There are two things virtually every pilot I’ve ever spoken has indicated he would love to do: Live on a residential airpark with his airplane in a connecting hangar, and climb into his aircraft and explore the backcountry strips that dot our country, particularly in the West.

Well, Capt. Harry B. Hardin doesn’t live on a residential airpark, but he did climb into his 1956 Cessna 180 and head out for the experience of a lifetime. The result of that three month-trip is his new book, “West by 180.”

An airline pilot by profession, Hardin didn’t take very many chances. He had lots of experience plus he talked with experts in mountain flying and particularly in the places he planned to visit. He knew his plane in and out and he didn’t push weather, himself or his plane.

The end result is a book describing flights into airstrips in valleys and on mountains, next to rivers in canyons where the runways disappeared until short final and in weather where altitude and high temperatures made him offload equipment to make sure he could get off the ground safely.

... read the rest of Backcountry strips featured in new book (182 words)