I just got back from a 10 day trip to Idaho. We flew to Reds Horse Ranch the first night, stopping off at Chucker Flats for lunch. It was so hot that we decided to float the river with our Alpacka rafts to cool off before getting back in the airplane to head to Reds. Reds is one of my favorite places to go in Oregon, and since not that many people camp at Reds, we had it all to ourselves. We left Reds the next day and spent part of the day in Joseph visiting and having lunch at the R&R (good burgers, fries and shakes).

We left town around 4pm and headed for Moose Creek on the Selway River. The air was good and we arrived to clear blue skies. A couple of hours later, two friends with Cubs showed up (Rick and Doug). Our plan was to float the Selway from Shearer to Moose Creek the next morning. We have done this float for 4 years in a row now and this year we were all doing it in our smaller Alpacka rafts. They weigh 7 1/2 pounds with the paddle, which makes them perfect for airplane camping. Rick was still using his kick boat, which also works well but weighs in at 45 pounds. We all piled into Bushwacker and headed upriver 10 miles for our day float. Bushwacker stayed at Shearer and one of the Cubs returned me to the airplane that evening. The float was fun, as usual, but the water was lower this year so the rapids seemed a little less exciting than in previous years. This was the first year my wife, Lisa, was along so she was a little afraid at first because the raft is new to her. She soon relaxed into it and looked like a pro. Rick and Doug headed for home Sunday and we were alone again for the rest of the trip.

The next day I fished Moose Creek in the morning and caught a nice 16" trout which we ate for dinner. We headed for Fish Lake for the afternoon and evening. We used the Alpacka rafts for getting around on the lake. I fished and caught small trout on flies until I was bored with it. I probably caught 100 fish. It was hot so Lisa and I found shade along the shore and kicked back in the boats. As we were laying in the boats with our eyes closed, I heard a noise and looked over to see a mother moose with her calf making their way along the shore towards us. Lisa was closer than I was and soon the mother moose was within 20 feet of Lisa. There was a big log in the water between the moose and Lisa and the calf was somewhere in the woods, out of sight. For the next hour we watched this moose, only yards away, stir up the bottom of the lake and than eat the grasses that floated to the top of the water. She worked the area in a pattern, sometimes going completely under water for a minute. It was quite a sight! The horse flies were pretty bad here so we headed back to Moose Creek. Descending back down to the lower elevation and leaving the cool lake, we realized we came back a little too soon so we hiked down to Moose Creek and I fished while Lisa swam until it cooled enough to head back for dinner before dark. The smoke from the fires upriver had gotten pretty bad by now and Lisa and I were both ready to move on.

The next day we headed for Big Creek. The plan was to camp at Vines, a good strip right on the water. We got to Vines and no one was there so we landed and set up camp. We got on the river quickly, as it was already warming up. Lisa followed me around, swimming the bigger holes after I fished them. The fishing was good (14-18 cut-throat trout). As I was fishing, I saw an airplane land. It is McCall flying service and they drop 2 more fisherman off at Vines. They set up their camp far away from ours so that is fine with me, I guess. Personally, I would not go or take people into a small place like Vines or Dewey Moore, if I saw that it was already occupied. I think that is just good manners for back country flying. I figure most people that go to these spots probably don't want company. I know I don't.

I will post some video of the rapids with the Alpacka rafts so you can get an Idea of how much fun you can have with this little raft and they take up about the same amount of room as a two man tent.

The rest of this post is a little bit of a rant so only read if you want to hear me vent a little bit about how I think backcountry flying should be in Greg's world.

The next day we flew to Cabin Creek and left the airplane. We hiked back to Vines and floated the river from Vines to Cabin Creek, fishing along the way. It was another great day in the Idaho Backcountry! The next day we plan to float from Dewey Moore to Vines. We got up early for the hike. Lisa decided not to do the hike so I flew her and the gear up to Dewey Moore and flew back to Vines and did the hike myself. Oh, I forgot to mention that McCall Flying Service has now flown in two more people as we were eating breakfast and then another airplane full after I departed up-river, and yet another as I was returning. In all, 5 people and a dog. This is really starting to chap my ass but I remind myself, it is a free country. That being said, McCall Flying Service is at the bottom of my list of good people in the Idaho Back Country now. This group found a camp spot a little closer to ours than the other campers. One of the guys is a loud mouth, which adds insult to injury. My wife isn't used to having to deal with people so close when she's camping most of our camping has been off airport where no one is around for at least a few miles. The thing she really likes about airplane camping is the peace and quiet, and the privacy. At this point, I figure we will just deal with it and we do.

