High Sierra Flight Instruction / Backcountry Flight Training LLC.
This is your home for Tail Wheel training, Backcountry and Mountain Flying Instruction! Based here in Truckee California, density altitude, the mountain environment and our close proximity to the endless regions in Nevada offer pilots opportunities that are second to none. Come pay us a visit and take your flying to the next level while learning to do it safely.
Just a quick trip down to Columbia today for the Skywagon fly-in. Temps were climbing into the triple digits so I only stuck around for an hour or so. It was good to see the skywagon guys and all the BCPers there as well. Bart even arrived in his cub. Here are some photos.
Just a quick video shot by my buddy Mtn Matt on the BCP site. Stopped the bird in under a 100′ – 3 times.
What a great weekend in Utah at the Caveman Ranch. It would be very hard for me to put down in words the efforts that go into making this fly-in such a success. Rod, Paula and Hunter have a great spot on the Colorado River 15 minutes from the Moab airport. The backcountry flying possibilities in the area are endless. If you don’t own a copy of the book “Fly Utah” you need to get it. It has details about each strip that should not be missed.
Details here: Fly Utah
Anyhow, here are only a few of the 400 plus photos I took.
This is a shot from behind the lodge with Old Glory flying high!
Here from above you can see the “Windex farm” along with the ranch, strip, etc.
The ponds are hard to miss. I wonder what it really is? They say its Potash…thats a cleaning material for steel of some sorts. I wonder what it would do to Bushwheels?? Can you imagine a photo of someone water skiing here? Me too…
This guy needs to eat more…The shirt is fitting
I cannot remember all of the names to these places but here are a few photos that show the area. I ended up landing at 11 different strips.
If you would like to see more of my 400 plus photos and trip reports from the others that attended please follow these two links.
Caveman thread on Backcountrypilot.org
Just home from the BCP Caveman fly-in and what a great time. Photos are forth coming but I had to post these. With a full load of fuel and precious cargo on board this landing was not an option on this day however, more about its on the hit list as it could not be a more perfect place to land. Its north of Tonopah (KTPH) by Barker on the VFR chart. On the other side above Hadley is also a pilots dream with a lot of various options to land at 11,000 plus feet. Anyhow, check it out. I need to get back here soon.
Just a photo of the Caveman Ranch here from above shot by one of Backcountrypilot.org’s own, Amacbean. I am looking forward to seeing the ranch in person and the surrounding area. I have been to Moab before but never to the cave. Stay tuned for some photos. I hope to see you there.
To Utah and back (KTRK- U42). I can honestly say that the saying “I would rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air than being in the air wishing I was on the ground” came true for me yesterday and that doesn’t happen very often. I enjoy flying in the wind and non-favorable conditions BUT… yesterday was filled with one huge T-storm after another followed by hectic winds, ground tornados and more diversions than one pilot should have in a single flight. Though these photos may look pretty and all, I probably should have waited a day to fly just on the T – storms forecast alone. Whats even funnier (not really) is that I knew going into it what I was in store for as well coming back. Nasty air, rain and wind…It was an “experience” to say the least and one that I did not need. Even more so now that I am home and hearing about the loss of one of our very good friends and pilots. Bruce Rymmes and his wife Kathy were two people that most folks dont get to meet very often. Extremely kind and honest people along with never ending smiles when you saw them. We flew with him often. More on this later. My point on this really is to ask ourselves what, why and where are we going and again why and its importance. How do YOU remove the little voice in your head that says “ahh you will be ok, go for it. Its not that far”? I did that yesterday and I was ok…Bruce was not.
Thanks to Wilga beast for the t shirts you left on my strut! I hope to meet you in person one day!
Here are some photos…enjoy
Stampede
Kevin taking off
Dave was next
Totem Pole 2
The original Totem Pole
This place can be yours for a million bucks, we’re thinking about making it the Sierra Flyers headquarters..
T&G
Landing at The Ranch
Just some photos today
A really beautiful spring day here in the Sierra’s!
Everything you can imagine today…Mud, flowers, bugs, baby ducks, geese, cows and some big thunder clouds building. Its good to get the north circuit open again. Made a bunch of landings today at a number of spots in honor of the Valdez STOL contest that starts today. Thats about the only place I would rather be but… this will have to do. Some have asked why I am not there and really its simple but hard answer. My pops was diagnosed with Leukemia 8 weeks ago and we are now in a battle for his life. Its the sort of thing that you always hear about but never think it will happen to you or your family. Anyhow, enough of that. I am uploading this post and then off to spend the day with him. The following pictures will tell the tale for today. It was absolutely beautiful today!
