What's new
Van's Air Force

Don't miss anything! Register now for full access to the definitive RV support community.

Bowstring Revisited

petehowell

Well Known Member
There has been some talk recently of closing a beautiful grass strip up in northern Minnesota, 9Y0 - Bowstring. The RAF put out a call for help, so I wrote some emails and sent the post on VAF from a visit I made several years ago. The real story is bunch guys flew up in person to talk to the county commissioners. It looks like it worked! Airport manager Ken Reichert really does a nice job at Bowstring!

http://www.theraf.org/news/2018/bowstring-call-action-fills-room

All the talk enticed me to revisit this gem in the northwoods this weekend, so Andi and I loaded up a sub sandwich and some pretzels, then flew north.

qAwGJDccAO_JiN48WeSZshI3IwhvqbmGwZ6fVaU-d0T73A0aL0Pi0A8m-DnXi1lpjUTUCHEYzK1eTLCKMCXNY6tI3B6artGlbISFwhjxgd8CTXIpdazaoT3cZ2DgrTCmTBVJsVbejP_M9RisLK74yYNG8KlvsnKxmJFzDJT1H6-qWNE2wOBBkMZGpk8gtTiMJS9H_pOHEExV5xxh-2K93Iz4ExpIytjMRt6g0-I8CJ3RUuHreh_gDVQPr1wn-78CPTjLUJnZOLV4D9RPWFpYgXkO8BXuLfURfkUBR-G9T_aL_-rx2IpHSGiFD7_zFy5Nrh580BB9lTFurH6dkX8qleKjfm8GcfDO0ZO3yGZzf0MFlXWdjU_KPxdcxTKkQqIuFBlci2poUwXR_PFCA1iDC7Eg9j68uJpszpeZjgam-g_MUksJmewpyBlWNI40udAm5vCTxhsv53btC5n5VXB4pvHisLYWBfTkBIN1vB26lquiKydpCbjKsOBwQ8nJKafpjGPznTeMtmKYsfqqqSjujmogPSxDxUPzIis08ugbw0V19xU5Kv1maD2omkltwG16fwQY74oPRx-gIXPbRhpQKcRU-vj-dnnKsa87TyKm03R_pmLlqkCUg8-8xnUm5397yDIUYm3KJlwMtqQX8gOOBwotmyd_2sWaTw=w1200-h1186-no


We landed and found that it was rush hour at 9Y0. Frank and Don from Cloquet had flown in on this near perfect day as well.

4_EHP2oYax0RKa5CVpSebZJJ7NpnPpG9bOinFSjlihwuKd-OmRtlXpyXQjfPFHRg7UNFF2MlJljKfVYLIoLq169NZEF8d6djqT_SGOIEd9AqqR0-LrMstqjzVYwiYCz80ei5Pl53iB-0uJ30EKDCJ5uPAMG_yOhZ4SWTEEkKg1lsRJj7puPGVh1gRU_87xadxsZekSnasmFpZEoxwF6Y7_zJW0ljCMLqhxFlCIN_8Ici16l9pQmBJMa0f8sobG_9xRFjBFQkEb44WrvOZAwGMtwM19wZAV9iEaBFOUa00cAGXpSbGOfN2JSp5N4FV1Vp_a0o-_z7KbuFOcSmk2f9jGKDjxdg8NtzOoEeD0Ea47vHHDxwV-xVUExtqjR91rCpDL-tlvdadGGrrRzuErpcQzRFUW4AFVVLNfUmJoVoz04lEYdjFM__xswp3fUqF0nByVV5RW8CTsZvLYHfDECqiaFMf_Ldb000HgZ-1cQUStNshZhLRl4onZxROBA7z8skknQfw5FVEUttQ1ltY7OoMWxjywbyWnWse087wOkOeKuPQ7hmzOgpX--yaditA772xqHoqIACPCJlWSG0Wp6mqRCVjliheX53JNNS7YFqTsqyPKkwLa0jCSIyWVmGrlVk1GppFguor4-o9CEEOQinLulNmP1LvN5vhg=w1200-h1186-no


I was told not to take her picture while she was eating. I do what I want!

