Seems a number of these backcountry kitchens have a large turnover in cooks. Early in the season, there can be a wide variation in the food, and late in the season, chance of an attitude problem. A place like Dixie Town, has the owner flipping the pancakes and a interest in the outcome. Mid season seems the best for food.

Sulfur Creek used to have those breakfasts with the food overflowing the plates. Early season last year, I shuttled my 4 grandkids in there from Johnson Creek and each of us had 1 link sliced in half, 2 eggs and hashbrowns for $18.50. I think they've always been a little high, having to fly everything in, but I was a little set back. I went again a couple of weeks later and same portions and same price. BC had 1/2 orders for them at $6 and more food. I understand, later in the season, it had changed, but I was still boycotting them, so I can't verify it first hand. I can't finish those Paul Bunyan breakfasts anyway and I burn more than the difference in gas, but its the principle sometimes. I also heard that Don had left later in the summer. We'll see how it is this spring....

Jack

Haven't been into Temperance Creek Ranch in Hell's Canyon either, but Abe says Butch and Karen do a great job.

Just to let everyone know...Butch & Karen sold their business at Temperance Creek to some folks from the Lewiston area and I don't know what their intentions are for the place...I've gone in there several times this winter, but I haven't found the owners in there yet to ask them...I'll let you know when I hear from them....

If you're flying to McCall for breakfast, check out my friend Steve's new cafe - Fogg Lifter. Steve is a pilot and the cafe has an aviation theme. It is named after his wife's late grandpa, Bob Fogg - a well known Idaho backcountry pilot.

They just opened a few weeks ago and havent' been yet, but I know Steve runs a quality operation, so check it out. It's located on the main drag, just south of the Hotel McCall (which is near the lake).

chrisg wrote:If you're flying to McCall for breakfast, check out my friend Steve's new cafe - Fogg Lifter. Steve is a pilot and the cafe has an aviation theme. It is named after his wife's late grandpa, Bob Fogg - a well known Idaho backcountry pilot.

They just opened a few weeks ago and havent' been yet, but I know Steve runs a quality operation, so check it out. It's located on the main drag, just south of the Hotel McCall (which is near the lake).

Sounds good Chris, will give it a try.

Rob

lowflyin'G3 wrote:Who cares if it costs $15 bucks. You gotta be kiddin' me. It only costs $100 an hour to get to and from a place they can't drive in a $60k to $120k piece of equipment that costs $200 to $600 a month to hangar. Let it go.

For those of us not made of money and doing this kind of flying on a budget, it behooves us to find the better deals. For me, it is also the principle of the matter. I have a hard time paying for over priced items. Not all of us own our stead or pay for a hanger.

Great info. Thanks for the all the posts. I'm looking forward to trying some new places. Here is one for you all. In the Rudder Flutter, there is an add for a "Praire Store" (I think that is what it is called), but there is not hint of where it is. Anyone know?

Matt 7GCBC wrote:

lowflyin'G3 wrote: ALL of these reports are within the last 10 months. Some fairly recently.

Prairie has 2 eateries. When I was recently stranded on skis in Praire, Cort and Carline from the Y-stop store couldn't have been more helpful. They have a couple of nice "cabins" to stay at for a very reasonable $60-80/night and serve great burgers and steaks. Plenty of other sandwiches and such too. If you call ahead and then buzz the place, they will pick you up at the strip.
Ed, owner of the Prairie Store and Bar is a pilot. He has a radio and if you give a position report nearby, will commonly call you up to ask if you are coming in and need a ride. If he doesn't seem to be listening, buzz the place and if there, he'll be on the radio shortly.

Hey Matt, is the Prairie Store at Smith's Prairie?

Yep, that's correct. Not sure the history of "Smith's" for the airfield, but the "town" is just Prairie and it's a couple miles West from the airstrip. The prairie store is the collection of buildings on the south west side of the town. If you see the road coming into the town from the south (from Mtn Home) and meeting the east/west road, the store is on the south east corner of that intersection. If you were to go a couple miles west from town there is another Y in the road where the road heads down into the canyon for the south fork of the Boise river and then back toward Boise. The Y stop store is a yellowish metal sided barn looking structure about 1/2 mile north from the Y. Hate to have you buzzing the wrong place looking for a ride.

Regarding overpriced items, I will say again that you have to take into account what it cost to get the food to your plate when there is no road access. It's not fair to compare to what you paid at the supermarket in town. I will agree that a big $10 meal at Big Creek, Elk River or Prairie is really enjoyable after a nice flight to get there, but although you may have essentially the same type of flight to get to Flying B, Root Ranch or Sulfur, they are not in the same category as those with road access. Don't like paying $25 for the cold ham and cheese sammy and tea at one of those places? Call ahead and let them know what kind of steak or whatever you would like - they tend to be very accomodating.