The next morning these five people, dog, and all their gear have to be carted our because, as it turns out, they did all of this for a 24 hour period. I like airplanes and the sound of airplanes but it takes this guy from McCall Flying Service 4 loads with a Cessna 206 in and out of Vines to Cabin Creek. Basically, one person and a little gear each time. Now I am not saying I could do any better with a 206 in and out of Vines, but when you have to cause that much dust and disturbance to the others on the ground in the area, I think it is time to rethink the airplane you are using for the mission or the place you are gong. Give me a break! I left Vines at the same time of day, same conditions with full fuel and all of our gear for 10 days. I was loaded. There was not any extra space behind the two front seats all the way back to my extended baggage,which goes back another station beyond a stock Maule. If that is all a 206 is capable of, then, in my opinion, it is not an airplane for Vines. Maybe it is company policy to be under a certain weight for Vines. You know he had to be light on fuel since McCall is only 60 miles away.

We had a great trip, all in all, and returned home with a tail wind part of the way. We came into Portland in less than blue sky conditions but that is just normal. Vacation is over and back to the daily grind!

Greg

Nice trip report Greg, I can see why you were annoyed, I also love airplane camping because of the solitude it can provide. The inflatable boat thing seems like fun. We have two inflatable kayaks but even one would be a bit heavy to haul all the way to Idaho. I'd be interested to see what the alpacka rafts are like.

Just reviewed the Alpacka website--interesting little boats, and very tempting.

Cary

Greg, great trip report. Fly fishing was the reason I bought a Super cub. That to me is the best part of flying. Dropping in to a place you can't get to any other way and having it all to yourself. Sharing is waaay over rated! I fish the John Day and the Deschutes quite a bit. I've fished Johnson Creek, but haven't made it to Moose Creek yet, it's on my list. Talked with Daryl a couple months ago and he mentioned the Alpacka raft gig. Can't wait to see your video and pictures of the raft!

can see why u might feel that way at vines that day...july-august in the middle fork district is quite busy for sure...were i u, i would schedule it later after labor-day, you'll have more fun and more solitude then after the normal folks go back to reality or whatever...fall up here is fabulous...!

Any chance they played Metallica all night, drank way too much and practiced in-bread mixed-martial arts at 4am??? If so, I know those guys.... they follow me every time I want to camp in Solitude.

I don't agree on the one plane per strip theory but you are spot-on with the commercial operators running the Cappuccino Cowboys into the backcountry one at a time... thats way over line! Thats almost criminal.

Nice report, patiently waiting for photies/vids.

Thanks Greg

Nice t.r, but how bout some pics.
Wet the appetite for the vid.
Chuck


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Hey Greg, thanks for the post. I have some of the same thoughts about the joys of solitude. When I have thoughts of frustration like that (which I do), I consider how the guy who backpacked the 20+ miles in on his own two feet feels about my apparent lazy butt dragging my gear in with the noisy airplane. I'm almost positive you had someone chaffed because you were too lazy to carry your "pack" raft back to camp as opposed to the way you were shuttling your gear. Alternatively, when someone at one of the the Idaho backcountry airports states concern about the air traffic, I try to point out the concept of backcountry trailheads. Trailheads can be busy staging areas, but there is always loads of solitude when you get away from the trailhead.

Anyway, not trying to stir the pot. I just feel this whole "thing" doesn't work if we don't consider others views and expectations compared to our own opinion of a perfect world.

