Washington Day Trip

The Washington Backcountry Day course is designed for pilots seeking hands-on experience navigating mountainous terrain while managing the associated risks of mountain winds, downdrafts, and weather-related challenges. This immersive day trip provides exposure to some of the most demanding backcountry airstrips, where factors such as high tide, surrounding terrain, and high winds necessitate precise decision-making and advanced piloting skills.

The journey begins with landing practice at Copalis State Airport (S16), the only public beach runway in the United States. This expansive sand landing area provides an excellent environment to refine soft-field takeoffs and landings, while also allowing us to progressively reduce the available landing distance—helping you sharpen your precision landing techniques in a safe and controlled manner.

Next, we transition to Mount Rainier for dedicated mountain flying training. This lesson covers essential skills such as safely navigating within canyons, selecting and maintaining escape routes, executing controlled mountain crossings, and handling emergency scenarios over high terrain. You will learn to recognize and manage the effects of terrain-induced winds, downdrafts, and turbulence, reinforcing your ability to make sound aeronautical decisions in challenging environments.

The course concludes at Tieton State Airport (4S6), a remote grass strip nestled between a mountain and a lake, offering a true backcountry experience. Here, we apply all previously learned skills in a dynamic setting, solidifying your confidence in off-airport operations, terrain awareness, and strategic approach planning.

By the end of this training, you will have gained invaluable experience in mountain navigation, backcountry approach techniques, and terrain-specific risk management. This course equips you with the skills and confidence needed to operate safely in Washington’s rugged backcountry, preparing you for future remote flying adventures.