Rezrider wrote:I'm planning a trip up to Idaho the end of August and noticed that there are a few forest fires in the area.
I plan on JC as a base camp with a few exploration camping trips to points north from there.

Is there anyone up there that can give me a report on the smoke in the area? Is visibility reduced in the valley floors?
Thanks folks,
RR
ps. anyone around that wants to meet up? Aug 25th-30th.

SkylaneSam wrote:I'm not sure how far North your thinking on going but here's a report I can give you.
On July 15-18 I flew into Shearer, Moose Creek and Fish Lake. There was just a thin fire smoke haze. Except for flying directly into the sunrise, it wasn't any problem.
On July 27- August 2 I flew from the Puget Sound out to Rexburg, back to Boise then north to Cascade, McCall, Grangeville then to our place. (37ID Hungry Ridge Ranch) The weather in the mountains was so-so. Smoke wasn't bad, just misty, light rain, low ceilings at times. Some days better than others but all days still doable.
On August 5 went down to Salt Lake City & came back on the 10th. Fair amount of thunder storm activity between SLC and Boise. This last week things have been very unstable up here. I have stayed on the ground from Monday-Friday. When the winds blow from the west, fire smoke has gotten real thick, even down in the valleys. Visibility ranges from 1/2 mile to 5 miles!
On Sunday August 10 I took this picture from Grangeville looking east.




We got thunder storms and rain each night Mon,Tue, Wed, Thu & Fri. That brought the ceilings to the ground in many areas but it cleared out the fire smoke by morning. I took this picture Tuesday. Looking down the airstrip to the north. Note how clear it is after Mondays t-storms & winds. The Lowell fire sure flared up!





On Wednesday & Thursday there was NO smoke anywhere! Not even from the Lowell fire! Friday the smoke came in real thick. 1/2 mile visibility! That night the rain/lightning/thunder was the worst its ever been. I was SOOO glad I was at home and not in a tent!
Well, there it is in my neck of the woods. Some days the visibility has been fine and some days horrible. The evenings have been stormy. Take it for what its worth. Its just been real unstable.
Be careful and fly safe.
Sam

Little John wrote:Thanks for the update, the horseflies are worse than the mosquitoes; if they are out and about

Waterboy wrote:There is very little fire activity in the Idaho backcountry right now. I was in McCall on fire duty there for the last week but we have been moved back to Minden NV due to lack of fires. The last week there has been a good amount of rain in that area. Sound be drying out for the next few days. Likely perfect weather for early fall camping. There might still be some smoke in Hells canyon from the Somer fire. As for the rest they are mostly out.

Have a great trip.

CapnMike wrote:

Waterboy wrote:There is very little fire activity in the Idaho backcountry right now. I was in McCall on fire duty there for the last week but we have been moved back to Minden NV due to lack of fires. The last week there has been a good amount of rain in that area. Sound be drying out for the next few days. Likely perfect weather for early fall camping. There might still be some smoke in Hells canyon from the Somer fire. As for the rest they are mostly out.

Have a great trip.

Thanks for everything you guys do, Waterboy!

Waterboy wrote:

CapnMike wrote:

Waterboy wrote:There is very little fire activity in the Idaho backcountry right now. I was in McCall on fire duty there for the last week but we have been moved back to Minden NV due to lack of fires. The last week there has been a good amount of rain in that area. Sound be drying out for the next few days. Likely perfect weather for early fall camping. There might still be some smoke in Hells canyon from the Somer fire. As for the rest they are mostly out.

Have a great trip.

Thanks for everything you guys do, Waterboy!

Thanks Cap'n Mike.

Here's a shot from one of the ground troops of a fire we worked yesterday on the Kingbury grade near South Lake Tahoe.


Awesome pic! We were supposed to have the Idaho USFS smokejumper guys in our hangar in KSZT (Sandpoint) this summer and fall, not sure what happened to that deal. Seems like most of the action was further south, though.
We stomped that one, the smoke is gone.