u92m7fkK0bkip8fDk4Z2W86THjMRK6pNeg3xTAQdHpDDv4ZEVGfsJUr8HqEyhgYGieySTcqtgNnr3zNtXo8AHS1oSEiXgEE0AVmRL54lbzJu3QKsJ_zQdQGkCa1npx6O1bdpUsEcBOKA_6xkjYB3WYcYL3NFHqLjgrcHYR3HOoTnvdya-Jo0PDRb6kMq8mmzPp9y4lu-ALHbpiqt3hdt78Kcq4ftlGM117qPcIXLjEDF-OCWnS0Z-8DQ3wQ2nDbFC1VJ8q1-zmPRJppW_V83tgSNfvHbGNqrXHTLVSbKEUjnMQJP7tFqjiftNUiSjvVMwTnTT4iZVFU_WSQvaG1k38bw5W5EXOQaXxUiRWXyU6CGFL4FK0i00R0nsJnCZyOcF5lWugbWhHRwV94CVishhxTKpwqoDPYWTToeAF-V1pn43xM5SoUND9GU7s-yteQblzbkI_1zwE3tAcYjAHHROqa4BDisfY4_U75MVZlzeiBqnJIHXj4SuApeLVm5ioYJrswTSH7kZgpHxs5GDNqvvG24hCMPbS3UKLqO7J0XbDkiOi3m3GfBKa4jdScwXGa2d9CZNZpqLne52J4G1GvA1szYuMQXa4JErqXRWPAxlsza_R63ckA57D5jbq_aZp5KOX5Z-rYJ0OD7HAt2mXhER5soS1vycsg3NQ=w1200-h1186-no


This place really is beautiful - room to camp, trailer with bathroom, grill and fridge on site. Courtesy car, too! The lake is just steps away.

rCYTfS8EQIhNOZxa_FqEuJGPO5HP0XS75lPjaZcsPoA4rko6fws8Mf5_ZxP6ra9kHONmkBl07bqMyHoTrQNVqt4bvtiyHpQqPJBwg28pZXul6HoBovDt8DIEQi7dRh6AT-80pOMmSaAE1DSKU17T2OqYPzD-QoyDwCueFbDVQzufqhc0qnmrMBb770WmvmMM33VXBncNRV9-x-4VDSXUZ2nX3rbeErQYldSgeB_pdokubznmwUHqP1J_U7jEJJx5MErGuk_3RdcoyJGWeN92fjgUzLeuLIn8J3GxMZNFnZJycH2RQ6FRzsw6P7z93tJHU7YlsvSIvPeP3eQuxcIeUdghmpaBdxkaQO0qxOEOHFZ0lqT9Z7soAempcntlbWP1hpNx1nMrp94ElGJxb46O8reXh6I6WEOFWkY0qTnF3JODmMQ8j9wBVQlxcggJj00igwMTeorlEuM6LGXduV5yFyIVqjrXzflvj7NWqp3NdrLsgXleiGndgYZAtyidcHir750qm4xCVeTxB7e8-HIAduMHvgqVNr_v1YEBWFCXJgfohcIQsZ-jMg4uYFnWsSu4IaW8TJtc03RJ7Q3OETTg8FxPHz65YXvATnAx68ywVLkn0wxj6IQ3WzEb007MR9Zf4rdrBO7hnXUUEn--Qpev5BHKm9DUPjBYBQ=w1200-h1186-no


After a nice hike, we had the place to ourselves!

