Idaho Backcountry Strips

[cubdrvr]

My buddy and I have tentative plans to hit some of the backcountry strips in ID the second week in Sept if the fire situation makes it doable. First night and next morning we'll spend in McCall getting info and fishing lures, etc.
I've read Fly Idaho a couple times and visited with some of the knowledgeable pilots in that area. Plans also include camping at not-too-remote strips and doing day fly-outs to the more remote ones (that will keep us light). Also, since the TX Cavalcade, I have been practicing my landing techniques and looking forward to a fun trip.

I would appreciate advice from those of you who know the area or any general information that would be useful. Any strips, lodges, villages, any of the hot springs, things to see, things to do, good places to eat, drink,etc that I wouldn't want to miss while I am there?
Thanks.................Dave

[SJ]

Dave, how does one become your "buddy"?

Sounds like fun, this is something I really would like to do someday, please take pictures and report back...

sj

[Jerry Gaston]

Cubdrvr
Just spent several weekend in that area and find it a real treat to fish and camp without lots of people. When we went last time there were almost a doz fires in the area. The only problem is the smoke. No body flying the fires and no people on the ground, I think I saw one chopper covering the area and he was was at a high allitude.
I like fish lake for camping and fishing. It higher than most of the strips so it will be cooler than most. Wilson Bar is a nice place to stay and fish but the Lodge just down stream has a busy flyin clientele so you will hear and see lots of charters.
Sheare is a great place for fishing with Cutthroats abundant is the stream. Just walk up stream about 1/4 mile to fish in a great pool full of fish.
Atlanta is a neat little town with two bars and some hot pools. There is a lady that will come get you at the airport if you buzz town. Be careful not to land at the lodge strip they frown on itinerant pilots. Also be careful while in the pool at night because according to the lady that picks you up "the town is half cowboys and half queers".
Hamilton MT is the best jumping off place for most of the remote stripps and the fuel is relatively cheap. Have a good time and call if you need more info.

[don d]

be sure to check for airspace restrictions in Idaho back country. Some areas are closed to airtraffic because of fires... Hopefully by mid september the fire situation will improve. Things are cooling down and it has improved from a few weeks ago.

Fishing should be good.

[85Mike]

I had planned to be at Fish Lake for the 3 day Labor Day week-end but found not only TFR's but also area's closed to any entry because of extreme fire danger. Fish Lake is outside of the TFR but closed to ANY entry including hiking. The BLM has a website devoted to fire and airspace restrictions as does the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests. Fish Lake and Shearer are my favorites as there are seldom any other people. We made do with Red's Horse Ranch and it was great, NO PEOPLE!! Flew out to Memaloose and Lord Flat which really have great viewpoints. Saw Bighorns in the Snake canyon from Memaloose. 9:30 AM it was 66 degrees at 6720' elevation.
Hope the weather changes and you get to go to Fish Lake. The times I've been there, there are always moose to watch in the lake.
85 Mike

[BES]

The biscuits and gravy at Sulphur Creek is pretty good. The camping at Johnson Bar is deluxe - dunny and showers, etc. Even has a bathtub filled by a hot spring up on the mountain side.

Bent

[FlipFlop]

The camping at Johnson Bar is deluxe - dunny and showers, etc. Even has a bathtub filled by a hot spring up on the mountain side.Bent

I prefer Big Creek, it's Johnson Creek without the Bonanzas and Mooneys...

[BES]

Yeah, I know. In fact, there was a Bonanza on the strip when I was there, but that didn't bother me, I didn't have to fly it!
I went there in a Beaver.

Bent

[FlipFlop]

I went there in a Beaver. Bent

Class act!...

[BES]

Regrettably, it isn't mine. Belongs to a friend of mine, who goes up there a couple of times a year. Maybe you've seen it? Silver with red stripes - N5CC.

Bent

[CubCouper]

I envy you Dave!

For a little cub-fun try Krassel -- just around the corner from Johnson Creek and at 1100' it is interesting.

You can walk to the restaurant in Dixie (Dixie Post Office strip, that is). I can't vouch for the food, but it was fun landing on Main Street.

My favorite strip (and I haven't visited many YET) is Wilson Bar. No facilities, just a couple fruit trees next to the remains of an old homestead.