My Kiwi brother in law has been using the Alpacas for a couple years now and they have been great. Very sturdy for their weight. I was thinking of finding one before my next Alaska trip. Were many folks using them in the Geo caches in the past years? Also wondering how long it took you to go from Shearer to Moose Creek? Have wanted to do that for the past couple of years, but never coordinated with other pilots to get it done.
Matt

The raft has been used by at least one that I know of at the Geo.

It takes about 6 hours to float it from Shearer to Moose if you don't do any fishing.

I hiked from Vines to Dewey in around 2 hours and from Cabin to Vines with my wife the day before in around 3 hours.

I know the perspective is always different based on the mode of travel but because these places have airstrips you will not have a backpacker or a guy on horse back using them. Yes they will be on the trails, and yes I am sure they will not be happy when a 206 is ripping up and down the canyon for an hour doing his job. Cabin Creek because of it's size you can expect company for sure and a 206 is going to go in and out with more gear easily. It just did not make a lot of sense to me but what do I know about keeping people happy, I have a hard time getting along with my neighbor and I live on 8 acres but that is another story.

Greg

I hate to see dissention among the ranks. That said I guess I am violating the rules. When I go somewhere I usually go talk to whoever is at the airstrip.

I realize I am going against a lot of clout from the various authors, but we need to play nice. Posts like this only give more ammo for Western Water Sheds or the Keep Wilderness Wilderness people. (& none of us can win a fight with them)

Greg,

*THAT* is my idea of a perfect time. I've floated the stretch between Shearer and Moose a few times (and beyond with a permit), and brought friends in on more than a few occasions to pick them up later...many still say it is one of the more memorable times they have.

Hush on Fish Lake! LOL. It is one of my fave holes. And Coxey Hole still rocks on Big Creek. I guess it is getting more pressure from Vines.

Congrats!

Mauleguy wrote:McCall Flying Service is at the bottom of my list

The traffic is unfortunate. Doris' outfit has been flying the strip since dirt was invented, however.

Mauleguy wrote:The rest of this post is a little bit of a rant so only read if you want to hear me vent a little bit about how I think backcountry flying should be in Greg's world.

Some of us know the feeling....



Gump

That sounds like a great trip!
Was just looking at the alpha raft website I'm thinking be a great trip to take the boys on in a few years.

Does sound like a lot of trips for the 206 still if they loaded more and crashed we would all be on hear saying "what where they thinking"

If only we had more land or less people.

Greg,

Nice report, food for thought for us Idaho guys. it sounds like the Selway float could be done solo if you hiked back to Shearer after the float to the plane. Unless I am mistaken no permits are needed after the 4th and the hike back is not too bad.

Paul

Here is some video of flying and rafting, I did not have sound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8BI6FDS ... e=youtu.be


Not sure how to imbed the video so maybe someone else can do that

thanks greg i liked it!

rob

I look forward to having the time to watch it, cool. My download speed is SLOW.

I did a lot of flying with a Sevlor "2 person" (just right for one) cheap little blow up boat about 30 years ago, back in my Pterodactyl ultralight days. I think I paid 25 bucks for it and got it just for a hoot thinking if it lasted one time it'd be worth it. I ended up having it for 5 or 6 years, took it down the Snake above Alpine a bunch of time so pretty good rapids. Once it filled with water it was real stable....! One time I camped out on a island outside Thompson Falls Montana, and once camp was set up paddled across to town for dinner and a few beers. Put back in at dusk and due to the current almost missed the island and not until the next day on takeoff did I see the dam a little ways downstream! These ones you're using are a whole different deal of course, though that Sevlor sure took a beating, best 25 bucks I ever spent! I really like the weights quoted, and the concept of hiking back, I used to hitchhike but that wouldn't work to well in the Frank .

Idahomauledriver wrote:Greg,

Nice report, food for thought for us Idaho guys. it sounds like the Selway float could be done solo if you hiked back to Shearer after the float to the plane. Unless I am mistaken no permits are needed after the 4th and the hike back is not too bad.

Paul

You have to have a permit to float down a river?!? That's just crazy! We don't want no stinkin' permits!

That's a serious tease. Here I was waiting to see that alpacka raft in action and the video has been removed? Whats up with that?