[jcarne]

I live in northern Wyoming and I can tell you that it is smokey all to heck here too!