It's been a busy summer so we haven't gotten out much yet and that's going to change. Rose and I have 2 weeks off beginning this Friday (the 13th). So far we plan to overnight at Mackay Bar Friday and then spend Saturday with the UBCP bunch at Smiley Creek and then whatever we feel like from there. Maybe Chamberlain and then Shaffer Meadows/Ryan Field in Montana and eventually meet up with friends at Cavanaugh Bay.

We might also make a hot spring tour out of a few days. Something like Warm Springs, Pistol Creek, Sunflower, Lower Loon, and maybe a few other spots.

If anyone wants to try and meet up somewhere let me know.

Mike

I'm finally getting around to posting photos from this trip. We really had a lot of fun with 2 full weeks off. We spend at least one week a year doing this; and that is good, but having 2 weeks was just way better, gaves us time to go a lot more places, and was much more leisurely.

Part 1: More to follow...

Mackay Bar to meet up with friends rafting the river









En Route - Smiley Creek to attend the Utah Backcountry Pilots Fly In


UBCP Welcoming Committee - Smiley Creek







Headed to Sulphur Creek







Tom's Maule


Warm Springs





Root Ranch











Lower Loon








Dixie Town






Shearer

Awesome Mike!

Very nice pics.

Here are the rest of the photos, at least the ones uploaded...

Shafer Meadows, MT





Glacier National Park, MT





Ryan Field, MT





Bird Museum, Sandpoint, ID - This is a must visit if you are in the area; I've left out a lot on purpose so as not to spoil it.









Priest Lake



Cavanaugh Bay, ID - Amazing place





Sullivan Lake, WA





Magee





Elk City

AWESOME report Mike, talk about inspirational!

Guess you must have the long range tanks installed, that's quite a lot of country you've covered there! (At least by little ol' NZ standards)

I hope to do the same kind of thing next year!

Thanks Jonathan. Yes, we plan to do it again next year; it was by far the best vacation we have ever taken. I do hope it provides inspiration to others to enjoy what we are so privileged to be able to do as aviators.

At the rate you're going, you'll have your Bearhawk flying before you know it!

Yes, it does have long range tanks and they are useful but do reduce the roll rate. We left on this trip at full takeoff gross weight - had 300lbs of gear, food, and beverage for the two of us to be completely self contained for 17 days. No real schedule or plans, we just went where ever we wanted to when ever we felt like it. We really didn't need to take all the stuff we did, as you can see we stopped at enough lodges to eat quite well without having to cook very often.

Those were great pix, I'm sure an experience that wont be forgotten.

EPIC TRIP!!!!!!

were those two fish you're carrying at Smiley salmon?????? the salmon river is about 6 feet wide at Smiley creek...

Awesome!!!!

Very nice Mike. We didn't get up there as much as we would have liked this year...hopefully next!

Very nice Mike! Been to Cavanaugh Bay twice and camped out at Magee two nights back in '07. Also visited the Bird museum and met Mr. Bird in the workshop where his flyers are rebuilt.
Ernie

Awesome Mikey.... Amazing photos...

Looks like an awesome trip! Thanks for posting those pictures!

Thanks for sharing your adventure Mike! Looks like an epic trip!

Flynengr

Thanks for all the great comments everyone. I can only hope you all continue to have great adventures, too.

Postby iceman » Fri Nov 23, 2012 12:09 am
were those two fish you're carrying at Smiley salmon?????? the salmon river is about 6 feet wide at Smiley creek...

Ice, those fish were caught by the native Americans just below the Stanley hatchery. Not quite Smiley Creek but not all that far down stream, either. Several of us (osoloco's family invited us along) took the courtesy van to Stanley and did the tour along the way. It was certainly a highlight of the trip and a tour I would highly recommend when in the area. Just one more great experience to add to the list.

hicountry » Fri Nov 23, 2012 11:42 am
Very nice Mike! Been to Cavanaugh Bay twice and camped out at Magee two nights back in '07. Also visited the Bird museum and met Mr. Bird in the workshop where his flyers are rebuilt.
Ernie

Ernie, it would have been a real privilege to meet Mr. Bird; he is certainly an amazing man who has given a great deal to this civilization. That is really neat you got to meet him, I wish we had been so lucky. Although, he was there that day, we got there late and just missed him. We spent a lot of time at Cavanaugh Bay. It is just such an easy place to relax and to just enjoy being. Did you get to walk to the Ranger stations and cabins at Magee? We were only there one night and by the time we walked past the cabins, it was getting pretty late. I see the Forest Service rents one of them out.

Another great place is Sullivan Lake. While we were there, I kept thinking that it would be a really neat place for a fly in. It doesn't appear to get all that busy and there is a lot of room there and good camping facilitys plus the setting is really scenic and the lake is great for swimming.

Great trip report and images. One day......

good about the salmon....I was gonna PM you but since Native Americans caught them no need.. you gotta watch yourself on this site...

Oso Loco wrote:Great trip report and images. One day......

What about next year???

One of these trips, Im going to have to trade tents and sleeping bags for cabins...