I'll be flying a Maule MT7 trigear from Ennis Mt. (KEKS) to Moose Creek (1U1) later in the summer. I'm trying to plot out a safe route that avoids going over high mountains as much as possible. Does anyone have any suggestions or (better yet a foreflight plan) that would get me out there? For right now I'm thinking about flying up from Ennis to between Butte and Deer Lodge then heading West over the Hamilton airport (6S5) and then picking my way over to the Selway river canyon. I don't have much mountain flying experience, so if coming in from the East is not a good idea, I'd appreciate that advice too.

I’m usually coming from the south or southwest, but when I have come in from the east, I’ve just gone up that drainage west of West Fork. You could go farther north and follow the highway to the Fish Lake area and cut down, or if you really wanted you could follow that same drainage past Fish Lake and make the left U turn and approach from the west. Regardless, just remember late summer it will be warm at MC where it’s a lower strip.


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I live in the mountains of Utah and make flight plans all the time using FF and the “Profile” function in the flight plan area. I assume if you have the most basic subscription of FF that does not exist. My take, if you are going to fly in the mountains the $99 per year is worth that aspect of FF alone.

Personally I would not trust someone else to flight plan for me through mountains.

Takes me about 5 minutes max to make a plan from KHCR to anywhere in the Church with the use of profile.

Here is a good example

You could fly a route like this to stay lower:



But at nearly twice the distance, and putting you closer to terrain than going direct would, I’m not sure that you would be accomplishing much.

Consider whether you would rather be down low flying in confined spaces, or up high crossing ridges during your first airplane trip in the mountains? Those are your options for this flight.

I'm assuming that you will be launching early morning in prime conditions, and completing the trip with a promising forecast. I would advise against doing otherwise with limited experience. The good news is that summer mornings often provide prime conditions. Parking it by 9 or 10 and considering it grounded until the following morning on warm days is a good policy to integrate in to your planning.

You will inevitably need to fly drainages on this flight during approach and departure, but spending five times as much time in the canyons as necessary wouldn't be my first choice.

Pilots with little mountain/canyon flying experience who venture in to the canyons can become disoriented and run out of maneuvering space, often with very unfavorable outcomes.

From above, it is easier to inspect the surroundings, be aware of your options and develop a feel for the constant effort that must be made to keeping a door open to get out. Down low, if you make a wrong turn, your door can slam shut and leave you with no options. This has happened many times before.

I would consider flying a route like this, where you can clear ridges with 2000' to spare and still handily comply with oxygen requirements.



Altitude is your friend.

And as mentioned by others, mountain training is highly recommended. There are also several good mountain flying books out there that contain highly valuable information that will make your adventures safer.

Tennessee,

Grassstrippilot mentioned drainage and Schoolpax mentioned use of or the less useful crossing of ridges. Your engine will most likely allow you to fly over the mountains, but your ingress, egress, potential go around, etc. at destination will be in the mountains work even at that low MSL altitude. Consider flying with some of these guys or getting an "in the mountains" type mountain checkout.

contact

contactflying wrote:….Consider flying with some of these guys or getting an "in the mountains" type mountain checkout.

contact

I have a day scheduled with DIck WIlliams next month to do backcountry training. Should be a fantastic learning experience

Utah-Jay wrote:

contactflying wrote:….Consider flying with some of these guys or getting an "in the mountains" type mountain checkout.

contact

I have a day scheduled with DIck WIlliams next month to do backcountry training. Should be a fantastic learning experience

+1, +1

Let's not make this too hard. Fly from Ennis to Missoula or Lolo, head west following the highway from Lolo. Look at your sectional and you will see a few miles west of the Lolo pass a Forest Service road heading south with a guard station at the end. Fly a few more feet and you are in the Moose Creek drainage which you can follow to the Moose Creek ranger station and airstrip. The only confined canyon you would be in is the approach up the Selway to the short strip at Moose Creek if you elect to use that one. This is only a few miles longer than direct but very comfortable terrain. Have fun, it's a great place.

I'd encourage you to find someone experienced locally to fly in with the first time. As has been mentioned, Moose Creek is a fairly low strip so it gets hot in summer. It also sits at the confluence of two drainages so things can get swirly. While it can be an "easy" strip when the air is calm and cool, it has also claimed the lives of some pretty experienced people when conditions weren't ideal. It's a beautiful place and I camp there at least once a year, so don't want to discourage you. If you're at all unsure though, just find someone to show you the ropes.

These are great replies - thanks.I like the idea of following the highway around and coming in from the west more than I like the idea of flying over the ridges from the east. The Foreflight upgrade lets me see in 3D what both of these look like. If anyone knows an instructor on the Montana side who might be interested in helping out with this flight, please let me know.!

Happy to help you out. My stomping grounds. I’m based at 32S. Can run you over in Romeo Whiskey first, stop at Shearer enjoy a blueberry doughnut, stock the outhouse with toilet paper and then on Moose Creek.
It’s beautiful now!

Richard -
Fantastic - thanks for the offer. I may take you up on that! Could you PM me with your contact info?

Mike

Utah-Jay wrote:

contactflying wrote:….Consider flying with some of these guys or getting an "in the mountains" type mountain checkout.

contact

I have a day scheduled with DIck WIlliams next month to do backcountry training. Should be a fantastic learning experience

If you haven’t yet read the canyon flying book he coauthored with Amy Hoover, well worth your time before linking up. A lot of experience in those pages.

Timbuk2 wrote:

Utah-Jay wrote:

contactflying wrote:….Consider flying with some of these guys or getting an "in the mountains" type mountain checkout.

contact

I have a day scheduled with DIck WIlliams next month to do backcountry training. Should be a fantastic learning experience

If you haven’t yet read the canyon flying book he coauthored with Amy Hoover, well worth your time before linking up. A lot of experience in those pages.

I have practically memorized the book, I have read all three of Dick’s flying books, including Notes From the Cockpit which was a great read