Alright GSP,
I see where your coming from I'm just cautioning you to mind the "remote" factor when pricing things with a city perception while in the woods.
When I was a kid going to Alaska in the summers I remember being at an airport pumping fuel out of a 55 gallon drum with a guy that was bitching the whole way about what the fuel cost. As we pumped a Caribou pulls in, drops the ramp and starts off loading more 55's of fuel. He's still bitching as this is happening and I'm holding the hose kinda pointing off in the general direction of the off loading operation with a confused look on my face. Because even at 16 I understood that no matter what fuel cost if it got here the same way we did it was was probably going to be a shitload more!
So same principle on the "remote" food, if a Turbo 206 pulls in behind you charging $300-400 ish an hour and proceeds to pop the door and off load the Tillamook cheddar, thick sliced hickory bacon, farm fresh eggs, 100% Florida orange juice and Columbian dark roast that already cost whatever inflated price groceries cost last year (even COSTCO seemed expensive)then gets put into a freezer that might require a generator to run it part of the time and then gets cooked with propane potentially hauled in too FOR YOU and put on a plate and served in a dining room that needs a trip and fall insurance policy that gets cleaned up by someone else who probably needs workmens compensation insurance and a paycheck it might cost a little more than the average $6 to 8 bucks a plate that the local diner costs.
So while I see your "overpay" point, I encourage you to adjust your perception a bit when judging "overpay".
Damnit, now I'm hungry, so I gotta go make a $4.50 plate right here in my own house and clean up after myself. I wish it was summer......I'd happily pay the $215 to fly somewhere instead so I could avoid cleaning up!

We all love that $100 breakfast, it's sometimes the price you pay to experience the beauty and solitude of some of the BC locations and supports those that risk those endeavors. Some just price themselves out of business.

I totally understand the concept and understand the cost associated with getting supplies to these places. And while BC did have the option to truck in supplies, that wasn't always the case. I've been there on several occassions when propane, eggs, cheese, etc. have been off loaded from one of Arnold's aircraft. Even helped them unload the aircraft (no body wanted to touch the crates of eggs in fear of being the one responsible for no omlettes the next morning ). While I'm sure that they made regular runs into town, some cost was spent on resupply flights that weren't passed on. I'm just going to miss that place. Glad to hear that there are some good options and I'm looking forward to exploring them. I'm kind of a creature of habit. Once I find something I like, I stick with it. Hopefully I'll find a good substitute to tide me over until BC comes back (fingers crossed). Anyone heard anything regarding the future of BC?

Matt, thanks for the info on Prairie. Been to the strip but didn't have time to explore beyond that. We'll have to give it a try.

Something to ponder......bring our own breakfast into BC? Arrange a get together for breakfast? Flapjacks, bacon, scrambled eggs?

It's a beautiful place...only been there once this last year...I will go back!

I would fly to anywhere the group wants to...Stanley, Smiley, McCall, Elk River or City etc....Cavanagh Bay is a little too far for breakfast but I love the place.

Can anyone tell me where the Root Ranch is and what is there?
HC

Does anyone know anything about the bed and breakfast at Big Creek. Do the same people still own it or has it changed hands. If it is still owned by the same folks they didn't care for breakfast only customers. You had to stay overnight to get a breakfast. It is located about a1/2 mile down the road toward Yellow Pine, from Big Creek. It was Halahands B & B or something like it. Bob

hicountry wrote:
Can anyone tell me where the Root Ranch is and what is there?
HC

I've not been there, but here is a link to it's webcam. Looks like a nice place. I think I'll be trying it out this summer. This link has links to both Root Ranch as well as the Flying B.

http://www.flyingresortranches.com/cam/

Mid way between Cold Meadows and Chamberlain Basin, more or less.

Does Root have a landing fee like the B does? What about Mackay Bar? Not clue what is there just seen it while floating by.

Root Ranch has not historically had any landing fee.
I found it interesting to go over to some of the other buildings and find that Wallace Berry, I believe it was, used to own the place.

As I recall, Mackay bar is "private" and just a bit south of Wilson Bar bout a mile.

Just found the Mackay Bar website....http://mackaybar.net/. Looks like we are invited.

We have one of the best airstrips in the canyon. At over 2000ft, our grass airstrip is located in the most wide open area on the Salmon River. For the experienced back country pilot this is an excellent opportunity get some back country flying time in and enjoy a fresh cooked hearty meal. Stay a while and take pleasure in the many things the Salmon River and Mackay Bar Ranch has to offer.

Prices seem good...Breakfast...................................................................................$10.00
Includes; Beverages, fruit, yogurt, pancakes, eggs, potatoes, and breakfast meat.
Lunch to go...............................................................................$12.00
Lunch Served Hot in Lodge..........................................................$15.00
Dinner.......................................................................................$30.00
Includes; Appetizers, salad, or soup, main entrée, side dishes, complementary wine and dessert.

And camping is free. I'm ready to go right now....

Your a good man whee...

Gentlemen, I think we have a winner!!! Great find Whee. This looks like it will fit the bill nicely. Man, I can't wait until the season starts.

Their website says they open in late February so I guess the season has started. I'm free tomorrow..you can pick me up