PIREPS - Airfields

Rainy Mesa Airstrip is temporarily CLOSED due to rehabilitation and is under construction.
The runway surface is very rough in places. Expected opening is 08/01/2020.

A NMPA micro work party is headed to Rainy Mesa July 10-11 to attempt to complete dragging the runway with a new drag. Will likely be camping overnight at Negrito. Have hand held radio, monitoring 122.9.

Rainy Mesa runway condition----As of this date, USFS has not approved the opening of Rainy Mesa.
Much progress was made on the runway this weekend. A tractor and box blade were used to smooth rough areas and to move some dirt into low spots. The new drag was used to further smooth the surface.
There are still a couple of rough stretches, closer to mid field. More work remains. The far NW portion of the runway is somewhat smoother and large(>4") rocks have been removed from at least the center 10'.
It is estimated that 1200' could be used by serious back country aircraft and pilots. The far SE portion of the runway is also somewhat smooth, but some larger rocks remain. It is estimated that 1500' could be used by robust aircraft with bush tires. There is also a fairly smooth stretch mid-field with a few smaller rocks. This portion might be 1000'- 1500'. So in general, it is recommended that we wait until USFS gives us approval to use it. At present, only tailwheel aircraft with large tires(>29") would be suitable to operate if we get approval. Having said all this, pending approval for use, we decided to install the wind sock.
We may have to take it back down if the District Ranger has objections. We are considering another work party in 2 weeks to remove rocks and further smooth the rough patches. I imagine it really looks good from the air, but this runway is not yet suitable for most airplanes, including mine(C182 STOL).

The final work party, #4, was completed at Rainy Mesa on August 8. Additional box blade smoothing, hand shovel and rake work, and hundreds of rocks thrown off the runway all made the runway usable now. Thanks to 7 volunteers who joined Chris and me!
Since the runway is new, it is still moderately rough in places. This should smooth out over time due to weathering and usage. Some "tuneup" work may be required in the near future.
This runway is suitable for well-experienced backcountry pilots with capable airplanes with larger tires.
No small wheel planes yet! A safety briefing is posted on the NMPA website under Backcountry/safety briefs. Airfield.Guide also has a listing for Rainy Mesa.
We have approval from the USFS to start using this airstrip. Be sure to review the safety briefing since this airstrip is somewhat tougher than the rest of the Gila airstrips.
The Location Identifier will be issued after the FAA airspace study is complete, later this fall.

November 2, 2020--overflew the airstrip at 500 feet. Looks clear and dry. No obvious evidence of vehicle tracks, but did see animal tracks, presumably elk. Runway end markings look OK, windsock OK.

Overflew the runway at 1000 ' agl on 1-15-21. No obvious issues noted. Windsock and runway end markings OK.

No snow in the area on this day.

2-27-21 Runway dry and top 1 inch soft. Runway has different soil composition in places, and may look wet due to dark color. A little tricky to tell here. Windsock OK. Runway has wintered better than expected.

Packed down with truck tires NW 1000 feet. Repainted runway threshold marker rocks. Cleared some more trees close to the runway on the NE side. Runway still rough in places. Recommend only large wheel tricycle gear or tailwheel aircraft at this time. Only experienced backcountry pilots. Some snow forecast for this week.

3-28-21 Runway was clear and dry. Windsock good. 8 aircraft landed for a micro work party.

Runway is somewhat smoother, but still not well suited for small wheeled aircraft or novice backcountry pilots.

5-22-21 Runway was dry and firm. Windsock OK. Runway still has bumps and dips so should be used by only experienced backcountry pilots with capable aircraft.

7-21-21 Runway was dry and firm, but monsoon rains have been prevalent in the area. Runway surface has held up pretty well, but is still moderately rough in places. The runway is green with wild onions sprouting. Windsock is good.

Condition as of 9-3-21, some rancher placed mineral blocks right in the middle of the runway about mid-field. As a consequence, the cows have made a wet, muddy wallow that is not safe to operate across. The blocks were removed and placed several hundred feet SW of the runway. There were cow tracks along the SE half of the runway. The condition of the NW half of the runway is unknown, but looked OK from a distance. At this time, it is not recommended to use this airstrip. If a landing is attempted, it should only be a tailwheel airplane with large Alaska Bushwheels. There may be 2000' plus on either side of the cattle wallow. Extreme caution should be used. The windsock is good. Also, there was a camper trailer parked at the approach end of runway 30, right on the centerline. A note was left to "encourage" the owner to move it 100' to the side.

The Forest Service was notified and is taking action on both issues.

Rainy Mesa is CLOSED for improvements until further notice, hopefully not more than a few weeks. The forest service is going to repair the damage caused by the rancher, and lay down some fill and stabilizing gravel.

10-2-21 No apparent action yet from FS except the installation of a sign prohibiting motor vehicles and camping on the runway. Mowed the runway and dragged the cattle wallow. Then I packed down the runway with my truck. The runway is actually getting better with time and weathering. The FS has no objection if we consider it open again until they can spread some dirt and gravel later this fall.

11-2-21 Drove up and down on the runway to check on conditions. There were several cows milling around, but no sign of mineral blocks, thankfully. I guess the rancher was finally convinced that was a bad idea. Hopefully she will be a good neighbor going forward. The windsock is good. The runway is good enough for a few pilot/airplane combinations, if you don't mind some cow chips of various cure. If you are lucky enough to have a bike in your bird, the new South Fork Campground is nearly finished, just 3 miles to the southeast. It should be open by the end of 2021.