E7KGoaWXDSYFHHjnfLIxJ6WNXpfQp0Bg_tkwILckB23Y8NSR16JFidibO80BDr9WYSIspSsoO_sAQNNNgTQ1MXl6Lw_VnKQoxAatygCdINd3v47o9OWVhm1E0UsQbB-33HAlJpImHCYt6gFiXWuEk77ujT6fpOhsRCdo4qCpB52Vj4NgyYUnFCxRy8PDKiGPy580slwiuD8Ef1Kwi2IgaJjpaeOkxfohYeTSNHvvX_ig91k5rOxeZlgZw-RfXfdftuPilIaKRedgqBDtfQF_D0k7ankFrWA_kxpDyKSsiB5AaSGhqAgQ7gDx4UFoDm1TonV8ACfvPphrXariwQFe9slB-IjuvPYsxWmmXyuEOxI4NE4nXTf34ZQVVUXTNh0n-wNfzABy4SGClGjYLvtDzQ_OKivpvieZPZda1UnCedYqxvJR2oGUR7rfJZzs5Lq6zi6qjTHDGayn61_ulNoxB72LsYqy0iKWl3Z1cDCvYKhq56PhfWURhKPOmWueJ-QnN4UZCk2vTnbsuFQwsEn4-9xgfyL1ej5KjOgMZW1rHV0474n1-UAlVVemArc1C1KObowzVQ4Z5K_tchEe4FZPkCopd6Y9hR8wJ3Lp09IGIo4lssIMedIh232oCEzsSqurpZpOCwi1ZKK0nEUtVS09mFZguxxHKEIBaQ=w1200-h1186-no


Andi caught some rays.....

WyjiTRkb6VAwLTWmIuhQ_gbMrIuc8lUskc4LEtfo0pii91Q93dFf6MNIMdivO8BasFswYDCI_h0fAl48-pA7saPITuK9yBsOXb1RTGREMB5YW0s9s_8xPPPLmp3jCnhOGOzjAan_UyujxQyARRFTWwi6yWO-4YAkjX-WakHCVHWhCyX6PCQCAE-ex9W1-7nKX9fxoBdDZDyKPQk_F7p4aRq0SD_LRTFmpfSMgyjW4rzX5EZQcbUy_IcTwoa-G2q6io5dpVlKR9QMYA9l-pMCNcM5WGS8FzJ2a3JXMjiWSKpr2m9J2gO9co0wyZ1o_EdXsEo5SGGKzs2AeSV-wvTWck5GvpW3_rWM2cQVGK0js4kf_q6EZRvHIr6SKVApe3BVmlkk9Ms9ndJFREoZWsPlAWwv4I2qj5Kex-T6S2VmQqNMl9_TvxSdVOClkMoDZVHhfJkzo6yMcOqtC0x_n7jeMG9QUbMJGQg39IRTok_02DMMgL-C7VsfGH5UsUPshG6F1aMiDlC3pXsKTC4rYKn6JtY1D73K59PwODiJnz3YZlZf35pVcqneJJTZjGuDqtPYqgTYvRXBptyieSeWeCnVZPhb827t6mfyHX8alYX86e7srkCTbXLnFRniffONhpcaPNVTzZqlJ723-7j6cKtcNSZ7HMAxt2PuzA=w1200-h1088-no


We walked to the far end of the runway at found it to be stunning as well.

DuiuHxb3Uwkk4OD-3YJ_Y6zLRWydF_fmkFd_ufzEanL_vYg5kSzYCWaTS-AlNQcDW6wYfILdVLp74NeWXwxzojBk0_eAXshTjq91qhTpL8PoUgE1KW7p_z_wnNaIzdddDVTDxREaxub5Kxzzw6qkmhwCM_Q8EFn6ud7pbDSDN4edYcgfCYVW_DgpX9JO1X8zTxBqbdS-e_cHsCMC_Qf564__49foqUQeeDdasAGMsEM_d_SRVR2n8741CzshHNjiPYAjoKdFOffza3J7RrIm2LMgucrIdTDhfmTsn5laZujG2Ude3dnSKWOIYnlIV0PXpdAD_CxfIdosHqZ34eafjyWrsv4VAgZ_l-vlnWgAiCLpGniDbGpKlnP2yZFHI0s0U5sC1DUA0DadZfOrJaX0Ej173tyFrcu9YGlE6V9V9YLaV9MqNAACoRvC0QoSyk2Vzq3hC9pvPwAqxPkUcoEC7sbP8TYz8axOTtTaRCb7pcBmC1kT8yINQHGMauK4CFhd77EAdUOkklMmaVUYu9KF0UQTQKcV6IZcQEpWBilXJdXXfQaMDCl0vi6kaO-Dm1yFz_JDl5RDRTIL7Zo2Osev6eqwGkDC9vO5yl_GZhE52s8dmF_WO7NRvXWIqb_i4Z6Wb3Ftl1wiNM_eKzkvFmMnz9EksTrFJvZbuw=w1200-h1186-no


