It's my distinct pleasure to introduce to the group my cousin Matt Potratz. Matt is not only my cousin but a good friend as well. On March 1st, 2009 while filming for a professional film crew and riding his Turbocharged Artic Cat M1000 just outside of McCall, ID, Matt triggered a massive Avalanche. In an instant his entire life was changed forever. The aftermath was unimaginable and left Matt fighting for his life. Today after many many challenges Matt travels around and does Inspirational/Motivational speaking for various groups.

Saturday night before the Potluck dinner I have arranged for Matt to give us a 45 minute presentation that will cover his survival story with passion, share the challenges he has faced, and the lessons he learned along the way. It's inspirational, emotional, captivating, and most of all real! I guarantee you will not be dissapointed with this amazing presentation. Please plan on attending approximately 5PM on Saturday of the Fly-in. As Pilots and Outdoorsman who take a calculated risk everytime we fly the Backcountry, I think you will really be able to connect with Matt's story.

To learn more about Matt, his recovery, and his story log into http://www.mattpotratz.com for more information.

WOW, looking forward to this, especially since I do a lot of backcountry, big mountain sledding.

Cheers

Awesome! As an avid mountaineer, enduro rider, skier, backpacker, pilot, I can't wait to experience what Matt has to say about his life changing event.

Thanks for lining this up!

Wow as a sledneck my self I caught his story a while back and I have learned from it. I hope to be there to see the presentation

I watched a couple of the vids on the link-My kind of fair weather flying seems pretty 'risk free' by comparison....
I don't know yet if I can make JC for his talk, but his site is certainly worth exploration.
Hopefully his recovery continues.
lc

Joey, I plan to drive into JC now. I changed my plans so I won't miss this great fly in!! Let me know if I can help with getting your cousin to and from JC.

Skylane where are you driving in from and how long are you staying? Matt said his screen set up is like 8ft long when it's all rolled up so getting him and his gear into a plane might be difficult.

AvidFlyer wrote:Skylane where are you driving in from and how long are you staying? Matt said his screen set up is like 8ft long when it's all rolled up so getting him and his gear into a plane might be difficult.

Just tie it on the strut and make sure u get there before James Or better yet have James bring it ...

AvidFlyer wrote:Skylane where are you driving in from and how long are you staying? Matt said his screen set up is like 8ft long when it's all rolled up so getting him and his gear into a plane might be difficult.

I get back home from a road trip on Thursday June 23. If your cousin needs a ride into JC, I'm more than willing to help out. I was thinking I can drive up to McCall Friday afternoon. Stay at my buddy's cabin in McCall. Then Saturday I can pick up your cousin and drive into JC. If he doesn't want to stay Saturday night at JC, that's fine. I can take him back to McCall Sat. night. No problem.

As for the 8ft screen, ....... I only have my Bronco right now. I think as long as it's rolled up, it should fit between the driver and front passenger seats and shouldn't stick out of the back window. I think I have put 8ft long lumber in there before for home projects. I'll double check though. Do you know how thick (diameter) the screen is when rolled up?

Just tie it on the strut and make sure u get there before James Or better yet have James bring it ...

Hello Don C & Backcountry Pilots,

It doesn't look like I'll be going to the JC Fly-in this year anyway. So I guess your all off the hook. Some of you guys might remember me last year as the guy walking around JC with the box of cheap red wine, and a collapsible wine glass too.

Anyway I apologize if my day job makes any of you nervous. I'm actually just a fourth generation North Idaho Native that likes to fly around in a Maule, hunt, whitewater kayak and raise kids I guess. Have a good time, and fly safe.

James

Super-Maule wrote: It doesn't look like I'll be going to the JC Fly-in this year anyway.

Ah dammit. Well, now that I'm all cleared, we need to meet up somewhere!

For all of those that volunteered help I really appreciate it! I talked my parents in coming down for the weekend and they are going to ride down with Matt so the current plan is he will be driving in. His projector, props, and 10X20ft screen would be tough to get into a plane. Yes 10X20 screen with HD snowmobiling footage and a slideshow of the recovery folks! It's my step-dad's 50th Bday that weekend and they wanted to get out of town.....can't think of a better place to get away than JC!

Matt has added the event to his website at www.mattpotratz.com/events