The third annual Uranium Fly In happens this weekend, Oct. 2-4. Organized by Nucla’s Aimee Tooker, the event shares local history with pilots who have an affinity for the West End area. This year’s Fly In focuses on DEEEP, the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition Education Project, headquartered in Nucla.
Tooker told the Forum it was an easy weekend to plan. DEEEP’s Founder Carol Hunter had gotten the auto tour established, and it just seemed natural with the history that’s been unveiled through it.
Many locals are already familiar with DEEEP, but incoming pilots will learn the historic expedition was conducted in order to find a way to link Santa Fe, NM with the missions of California. The journey of the Franciscan friars spanned 159 days across 1,700 miles which included New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona and back to New Mexico.
Father Dominguez led the expedition, and Father Escalante kept the journal. On Aug. 5, 1776, they entered Colorado from New Mexico and traveled through what is now called the Western Slope, entering Utah on Sept. 12, 1776. Dominguez and Escalante didn’t make it to California, but reported on what they saw and experienced. Escalante’s journal writings are what DEEEP uses to keep their story alive. The maps from the Dominguez-Escalante Journal were later used by other explorers, including Lewis and Clark.
The West End area was indeed part of the legendary travels.
As such, on Friday, Oct. 2, mid-morning pilots will fly into Hopkin’s Field Airport. A light lunch will welcome them to the airport lounge with transportation escorting them to destinations. By 6 p.m., they’ll make their way to the Rimrocker Historical Society's museum and learn more about the history of the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition.
On Saturday, the group will travel DEEEP’s Auto Tour, with various tour guides joining, sharing knowledge and insight. From the Vestal House, the tour will take guests out to Coke Oven Ranch for a presentation and “rock gazing.” Tooker said Megan Caruso will talk a bit and share some of the geology out her way.
From there, the tour makes nine different stops, tracing the expedition’s route, and lunch will happen in Naturita Town Park. There is a stop at the West End Visitor Center, and the auto tour ends at Weimer Ranches, a historic place, where rancher Zene Weimer will give a talk. The day for the group of pilots ends with dinner at the Vestal House, and the Fly-In concludes on Sunday, when pilots will depart for home.
Tooker told the Forum locals are definitely invited to come watch the Friday landings, which happen from 9 a.m. noon, as well as take-offs, happening early Sunday morning. She said it’s something to see and that local children would appreciate the experience. Additionally, kids can likely get up close to the aircrafts and ask questions.
“These pilots love to see the kids interested — absolutely,” she said.
Tooker said the Fly In was booked before it was even advertised. The same group of returning pilots, plus three new couples, completed the guest list early. She said the aviation enthusiasts enjoy the camaraderie of visiting with each other, gathering and being fed, but also being in the West End, hearing the stories and local history.
Tooker said she’s grateful to Wild Gals of Naturita for catering and Sue Case for the breakfast at the Vestal House.
