Under the Stars in Moab

By: Neil Amonson

By KAVU

September 30^th, 2025

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of accompanying Bertrand, a French pilot, on a flying adventure I won’t soon forget. Bertrand has been sharpening his skills in the French Alps for years and knows his way around an airplane. But one dream had always lingered for him: to experience the wide-open skies and rugged backcountry flying of the American West.

After a couple days shaking off the jet lag and getting comfortable with the airplane, we pointed the nose south and entered some of the most breathtaking terrain in the lower 48.

We touched down among the red rock cliffs at a quiet, impossibly beautiful backcountry strip and set up camp. This was my first time trying out a new camping setup from Snow Peak—a brand I first came across years ago in Japan at Camp KAVU. Their gear impressed me with its clean, functional, and distinctly Japanese simplicity, and I’ve been eager to bring that same style into my airplane camping.

Dinner that night was a recipe I borrowed from chef, Adam Glick’s cookbook Live Free, Eat Well: camp ramen. It’s a clever upgrade from the classic instant version— bone broth, soft-boiled eggs, fresh green onions, and your choice of meat. Simple, hearty, and absolutely delicious after a long day in the air.

Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you need to be uncomfortable. For a touch of class in the backcountry, we’ve added camp cots to the gear list. Helinox makes a lightweight, compact cot that, paired with a standard sleeping pad, makes for a surprisingly luxurious night’s sleep in a tent.

The next morning we packed up and explored a handful of nearby airstrips, even meeting a few locals along the way. One curious little guy gave me the perfect excuse to pull out the telephoto lens.

The diversity of scenery in southern Utah is stunning—even for someone who has seen it before.

By late morning, we flew back into Moab to spend the heat of the day touristing around town. The route took us along the winding Green River, its twists and turns carving through the desert. On smooth mornings like this, flying low and following a river’s meander is one of the purest joys of aviation.

In the late afternoon, we flew back out to the strip where we’d be spending the night. Dropping off the heavy gear gave us the freedom to explore more nimbly without the extra weight in the airplane.

We returned just before sunset. Out here, where firewood is scarce, we sometimes have to get creative—so one of our last stops was at an airstrip surrounded by old trees. We gathered enough wood to fly back with us, just in time for dinner by the fire.

As the sun sank behind the cliffs, we fried up bacon, boiled water, and whipped together some smoky, creamy, bacon mac and cheese. Sunset in the backcountry has a magic all its own, and that night was no exception.

The following morning, after a light breakfast, we pointed the airplane east into Colorado for the final leg of our journey. With clear skies and smooth air, we managed to check every major box of a perfect backcountry trip.

Bertrand was a fantastic travel companion. We shared easy conversation, great food, and the kind of moments you can only get while camping under the wing of an airplane. It’s always refreshing to see familiar places through someone else’s eyes, and Bertrand’s enthusiasm reminded me just how special this region is. He adapted quickly to the backcountry style of flying and left already talking about a return trip. I hope he does—though matching the magic of this adventure will be no easy task. That’s a challenge I’d be more than happy to take on.