This is an area we have known about for years but have chosen not to use for landing until recently. There is a bigger strip that we normally land on and it’s a day and a half hike away. This spot is not bad, but it’s not that good either. It sits in the back of a box canyon on top of a very steep slope. The first 1/4 of the strip is on a 35 degree slope and the wind conditions are generally adverse plus there are some very large bumps if you land in the wrong spot. Oh ya’ and the boulders along the edge will happily knock the landing gear off if you’re not careful. It is definitely a Super Cub strip only.
We do not land on every mountain top, ridge, and gravel bar because we hate leaving tire tracks all over the place. One landing in my Super Cub does not hurt the tundra. But if I leave tire tracks on a mountain top then inevitably the weekend-warriors, guides, and gold miners will be hot on my heels turning the area into another blue tarp, cooler, and spam can dumping ground. Mike and I have hauled thousands of pounds of garbage out of the wilderness that was left behind by thoughtless users. I think the problem is that people honestly believe that they are the first and last person that will ever use that area. It totally amazes me what people will litter across the country side. It’s not that I’m a bunny-hugger, I just wish that people would respect the wilderness and tread lightly. If you haul it in, haul it out. It pretty much makes sense. Don’t burn it and kick sand over it, because the next guy is going to have to look at all the partially burned spam cans when bears digs it up next Spring.
I fly over these mountains all year long and it is amazing to me the damage that is done during the short six weeks of hunting season. The mountains are virtually empty until August 7th when the whole world heads to the hills with their blue tarps, beer cans, and toilet paper. Oh ya’, just so you know, Last year’s toilet paper has still not bio-degraded because I regularly have the opportunity to look at it. Have some respect guys and haul your garbage out.