I am hoping to make a trip to the Idaho BC in about three weeks. I was out there at the same time last year and while there was smoke, it was not too bad. I know a lot can change in three weeks, but is there currently much smoke in te BC? Any predictions for mid September?

Thanks

It is still a bit early to project what September will look like. Last year was horrible in the Bitterroot Valley at this time. It is not nearly that bad now, but still visibilities are down. I flew out of Hamilton yesterday and visibility was not bad maybe 15 - 20 miles. I am currently sitting outside about 40 miles west of Glacier Nation Park and visibilities are at least 30+ miles. Be sure to check the TFR's lots of them in central Idaho right now. Fly Safe!

Here's the eastern great basin Area web page. http://gacc.nifc.gov/egbc/index.php On the left under predictive services click on "Outlooks".

There will be a map of the predictive service areas of Idaho included when you click on a product so you can check out the area your going to.

here's the direct link to todays web briefing to get you started. http://gacc.nifc.gov/egbc/predictive/do ... bcast.html

The monthly outlook http://gacc.nifc.gov/egbc/predictive/docs/monthly.pdf

looks to me like right now they are saying September is expected to be normal fire activity.

Per a brief conversation with the Backcountry Fire Patrol a few days ago. North Central Idaho averages 200 fire "incidents" each year. This year we have had less than 50. So at this time much less smoke. I was in Fish Lake yesterday and Elk River this morning and everything was very workable. We are starting to get some T Storms in the afternoon and evenings but so far so good. Keep your fingers crossed.

Be sure to check the TFR's lots of them in central Idaho right now.

Just looked on Foreflight--amazing number of TFRs in Idaho and elsewhere in the west.

Cary

Flew from Bozeman to Boise this morning, smoke was everywhere but the worst was near Hailey. Hailey was reporting vis. of 1 mile, we went about 20 miles to the south going westbound and it wasn't too bad, never got worst than 8 miles vis between Hailey and Pocatello. The closer to Hailey the worse it got. Further west after Hailey it gradually improved (today winds were mostly out of the west).

I'm around 100 miles from the worst fire area, and the conditions here the last few days have been all dependent on the wind direction, no surprise there. Some of the time I can smell the smoke, a pretty ugly scene all around. Those fire fighters on the front line, in this heat? Damn, that's impressive