New Mexico Backcountry Airstrips

New Mexico Backcountry
Airstrips

Presentation to Cactus Antique Flyin
by NM Pilots Association

March 3, 2012

New Mexico Pilot Association Backcountry Activities:

1. NMPA website established.

2. Establish annual flyins at Negrito (this year 10/5
thru 10/7).

3. Negrito workparty (this year is 6/1 thru 6/3).

4. Liability legislation enacted 2011.

5. Talks about reopening strips (El Vado, Rainy Mesa
and Sacaton).

6. Will host first backcountry training course this
summer.

Web Resources:

1. New Mexico Pilot’s Website: NMpilots.org
2. Arizona Pilot Association’s Website: Azpilots.org
3. Utah Pilot Association: Utahbackcountrypilots.org
4. Colorado Pilot Association: Coloradopilots.org
5. Idaho Aviation Association: Idahoaviation.com
5. Website of Backcountry Strips National: Shortfield.com
6. Recreational Aviation Foundation: TheRaf.org
7. Backcountry Information Forum: Backcountrypilot.org
8. Galen Hanselman’s Website: Flyidaho.com
9. Greg Miller’s Website: Bentpropproductions.com

Backcountry Flying Videos:

1. Out There Flying – Utah’s Red Rock Country by Jim Clark
(available at Flyidaho.com)

2. All of Greg Millers Videos: Big Rocks & Long Props series which
show Greg doing amazing flying all over the US (available at
Bentpropproductions.com )

3. Todd Peterson Video of backcountry flying in both Utah and
Idaho, well done videos with good aerial and ground shots
(available at MediaWithMeaning.com )

4. Pete White Video of flying Idaho, shows some strips that are
useable for almost any aircraft and also shows some of the
recreational opportunities close by (available at Flyidaho.com )

Books & Training Resources:

1. Galen Hanselman’s Series of Backcountry Flying resources, including
books on Idaho, Utah, Montana and Mexico Baja (available at
Flyidaho.com )

2. Sparky Imeson is one of the best resources on backcountry flying and is
highly recommended. Taildragger Tactics and Mountain Flying are my
favorites.

3. F. E. Potts “Guide to Bush Flying” is an excellent read and good
information (available at Fepco.com ).

3. Lori MacNichol’s McCall Mountain Canyon Flying Seminars held in
Idaho and Utah. Really positive feedback on their work (available at
MountainCanyonFlying.com )

4. New Mexico training in June, 2012 at T or C (KTCS).
5. NM CFIs: George Slad (505)401-2391 / Cliff Chetwin (720)320-6264 /

Grant Besley (575)770-5961

Five Backcountry / Recreational Strips:

All airports have camping, all airports are in the airport facility
directory, all are accessible by a wide range of aircraft and all
have excellent recreational opportunities

1. Negrito (0NM7)
2. Beaverhead (13NM)
3. Me Own (1NM0)
4. Timberon (52NM)
5. Navajo Dam (1V0)



NEGRITO (0NM7)

Info: East of Glenwood NM, near NM/ AZ border / 8,100
feet in elevation
Runway 35 / 17 – 7,000 feet long
Runway 21/3 – 4,000 feet long

Recreation Opportunities: Popular hunting destination,
Elk, Turkey and Deer. Close to Snow Lake, headwaters
for the Middle Fork of the Gila – good fishing. Pond off
the north end of the Runway is stocked early in year.
Great camping!!

Aerial View of Negrito

Me Own(1NM0)

Info: Forest Service Strip, 7,554 feet Elevation
near Gila Wilderness Area Runway 14/32
3,700 feet long

Recreation: Elk, deer and turkey hunting nearby.
Black Canyon Drainage 2 miles away, excellent
fishing, water available at Fire Camp in the
summer on south side of runway, mountain
biking possibilities

Me Own from the Northwest

32

14

Beaverhead (13NM)

Info: 7,378 feet in elevation, located on Forest
Service land, runway 30/12 is 3,840 feet long,
probably the roughest of the strips, still had
Cherokees and 172s land there

Recreation: Elk, deer and turkey hunting nearby,
excellent spot for mountain biking, camping
allowed

Beaverhead –
Looking Southeast - 12

Navajo Dam (1V0)

Info: Located about 3 miles west of the Dam, just
above San Juan River, 6,475 feet elevation,
runway 6/24 4,995 feet long, asphalted

Recreation: Located just above the San Juan
River, world class trout fishing year round,
within 3 miles of Navajo Lake, more than
15,000 surface acres on the lake



Timberon – 52NM

Info: Located in SE NM, no lights, runway
13/31 is paved, 6,940 elevation, runway
slopes to SE, suggest landing on 31 and
takeoff on 13

Recreation: Timberon is located in the
Sacramento Mountains in SE NM, hunting,
fishing and camping on the field are
available, world class resorts nearby



• Cathy Myers:
• 1. From Las Cruces, fly a Cherokee
• 2. Flying experience
• 3. Involvement with NMPA led to my first

backcountry experience
• 4. Concerns before going to Negrito
• 5. Planning and preparation
• 6. The experience was great!!

Cathy Myers-

• Skip Egdorf:

1. From Los Alamos, NM – I fly a 1946 Taylorcraft.

2. First experience came with an experienced backcountry pilot.

3. We stayed at Gateway Resort and had hot showers to come back to
at night!!

4. Took several hours before flight to discuss the strips, characteristics
and important info.

5. After each strip, we took time to debrief and discuss.

6. We flew to progressively more difficult strips that allowed me to get
more experience.

7. I had a great time and it has opened my mind to a world I hadn’t
given much thought to before.

S

Skip Egdorf at
Happy Canyon

S

Delores Point

S

Delores Point

Mineral Canyon

NMPA will host a Training Seminar held by Grant
Besley:

1. JUNE 15, 16, 17, 2012

2. Truth or Consequences, NM

3. Cost $200 Ground School and manual, plus $50/hr.
flight instruction (about 3 hrs.)

4. Food and lodging not included but a package deal
will be available. Transportation to and from lodge
will be provided.

5. Sign up at www.nmpilots.org

Small Class Sizes

Expert Training and
Flights to Backcountry Strips

NMRAC – Upcoming Events

1. Negrito Workparty – (6/1/ thru
6/3/2012) – need Bobcat Loaders!!

2. Backcountry Training – TorC 6/15/2012
3. Negrito Flyin (1st weekend in Oct 10/5

thru 10/6/2012)
4. Watch Website for Utah training