In March of 2008, my father, my good friend that owns a beautiful turbo-normalized G36 Beechcraft Bonanza, Ms. Aerobat and I took a flight to Marble Canyon, AZ. Just south of the Glen Cayon Dam that forms Lake Powell, Marble Canyon is the first is home to Lee’s Ferry, a point at which early explorers and travelers had to cross the Colorado river before it blasted down the landscape to continue gouging out the ominous Grand Canyon.
The sun was still stretching its arms as is came over the horizon while we drove to the Scottsdale Airport. Awaiting us was a state of the art hangar and inside sat a G36 Bonanza. The air was stagnant and the temperature was at the point where cold or hot is indecipherable. Loaded up, we started the long taxi to the ramp, prepping for take off as we went. Lifting into the air, the sun reminded us of its presence of to the east as it came over the mountains. We climbed quickly over Scottsdale, Carefree, and into the unforgiving mountains.
Halfway there, we found ourselves on the east side of Flagstaff’s own Humphreys Peak. Flying under the cloud cover, the rays of light bit through as if they were trying to track our plane from above.
Snow on the ground, Sun blazing through the clouds
North of Flagstaff, the cloud fleeted away and the sun poured down on the breathtaking canvas that lay ahead. As we drew closer to the airport, the rock took on amazing shades of red, tan and brown. The airport was at 3500 feet but the terrain around was close to 7,000 feet. This meant a considerable “drop like a rock” descent and I was more than happy to oblige.
On final into Marble Canyon.
You you can tell from the picture below, the airport left much to be desired. A single runway 3500 feet long and only 35 feet wide…remember…most commercial runways are 150 feet wide. We felt like we will landing on a sidewalk to say the least. With the Bonanza owner in the left seat, we touched down on what was once asphalt and had to actually make a slight right hand turn while still cooking along at about 50 knots. Something most pilot will never encounter.
The Marble Canyon airport, teeming with infrastructure and traffic...
Once on the ground, we headed over to the Marble Canyon lodge for breakfast. This was a common resting point for adventurers who came to Lee’s Ferry for fishing or rafting trips. The breakfast was in perfect fly-in style with a wonderful Arizona influence. With eggs and Navajo fry bread in our stomachs, we starts walking toward the canyon.
The Lodge and the infamous stretch of road...
I have deemed this road infamous for the following reason:
Walking toward the canyon, the four of us were graced with the presence of fame. A very old gentleman, complete with long white hair, an even longer white beard, a red headband, soiled shirt and short shorts and shoes that forgot they ever held the color name “white”, jogged slowly by us. My father grabbed Ms. Aerobat and said, “Look, that is this man who the Forrest Gump movie was based on. He lives around here still runs 30 miles a day.” Ms. Aerobat quickly fumbled for her camera and she watched in awe as history ran by her. Soon, my father broke out in laughter and Ms. Aerobat suddenly realized she had fallen for the first of many of my dads cons.
We finally made it to the canyon surveyed the landscape.
Marble Canyon looking north toward Lee's Ferry
The Aerobats in an authentically contrived wigwam.
It was time to head back to the Valley. In this next picture, notice the severe terrain different from the left to the right of the picture, this gave the airport an incredible backdrop.
Back to the Steel Horse
The Colorado rushing toward the Grand Canyon.
As if we had not witnessed enough beauty in one day, on the way back, Mt. Humphreys in Flagstaff was shrouded with cloud cover but the sun was shining straight through onto the Snow Bowl ski area.
Magnificent
On the way home, I was able to sit left seat and pilot that bird all the way to land in Scottsdale, putting a cap on an amazing flight and an amazing day. I highly recommend a trip to Marble Canyon. The scenery is out of this world and with a field elevation of only 3500 feet, it is safe for most GA airplanes that can land and take off in 3500 feet of runway.
- Never let the key chain hang straight down
— The Aerobat