12-16-21 I drove the runway at Rainy Mesa. I didn't see any cows, just some old cow chips. Windsock is good.

I got my truck up to 60mph on the SE half with good control. No snow on this day.

Checked on airfield 2-22-22. Runway was stable, which means it isn't any better or worse, and is moderately rough in places. It was firm and dry, but more snow may be coming. Windsock was good.

5-27-22 Flew over Rainy Mesa at 9500 msl. Runway looked about the same. Windsock looked OK. Still not suitable for many pilot/aircraft combinations. Waiting for USFS to deliver gravel when fire season ends.

As of 8-28-22... Runway 12/30 has 2-3 foot grass and wildflowers. I was able to mow the eastern 2000-2500 feet approximately, but had to stop due to an approaching storm. The first 1500 feet approximately of runway 30 is mowed about 35 feet wide, but the remainder is mowed to only 20 feet approximately due to some standing water and soft soil. A drying trend is forecast this week.

The centerline seemed to be fairly good but the edges were soft. The windsock is good. There is a mowed area for about 3 planes right across from the windsock. Standard wheel airplanes may want to get a report from a big wheel plane.

On 10/19/22 I made a trip to the Gila Forest. South Fork Negrito Creek was still flowing mightily, as were other smaller creeks.

Upon arrival at Rainy Mesa Airstrip, I noticed that some A-hole(s) made some really deep ruts between the approach end of runway 30 and the windsock. This was in spite of a very prominent sign. I was able to finish mowing the entire length and most of the width, approximately 30 feet. The runway was soft in places but is starting to dry out. Another week of dry WX should have it pretty landable. The windsock is faded but working. There were cattle on and near the runway. A low pass is advisable to look for cattle and ruts.

Per the Reserve RD Recreation Manager, some idiot made really deep ruts on the runway. It sounds like it will require repair when it dries out enough. Also, there are lots of cow patties. A plan is being developed to make bigger signage and possibly to fence off the runway.

Per Rick Guffey, Reserve District Recreation Lead, the "widow maker" tree at Rainy Mesa has been removed.

There are likely still deep ruts as previously reported, so I will make a trip down there soon to evaluate and repair.

As of 5/9/23, the reported ruts were not as bad as I had feared. There are some very deep ruts near the approach end of runway 30, but once at the windsock and to the west, they are not bad. There is a pronounced bump about 2000 feet from the approach end of runway 12, but the remainder of the runway to the windsock is very landable. I was able to get my truck to 55 mph and maintain control. There were no cows observed and no fresh patties, only old ones. The windsock is faded and torn, but is working. It will be changed by the end of July. I did confirm that the large ponderosa tree near the western end has been cut down.

7/15/23 Replaced the windsock. The runway is moderately rough in places with short grass overall, but scattered weeds 18-24" tall. There was a new lightning caused fire about a mile west of the airstrip and Gila Hotshot crews were on it.

As of 08/27/23

There is a large excavator at the airstrip that is pulling out trees by the roots. It is not on the runway, but there is one juniper tree that is laying down only 8 feet north of the runway. Use caution. The runway is covered in short turf-like grass and has a few scattered weeds 18" high. It was firm and dry, but still a little rough in places. Recommend large tire airplanes only until the FS allows it to be dragged again. Windsock is good. I will be calling the District Ranger to find out the story on the excavator and complain about the downed juniper tree.

As of 11-28-23

Stopped by the runway to look for any damage. I did not drive the runway, but it looks good from what I could see. The windsock is good. Many (all) the cedar/juniper trees on the sides of the runway were pulled out by the roots and put in slash piles by a big excavator under contract with USFS. I was told it was to remove invasive species. The ponderosa trees remain. Since the trees were removed, the windsock will remain on the north side of the runway.

The grass is short. Windsock is good. I started to run a drag along the edges of the SE 1500 feet of the runway. It may have been still soft from melted snow further NW.

On a flyover on 3-28-24, the runway looked pretty dark which means soft and muddy. I think a significant snowfall had just melted.

As of 5-5-24

Stopped by to inspect the runway. Windsock is good. After 4 years since rehabilitation, natural weathering is doing some good for the runway. I decided to not drag it for now, until we can have a small work party to toss the rocks that will be stirred up. I just made several passes up and down with my truck. I tossed a 6X6 X 18" chunk of wood from the runway, a small cedar branch, and two 2X4 chunks of wood. I cut off one tiny cedar and dug out one small prickly pear from the runway. The best part of the runway in my opinion is the center 1/3, but the eastern 1/3 is pretty good also.

As of 8/15/24

Mowed entire length and most of the width, about 30 feet. Also mowed the parking area across from the windsock. Staying within the mowed area should keep you out of the larger rocks. Since the USFS pulled out the juniper trees and burned the slash piles, it has a more open appearance. Also, the minimum distance between opposing trees has increased to about 80 feet, and that is just a couple of spots. Watch for loose dirt in 3 places, and remember those will be muddy longer after a rain.

Most of the runway is smoother now after natural weathering, etc. It may be suitable for most tailwheel airplanes and some nosewheel airplanes. Windsock is good.