Page 13 - Volume 15 Number 7

Given the name, one would think that Gunnison Regional would be the preferred airport for visiting BCGNP. That is not necessarily the case though. GUC’s wide and long runway (9,400 x 150-feet) helps to compensate for its nearly 7,700 foot elevation. While it is equipped with ILS and RNP approaches, surrounding high terrain makes those approaches less than optimal. For the ILS, minimums are essentially VFR due to the airport’s position, relatively deep in the Gunnison Valley, surrounded by terrain exceeding 13,000 feet. The RNP approaches offer true IFR weather capabilities, but few King Airs or King Air operators will be equipped and authorized to fly them. Nonetheless, the FBO (AvFlight Gunnison) offers all the necessary services, including rental cars. From GUC, you are close to the Curecanti National Recreation Area, which eventually does connect with BCGNP. To be certain, this route is stunningly beautiful to drive, but it is long (plan a minimum of 2.5 to three hours to reach BCGNP’s South Rim Visitor Center and two hours to the North Rim Ranger Station).
On the other hand, Montrose offers several advantages. MTJ is positioned in a broader and lower valley than GUC. It’s lower elevation (5,759 feet), two long runways (10,000 and 7,500 feet), and multiple approaches (ILS & GPS/ LPV) offer more operational options, especially when IFR conditions exist and low approach minimums are required. Atlantic Aviation offers robust FBO services and geographically MTJ is much closer to the heart of BCGNP. The most popular area for touring the park is along the south rim of the canyon, which is only 30 minutes driving from MTJ. Even the more remote north rim can be reached within 1.5 hours.
Once at the visitor center, I recommend walking the Oak Flat Trail. It is easy hiking and offers a great introduction to the canyon views. Along South Rim Road, a series of many roadside parking areas allow taking brief hikes out to the canyon’s rim for some truly breathtaking views. A word of caution though: Those viewpoints are often right at the edge of the canyon’s near-vertical walls, with minimum railing. If acrophobia (fear of heights) is a problem for you, these views will make you sweat! The average height of Black Canyon’s walls in this area is 2,000 feet and their sheer vertical nature, combined with the canyon’s narrow width make for vertigo-inducing visuals. Also on the south rim, East Portal Road provides access to the canyon’s bottom, along the Gunnison River which carved it. The drive is steep and curvy, but once at river level the park’s name becomes more meaningful. For, it is only down there that one can appreciate the narrow verticality of the gorge and the blackened appearance of the canyon walls and floor. In some areas, Black Canyon is so narrow and so deep that sunlight only reaches the bottom of the gorge for 35-40 minutes per day, when the sun is directly overhead. The rest of the daylight hours, one side of the canyon glows in the sun’s rays, while the other side appears almost inky black, deprived of light by its own shadow.
JULY 2021
In the next issue, we’ll cover Colorado’s other two national parks and the airports that serve them. Mesa Verde National Park (MVNP) in the Four Corners area and Great Sand Dunes National Park (GSDNP) in south central Colorado are vastly different from one another. We’ll explore their differences and what each has to offer the pilot who’s touring with family or making the most of layover time. Whatever your agenda or reason for visiting, Colorado and its public airports and protected lands will likely have you wishing to return as you take in the views during your departure. KA
Copyright 2021, Matthew McDaniel
First publication rights granted to The Village Press, for King Air Magazine
All other rights reserved by copyright holder
Matthew McDaniel is a Master & Gold Seal CFII, ATP, MEI, AGI, & IGI and Platinum CSIP. In 30 years of flying, he has logged over 19,500 hours total, over 5,600 hours of instruction-given, and over 2,500 hours in various King Airs and the BE-1900D. As owner of Progressive Aviation Services, LLC (www.progaviation.com), he has specialized in Technically Advanced Aircraft and Glass Cockpit instruction since 2001. Currently, he is also an Airbus A-320-Series captain for an international airline, holds
8 turbine aircraft type ratings, and has flown over 95 aircraft types. Matt is one of less than 15 instructors in the world to have earned the Master CFI designation for 9 consecutive two-year terms. He can be reached at: matt@progaviation.com or (414) 339-4990.
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