Los Angeles to Chico

snip
This time of year, the Columbia runway 29 in no way approximates "soft."
It
might be a little bit rougher than pavement but it is baked hard as a
rock.
The "turf" is actually more of a closely-cropped straw.

If you land on runway 29, you can just taxi off at the campground. It's
the
expeditious way to arrive and a fun way to announce your arrival to the
other campers.

!RIU 07/031 O22 11/29 CLSD WEF 0307141300

11/29 at Columbia is closed for a major overhaul (new turf, sprinklers, and
more that I don't really know). Summer winds almost always favor 29, but
most planes in the pattern use 17 (sometimes with a tailwind ;-). CDF air
tankers depart 17 and land 35 (keep a sharper eye/ear out for them than for
deer.)

The walk into the historic park is indeed short, and hot, but you can buy
ice cream when you get there. If you don't know what Poison Oak looks like,
don't touch any plants along the trail ;-) Have fun...josh