kSD_GYaA3kQWS5dT7rCBVYxi5XHi_c4MMVPJtG4SAMbqq71d7Z2HqugabKBn9Xfy1vyRhqtqSrcpiesSS69F2Um6LURqBkAyY0KxRr_1_ui9CpB3s5n2EJKNIlSUmwtE_nKpDFmJ5y5bdN0CjdYHwmuhhoOrwSU0kxQVdkRtbUAca1GhvX9B2teOdcDCrk4k3sD3eN1QjcCwF9f2azc4h5wV3PH1bKs682RRiiix9qq1uJwQVhfs9UruLONnvt3XSjhhiVaugVcB5QBAemLH09FA6K158UlAqF72hK5S9kWjO-yGUniPcj7BKElK7YKjmGlRRe03u7gkxskAwv3U5pYSQRaBCB-iypL9gFkQw8DYSrAnObKZYChACqcf77ELcaLIxw8EJduXunR5wl-P1kY0FxPqsCitwJVDNPnJYHieR_s_DY_YYAclvaJzMWQZlKLYR9_bGgOCuvIAbMvWkpGcAKU1NmRP7W_hd545478dSsgsK4fQpgnsMP04cLllRuTlwaeUABjeCOckeZ82LKQFzS3qYbTtu6YgFrqn3aJPN-rNCR5gQ0PJ6BTxz16Iya3BAQOm-Z2sK6Jz9Tcm0sQZkAFjZZH5LwrW4F-pTpoOIZHbJvHRBGaDkGjj2LHTgoULqHGJ4-_q32gLNd5S6qeBeE1WIbKR4w=w1200-h1186-no


Looking back west....

5MrjVLR7IU0rNUW7-ZNuCorIUL1FWnjG5viKyj-fsfsspZNJaL4afaoiXGswjTCTOsUpr41lw3KaVjou52fRnEXWaZpl0fAxd25jReYuqP6GF0zPnJLI72e6VtIDT3l4ZePaQbfAmvdj0gtjnUUwnkRmeqlmgudkXcixsCYC1YUTrrusZ2AAAfCXEUci5Qy1j_Zaf_NbHVc-BjfXH87BMEf_dA3p7Kg7uStvrYXfmt9zvQhOQl33YEGxppiR-e2MXlRpnM4sFTd8C5Z9Rdg5j2l401V4MzNNFomN99jTZMYSzs6CIxxW2kw0vPZ2WNa5LBZJRCgd6MV6zGFA2cajA1Pa6Bh5w81vAABBrDaAWCk0QnfQBtwZUI7CRM3DSTnzmbc5Bg1rnq7jjoIWgvDjy0nkcAHfI9bhMG_jvPioU9bJDtqYrwinwhNMT_xnH6RYv8ohKr38XmvfdHdAuFCsl3cks-0XOi-BKdEOXs-LK0Oyqb4lwlK7SbA4AEeVK9h5V6Q4DaXoH9tEzdnmqwfLS-_O2RsiNjm_eLkPTuna-_O4we-OPiPDImlHAwh9xVTTIxfNRjc2o7LITJS_CRNUC3OElhj3XrhjpHyctC4dUZ0jBtNSoYDNMSw33MLYvFzInNr_t8cJ1sx8j-f-XfShBIaLErCqcqBLPw=w1200-h1186-no


I made a short vid of the approach and landing. Sorry for the audio...

https://youtu.be/nWAEfcR16mg?t=191

A really nice place about an hour north of the twin cities by RV. Worth a visit!
 
Last edited:
Neat looking place Pete - I’ll have to rememebr it for a stop before or after Oshkosh sometime. I don’t ever recall noticing it way back when.....

Paul
 
I've been there several times in the past for the fly-ins. Nice airport indeed. My friend Art Mertes retired and moved up there, and wound up as head of the airport board until he passed away. I'm glad to hear it looks good for the airport. Thanks, Pete.
 
Back
Top