Moab

EvilEagle

EvilEagle

Pattern Altitude
Joined
Jul 16, 2009
Messages
1,799
Location
Meridian, ID
Display Name
EvilEagle
Home Airfield
KEUL
Spring break offered an opportunity to go see some National Parks that the family hasn't seen yet (Canyonlands and Capital Reef) and gave me a good excuse to fly the SuperCub down to Utah for a peek around the backcountry. I went to a couple of places on the way in and ultimately flew two dedicated/long days of UT backcountry. My buddy Dick Williams joined me for most of the trip which gave us the option of the wife and daughter going with us for the last full day. It was a great trip; 5.2 hours of flying to get there (one way) but it was something I'd been wanting to do for years.

Backcountry strips we hit:
Cedar Mountain
Mexican Mountain
Gruver's Mesa
Sagebrush Bench
Temple Mountain
Hidden Splendor
Angel Point
Dirty Devil
Happy Canyon
Mineral Canyon
Playa dry lake
Rustler Canyon
Hubbard

Here's some pics!
Canyon Flying.jpegCedar Mountain Parking.jpegGOPR1690.JPGHappy Canyon1.jpegHidden Splendor App1.jpegHidden Splendor Dep.jpegHidden Splendor Landing.jpegMars Parking2.jpegMexican Mtn Landing.jpegMexican Mtn Left Base.jpeg
 
Love it! Thank you for sharing.
 
If you're trying to make me jealous, it worked. What a fantastic trip. Got any video?
 
Really hoping to do this myself in next few years. Was thinking about bringing my Decathlon out to Colorado and flying west. Are the strips really hard core backcountry and STOL?
 
No, if you check the reports on the Utah Backcountry Pilot Association page you will see many trikes with 6” tires fly into many of the strips.
 
Ed Haywood said:
Really hoping to do this myself in next few years. Was thinking about bringing my Decathlon out to Colorado and flying west. Are the strips really hard core backcountry and STOL?
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What pilotmandan said - there are a couple that are pretty rough but all the ones you really want to see could be done with 8.50's as long as you have the performance for the length of strip.
 
I don’t know why but my brain automatically thought ordnance…I need to get out more.
 
That looks awesome! Do you ever have trouble with winds or thermals in those canyons and table tops? I would find that kind of flying both exciting and terrifying. Probably more terrifying.
 
Bill said:
That looks awesome! Do you ever have trouble with winds or thermals in those canyons and table tops? I would find that kind of flying both exciting and terrifying. Probably more terrifying.
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Yes, the day I arrived I couldn't get to Cedar Mountain (the one on the bluff) - the winds were just too strong. Start early, finish early - that's the safest bet in backcountry flying.
 
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