Article on Fly-in Camping

mvanover

mvanover

Headed to Andromeda
The June issue of FLYING has an article on camping. Some good tips. Made me want to check my camp gear and get it ready for the camping season. Just have to find some camp friendly airports/strips within range. There has to be a few.
 
I've been able to get my 7 day hiking pack down to 55 lbs. I can not get it down to the elusive 40 lbs. mark. My hiking trips are dual purpose I'm not doing all that work unless its to get to the best trout fishing, so I'm packing fishing gear also. Most of my hiking trips are no more than 10 miles but your talking about fly-in camping so a few hundred miles could be the norm and have room for the beverages.
 
55 pounds.. Ouch. I don't pack ultralight but my 10 day pack included fishing gear at 38 pounds for my last Wyoming backpack/fishing hike.
 
I don't remember how much my gear weighed, but the airplane was packed. Because of the bulk of the sleeping bags, we volumed out before we hit GWTO. I did have to off load to 40 gals with three on board plus the gearand luggage. But most Mice (maybe not the Sport) will handle ample camping gear and two on board and full fuel. I found out for the longer stays (a week or so) a tent big enough to stand up in would be nice (OK, it won't have to be too much bigger). Also an adequate fly over the entry way to keep water out of the entry would be a big bonus when the weather turns nasty. I had to improvise. I'm looking for one with a porch big enough for my two camp chairs to fit comfortably. As far as fishing gear, I usually pack my fly rod and ultralight spinning gear.
 
AJCustom said:
Payson...........
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Payson is a neat place to fly in, but the East Verde River is about 15 miles from the airport. That's a long hike for fishing. I'm not sure about camping at the airport, there is plenty of ramp space, but I'm not too sure about some necessary facilities. I don't think they'd be pleased to stumble upon a latrine.
 
Payson has a comp ground on the airport, repleat with potties and some improvement like fire pits and leveled tent areas.

It's on the west end of the airport by the local tie downs.
 
AJCustom said:
Payson has a comp ground on the airport, repleat with potties and some improvement like fire pits and leveled tent areas.

It's on the west end of the airport by the local tie downs.
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Been there several times and never notice a camp ground. I will check it out. Still a long hike to fish.
 
Another neat opportunity; the Arizona Pilots Assoc opens up the Grapevine strip at Roosevelt once a month, it's right there on the water.
 
Try Gaston's right on the White River for trout fishing.
3000' grass strip and you can camp in a cabin and leave the tent home.
 
Sounds like Donald, Paul and me for a Mid-Atlantic backpacking trip. Did I hear someone say Georgia AT?
 
vanhook said:
Try Gaston's right on the White River for trout fishing.
3000' grass strip and you can camp in a cabin and leave the tent home.
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Not quite within the Sierra's range. Bet it would make for a nice fly-in camp out fishing trip, I'd probably leave the tent at home.
 
I'm with you Bob, Last month I went to a Cubscout camp out with my son at the Boy Scout Camp in the middle of Balboa Park, SanDiego. Loaded up the rolling duffel bag with all the camp gear, tent, electric pump and air mattress, Flew down to Montgomery Field, used Uber to get to the campout. We showed up to the campout in a town car!
 
I have very little AT time and very little M to S. I find the shortest route to get to the stream I want, it might take me on as many as 4 different trails.
 
Lots of different ways to enjoy the outdoors. I have a group of friends that share "Flyking" rides. Example would be fly to a place where we can arrange a shuttle ride to go hiking. We have done trips to Rutland VT and walk to Hanover NH. Fly to Winchester VA and walk to Harpers Ferry WV and similar trips. The plane makes the trip home after a week backpacking a lot nicer. And we usually smell too bad to try public transportation.
 
I thought of something that has some of they best fly fishing in North America, Navajo State Park outside of Farmington NM. It's a nice walk down the hill from the airport to the San Juan river below Navajo dam.
 
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