Just plan on being done flying early in the day... noon-ish is a usually a good time to be cracking the fly box and the six pack... wish I could tag along

[cpthazard]

My idea of the perfect Idaho trip is fly over Johnson Creek and Big creek, continue on down to Vines, unload all the camping (survival) gear, pop a top on a cold can of Miller and find the fishing gear. Early in the morning before sunrise head out lightly loaded and make the rounds in the Big Creek drainage, first and best is Mile Hi, then drop into the river for a visit to Dewey Moore, farther up the country is Monumental Creek, follow it south and find the Simmons strip, a mile south of it is and I've landed there at the Duval Ranch strip a few times and lusted after the good life. I guarantee you won't run into any nose wheel airplanes in any of these strips and the mountain solitude is the best there is this side of heaven (ALASKA). But all of the strips in the Idaho Wilderness country are wonderful and we as pilots are lucky that our Idaho friends have taken such good care of the strips and the privlage to use them. db

[FlipFlop]

My idea of the perfect Idaho trip is fly over Johnson Creek and Big creek, continue on down to Vines, unload all the camping (survival) gear, pop a top on a cold can of Miller and find the fishing gear. Early in the morning before sunrise head out lightly loaded and make the rounds in the Big Creek drainage, first and best is Mile Hi, then drop into the river for a visit to Dewey Moore, farther up the country is Monumental Creek, follow it south and find the Simmons strip, a mile south of it is and I've landed there at the Duval Ranch strip a few times and lusted after the good life. I guarantee you won't run into any nose wheel airplanes in any of these strips and the mountain solitude is the best there is this side of heaven (ALASKA). But all of the strips in the Idaho Wilderness country are wonderful and we as pilots are lucky that our Idaho friends have taken such good care of the strips and the privlage to use them. db

My favorite "get-away from it all" camping spot is Soldier Bar, it doesn't get much better or beautiful...

[don d]

There is alot of pressure to close several of the wilderness area strips in Idaho to the public. When you visit these areas keep in mind that these airstrips are to be used for access to the wilderness area. Flying around practicing your landings and take-offs or just checking things out is not the reason these little airports are available for use. If you want to camp at a location go there and camp. If you want to fish, go there and fish. Same with hunting. I have been flying here in Idaho for close to 40 years and would like the opprotunity to enjoy these areas for a few more. Please don't just fly around beating up the air and making noise giving more ammunition to those wanting to close these areas to anything but official government access.

You need to be up on your canyon and mountain flying abilities. In several of the above mentioned strips there is little room for error and there are plenty of airplane parts scattered around to prove it. People have died having fun here and the future holds the same for others.

[FlipFlop]

There is alot of pressure to close several of the wilderness area strips in Idaho to the public. When you visit these areas keep in mind that these airstrips are to be used for access to the wilderness area. Flying around practicing your landings and take-offs or just checking things out is not the reason these little airports are available for use. If you want to camp at a location go there and camp. If you want to fish, go there and fish. Same with hunting. I have been flying here in Idaho for close to 40 years and would like the opprotunity to enjoy these areas for a few more. Please don't just fly around beating up the air and making noise giving more ammunition to those wanting to close these areas to anything but official government access.

You need to be up on your canyon and mountain flying abilities. In several of the above mentioned strips there is little room for error and there are plenty of airplane parts scattered around to prove it. People have died having fun here and the future holds the same for others.

Good advice Don...

I've sat on the ground up there listening to the drone of airplanes going back and forth sightseeing... People don't realize that sound travels for miles down the canyons...

Sometimes, the airplane limitations are overshadowed by the pilot limitations... I've overflown Mile Hi and Dewey Moore, they're both beyond my personal limitations... May bust my ego for saying that, but I haven't busted my airplane trying to land there...

[cubdrvr]

Thanks guys for the Idaho information.......I'm really looking forward to the trip tomorrow. I've made a notation of all the recommendations.

don d -------- thank you also for your somber advice. Although I disagree with you regarding utilization of these strips "just to check things out" I am glad you reminded me of that aspect. I have never visited Idaho and the purpose of my trip is to see what is there. I definitely respect your viewpoint as I have a similar one regarding the out-of-state hunters/fisherman that can make things difficult for "us locals". I have always been respectful of the environment and promise not to beat up too much of your air.

[don d]

cubdriver;

I never ment it in anyway that you would not be welcome by us "locals". I'm kinda proud of the fact that other people would want to come and enjoy our "backcountry". We all need try not impact these areas by our presence any more than necessary.

Although, there are some neat place to fly in Central Idaho, When I really want to play bush pilot, I go the the high desert areas of SW Idaho and Eastern Oregon. Wonderful places to dodge rocks and collect brush on your plane. Many places to land and explore where "no one has landed before". When people ask me where I can land. I say, "I can land most anywhere once." I'm sure you have similar areas in the Dakotas.

It is suppose to cool off and maybe a little rain this next week.. That will be good if you plan on visiting here in middle sept.

[85Mike]

As of today, Fish Lake is finally officially re-opened to public access. Must have rained there too!!

