Rogersberg, a beautiful backcountry airstrip in SE Washington!

ROGERSBERG IS OPEN until November 15, 2009.

Backcountry folks attention:
CHECK NOTAMS!

Remember to check on those rapidly changing fire TFRs and NOTAM situations which may affect your destination airport! Things change in less than a day, so don't get surprised. Calling the ranger district (numbers in your FLY Idaho book or Airnav) is even a better way to get accurate advice on current fire and smoke conditions.

Responsible pilots please note:

According to our agreement with the BLM which led to the reopening of Rogersberg, the airstrip must be closed to facilitate/not interfere with eagle roosting between November 15 and March 1 of each year.

It is very important to live up to "our" side of that agreement, as the permit must be renewed annually. In other words, irresponsible use during the closure period directly risks renewal of the permit. This specifically includes maintenance, etc., as noted in "Responsible use of our new toy" at the bottom of this page.

All backcountry pilots who fly, fish, and recreate at Rogersberg are able to do so because a few convinced the BLM that all were responsible. A few can undo a lot of hard work, so please stay off Rogersberg during the closure period unless you have a real emergency or BLM and WSDOT-AD permission.

OLD PROBLEM!

Sometime shortly prior to Rogersberg's 2005 opening, parties unknown mowed the airstrip, including an area outside of the permit area. This was observed by the BLM and they are understandably upset. In plain English, this jeopardized our (all backcountry pilots) access to Rogersberg! Please note that the existence of the mowing plan and complying with it led to the 2001 fire being declared as "no fault found". If you care about Rogersberg, please encourage responsible complance with the State/BLM agreement.

NEW PROBLEM!

What part of NOtam don't you understand?

By agreement with the BLM as a condition of use, Rogersberg is closed between November 15 and March 1 each year. But some of our fellow pilots who "know better" have been using Rogersberg during the winter closure period.

This came to light when Jim Scott (WA State Airports Supervisor) met with the BLM to reopen the airstrip on March 1, 2007. They were greeted by fresh airplane tire tracks and reports from the nearby citizend that Rogersberg got "..used most weekends.."

The BLM was infuriated. Jim also, as this jeopardizes his efforts on our (pilots) behalf to relax use restriction on camping, etc. In plain English, this jeopardizes our (all backcountry pilots) access to Rogersberg!

Perhaps this isn't really a new problem, as we pilots are often our own worst enemies. Look at this how you will, but please help us protect this wonderful airstrip for use by all.

If you have constructive suggestions, please shareTom Jensen

If you're planning to visit Rogersberg, please read "Responsible use of our new toy" at the bottom of this page.

Rogersberg is a friendly little backcountry airstrip on BLM land in SE Washington, right on the Snake River. It was a private strip on the Tippet Ranch and has been in use by the public since about 1957. The BLM purchased the property about 1992, and closed the airstrip about 1996.

WASAR, WPA and the IAA (Idaho Aviation Assn) have worked with the BLM and state of Washington to reopen the strip. It WAS opened on May 16, 2001. When volunteers were mowing the strip on May 19, their lawnmower caught fire and spurted burning fuel onto grass and "duff" (thatch under the grass.) Something over 600ac. were allowed to burn in a controlled fashion, once the original fire was beat down.

But Rogersberg was closed again. Doom prevailed for a while.

The BLM did a Fire Rehabilitation plan and proposed reseeding with native grasses. Volunteers jumped on the opportunity to do good and on November 30 2001, provided an ag operator and volunteer muscle to apply 3000# of seed provided by the BLM to nearly 200ac. Pictures and the story of the seeding operation are here.

The pictures below are of the strip when it was first opened in May, 2001. Please read the safety information for pilots and fishermen.

This is a view looking west from the air towards the confluence of the Grande Ronde.
from the air looking west

Looking SE into the mouth of Hells Canyon.
from the air looking SE

On the ground Looking SE into the mouth of Hells Canyon.
se into Hells cyn.

From the SE end looking NW.
from the ground looking NW

A utility vehicle backtaxiing to the west.

Responsible use of our new toy:

The strip is in fine condition with relatively easy approaches, but it is a short mountain airstrip. (1500' long, 850'MSL). It gets hot sometimes, so check density altitude. Beware of winds coming out of Hells Canyon and the Grand Ronde, which could give the worst combination of head, tail, and crosswind, all at the same time. In other words, be qualified, current and careful! Coordinates, if you need them are N46d04.46m/W116d57.97m.

Traffic patterns must be to the north (over the river) because of Lime Hill, and it will be a bit close when turning if winds require downriver landing. (As usual with mountain airstrips, generally land upriver and depart downriver).

Please stay within the 1500' length as marked by the edge and end reflectors. This generally marks the right of way. Tiedowns and turnaround should be in the 50 x 50 area south of the strip at each end, again just inside the end markers. This generally describes the 1500 x 100 right of way. There is a safety over-run at each end, but the BLM would prefer that not be used unless necessary. Please try not to use the natural turnaround which is just SE of the SE-most end reflectors, as this is also outside of the right-of-way.

Landing long in the upriver direction (per usual mountain practice) is advisable, as the last 1350 feet are straight and offer a gentle, straight-in approach.

Enjoy! Be safe! Call Jim Scott 1-800-552-0666 or Tom Jensen at 1-800-WPA-FLYS if you have questions or suggestions for maintenance or safety improvements. If you take pictures, please share them with Tom Jensen at the email link below.

Be advised that ALL maintenance activity has to be done with the approval of WSDOT-Aviation. Only four airplanes are allowed at a time, due to limited parking in the permit area. No open fires are allowed, and no overnight camping is currently allowed. (Jim Scott is working with the BLM to lift that restriction.)

If you catch that big bass this spring at Rogersberg, please take a moment to email photos or stories of your Rogersberg use (or documentation of overnight camping by boaters; this will help us lift the camping restriction.)

PS: The BLM is very sensitive to "unapproved ground disturbances". Please keep this in mind as you use Rogersberg in the future, and be a good citizen, as our use will be reauthorized on an annual basis.

Please be on the lookout for vandalism and report any damage or witness accounts to the above numbers or Asotin Co. Sheriff.

Here are some other links to Rogersberg:

Updated 6-22-09 Questions & Suggestions to: c180tom(at)eskimo.com (Tom Jensen)

(in work)

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