Battson wrote:Did you think about putting the smaller shoes on the 'wagon for the trip, seeing as you were going cross-country?

I thought about swapping tires, but I ran out of time. In the end I enjoyed looking at the bushwheels and it was nice lugging them along to smooth out crappy landings.

lesuther wrote:Great TR! It is great to read your enthusiasm looking forward at the last week we have left up here. Im already looking forward to another early fall trip in cooler weather down lower.

We have been sliding into some strips in the Selway and the Church with over 45 miles of trails underfoot, great fishing holes, a great kayak float, and a few hot springs so far, based out of the Bitterroot Valley and some other spots. It is amazing how quiet the backcountry is this year, and how green everything still is with no fires (yet). Nothing but smiles, mountains filling the view, great memories, and cold beer in the snowbanks along the way.

Sounds like my kind of trip Lee! Would love to hear about it and see some pictures. Can you share any details of the hot springs near Fish Lake?

That was a great story, I told my wife she has to read it.

mountainmatt wrote:One day, when Luke thinks I’m no longer cool, I can sit down and read this while drinking a bottle of fine aged, single malt scotch whiskey.

If this ever happens, I'm sure it'll be a transient condition. I still remember how smart and cool my parents got after my teenage years, lol.

The yellow plane in McCall belongs to Jim Davis of Cottage Grove, OR. He calls it the "Yellow Swan." It was built by a close friend of his, it has an IO 320 fuel injected. His friend also built the amphibious floats that go with it. They started out as Murphy 1800's and were stretched, I believe 24" in length. Which would make them 2100-2300# floats. Pretty neat combination. Jim does a great job of flying it. His friend that built the plane and floats, succumbed to cancer a few years back, and then Jim bought the plane. His friend did get to fly in it a few times. What a great story!

And we loved following your story, too, Matt! We really got a kick out of Luke at the Garden Valley Fly-In dinner with his miniature Carhartts' bib coveralls!

Keep the family trip reports coming!!

John & Lora Lee

mountainmatt wrote:Can you share any details of the hot springs near Fish Lake?

"Near" is relative, as Stanley Hot Springs is around a 16 mile RT from Fish Lake but it is a beautiful day trip or overnight. You can Google for more info. It is popular destination on weekends via the shorter 11 mile RT route from Wilderness Gateway on the Lochsa. The views along the Fish Lake route are really worth it, and it was a perfect trip last week.

The Wilderness Gateway route makes a great family trip BTW, and we had family hikes there starting when I was 8 or 9.

Little John wrote:The yellow plane in McCall belongs to Jim Davis of Cottage Grove, OR. He calls it the "Yellow Swan." It was built by a close friend of his, it has an IO 320 fuel injected. His friend also built the amphibious floats that go with it. They started out as Murphy 1800's and were stretched, I believe 24" in length. Which would make them 2100-2300# floats. Pretty neat combination. Jim does a great job of flying it. His friend that built the plane and floats, succumbed to cancer a few years back, and then Jim bought the plane. His friend did get to fly in it a few times. What a great story!

And we loved following your story, too, Matt! We really got a kick out of Luke at the Garden Valley Fly-In dinner with his miniature Carhartts' bib coveralls!

Keep the family trip reports coming!!

John & Lora Lee

Thanks John and Lora Lee, it was great seeing you again! Also thanks for the update on Yellow Swan, what a neat plane.

lesuther wrote:"Near" is relative, as Stanley Hot Springs is around a 16 mile RT from Fish Lake but it is a beautiful day trip or overnight. You can Google for more info. It is popular destination on weekends via the shorter 11 mile RT route from Wilderness Gateway on the Lochsa. The views along the Fish Lake route are really worth it, and it was a perfect trip last week.

The Wilderness Gateway route makes a great family trip BTW, and we had family hikes there starting when I was 8 or 9.

Sounds awesome, thanks for the info. I'll put Stanley Hot Springs on the list of family things to do.

A highlight video from the trip.

http://youtu.be/oMciaDRfNOU

Matt, really GREAT video: Excellent shots, and outSTANDing editing Looking forward to meeting your son.

Thanks. cubscout

mountainmatt wrote:
Soon Arrowhead Reservoir would be off our 6 o’clock and KGNG appeared at 12 o’clock. As we went lower, the temp went higher and we entered a left downwind for 25. I was hoping for more a little more than just cheap gas at Gooding, but on this quiet Sunday, no one could be found for a ride to town. (I was desperately craving a cup of coffee.) With the tanks filled, and our bladders emptied, we agreed it was best to just press onward.
-MM

FYI Matt, the Idaho Courtesy car program isn't just for JC, SC, and Cavanaugh. Next time you need a ride into town, there is one there at Gooding, as well as Jerome too. Usually if no one is around, just find the keys on the visor or somewhere in the car, fill out the form usually left on a clipboard in the car or pilot lounge, and leave the money on the on your honor system. Quite a few airports in Idaho have a car and they are listed on the Div of Aero site.

mountainmatt wrote:
Landing on a high mountain strip or challenging gravel bar is beyond cool, but for me, a trip like this is the ultimate.

-MM

I found this mental shift as well. It was tempting to miss being able to do the more challenging stuff, but then you realize none of it compares to being there spending time with the family. Separate trips can be taken to do the more "risky" stuff!

Great video mountainmatt !

Excellent video, Matt!!!

That was great!

Very nice job on the video Matt!

As much as I enjoy landing a new off airport site for the first time, there is something about the long range cruising that is a lot of fun (family or no family), I remember the first time I landed somewhere, after a 6 hr flight @ 85 MPH, where the people had a different accent then from where I took off from I like it when people go "Inkom, where the hell is that?"

Matt,
Things have changed since the videos of you and your dog

Fantastic video, with a lot of great shots. The time lapse shots of the fog/clouds were fantastic and the "quad" approach to touch down with the 4 different airplanes was a great comparison!

Awesome

This is so far the coolest TR I have read and seen! Awesome pics, great places to visit. This is my backyard and I am hoping to get up in these strips soon. Not a bad airplane either

Matt-

That was an awesome Trip Report! Comments, pictures and video... way cool. You are doing just what I want to do... I'm happy you and your family got to ride the magic carpet and build fantastic memories. What fun!

Gunny

Fantastic vid Matt. Love it-

highroad wrote:Matt,
Things have changed since the videos of you and your dog

Fantastic video, with a lot of great shots. The time lapse shots of the fog/clouds were fantastic and the "quad" approach to touch down with the 4 different airplanes was a great comparison!

Awesome

+ 1! Wish I had thought about the fog/cloud shot. Very cool and excellent vid!

That is some cool shit!!