85 Mike

[flagold]

removed

[cubdrvr]

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions and advice on our recent Idaho trip. We had a blast !! Flying was great.........fishing was even better. It was an experience to view the rugged wilderness areas and to utilize some of the backcountry strips. The following is an email I received from the Montana Pilots Association regarding the airstrips that we visited.........seems the Forest Service ( I didn't meet anyone in ID that had any respect for that organization) wants to close them. Please read this and, if you feel the need, forward your comments.

16th September 2003
Subject: Frank Church FEIS, comments needed

The following is from our friends in Idaho. They need our help as it appears as though the Forest Service is trying to close some airstrips in the Frank Church Wilderness.

We have been eagerly awaiting the U.S. Forest Service?s Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS) for the Frank Church?River of No Return (FC-RONR) Management Plan. It was released on September 8, 2003 with comments due no later than October 27, 2003. Some of you may be aware that there has been an ongoing controversy regarding four backcountry airstrips within the boundaries of this wilderness area. Unfortunately the proposed Forest Service actions do not resolve the issues but only propagate them.



At issue are the Dewy Moore, Mile-Hi, Simmonds and Vines airstrips. Granted these are not the most used backcountry airstrips, but they do have use and do provide public access to the wilderness. The Forest Service proposal is to categorize the airstrips as ?emergency use only? and take law enforcement action against anyone that uses them for any purpose other than an emergency. Since this action prohibits ?regular use? it is my opinion that it closes the airstrips.



I hold this opinion because the law that created the FC-RONR Wilderness (Public Law 96-312) contains a provision stating ?That the Secretary shall not permanently close or render unserviceable any aircraft landing strip in regular use on national forest lands?without the express written concurrence of the agency of the State of Idaho charged with evaluating the safety of backcountry airstrips.? The Forest Service has asked for our approval to close the airstrips and we have denied their request. So, it appears that their tack is to reclassify them so they can not be used. I believe these airstrips have had and continue to have ?regular use? and the action of prohibiting such use by imposing an ?emergency use only? classification essentially closes the airstrip which is in violation of the statute. The evidence of use on these airstrips is the fact that they are still there, they have not overgrown nor have they reverted to their natural condition even though the Forest Service has admittedly made no improvements nor done any maintenance since they were acquired in the early 70?s and 80?s.



The next step to the FEIS process is for the Forest Service to consider written public comments and then issue their Record of Decision and Revised Management Plan. This will be the last opportunity to affect the decision on what will happen to these airstrips. It is our intention to provide the Forest Service with a written response to the Final EIS stating our opposition to their proposal and provide them with an acceptable alternative.



If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the FEIS you can contact the Salmon-Challis National Forest at 208-756-5131, or it is available online at www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/. Again, comments are due no later than October 27, 2003 and can be made by mailing them to Ken Wotring, FC-RONR Wilderness Coordinator, Salmon-Challis National Forest, 50 Highway 93 South, Salmon, Idaho 83467. Comments can also be sent by email at comments-intremtn-salmon-challis@fs.fed.us. You must state that your comments are for the FC-RONR Wilderness Management Plan FEIS.



In my opinion, this is an important juncture for how the Forest Service deals in the future with our backcountry airstrips on national forest land. We are not taking their proposal lightly and plan to make our point. For those of you that have an interest in preserving Idaho?s backcountry airstrips for use by the aviation public, I suggest you also provide your written comments. It is important that we are all heard on this issue.


From: Recreational Airstrip Committee of the Montana Pilots' Assoc.
www.montanapilots.org
To be added to or removed from this e-mail list
Contact: mpa@blackfoot.net

[cubscout]

Any recent updates on Idahoe backcountry airstrips?

Looks like I may be flying George out from Colorado Front Range to Yakima to pick up his 'Cub from major cashectomy ~late August '04 or so. Thinking to meander back through Idaho backcountry on the way back. Any current status?

I'm not looking at anything beyond Galen Hanselman's "25", mainly limited by power.

When I logged in, what should present itself but Dave Tunge's 'flat-top' at a suspicious place. Hmmm (Yeah Dave, Roger et. al. treated me well in Wayne, and the 0-300 running well again....)

Thanks. Curt

[don d]

THE FORESTS ARE NOT BURNING AS BAD HERE IN IDAHO THIS SUMMER. NO MAJOR FIRES BURNING RIGHT NOW. FOREST ARE DRY BUT SEEMS THAT THE GRASSES AND BRUSH ARE GREENER THIS SUMMER. FLY TO MCCALL, GET FUEL AND ASK ABOUT ANY UNUSUAL SITUATIONS IN THE BACK COUNTRY.