A friend pulled a middle fork-salmon permit launching July 8th. I've never flown in Idaho and I'm hoping to combine river time with a little flying. Logistics, however, have me wondering if I'm biting off more than I can chew. Plan is to fly up to Stanley/Challis from Denver a couple days early. Ideally I'd like to fly in, and stage my plane at Flying B Ranch a day or so before we launch on the river. Then, that day, get a ride from flying b to stanely on a commercial charter. The idea being that I'd float the first half on the middle fork back to the plane parked at flyingB.

I haven't heard back from flyingB about leaving the plane there for 4 days or set up a commercial ride out of there yet.

Any suggestions on commercial outfits who might be able to support the flight out of flyingB and has anyone parked there overnight without staying on premisis?

Many guys land at flying B. A jump to Stanley is no big deal. I assume no weight? Just you. SO Let guys know when your going to be there. Someone may respond. I would haul you out if I was out there, but I will be a week late.

Gem Air out of Salmon or Middle Fork Aviation out of Challis can do it.

Have you floated the MF before? You’ll be missing a great section of river IMO. Actually, the entire thing is great so I wouldn’t miss any of it. Just fly in few days early and explore via plane then park the plane in Salmon while you float the river.

BazzLow wrote:Any suggestions on commercial outfits who might be able to support the flight out of flyingB and has anyone parked there overnight without staying on premisis?

When we visited they said the runway was only available to guests. They charged us $35 a night to tent camp and $35 per person for meals. Back country isn't cheap, given the costs involved in flying everything in...

Hey Bazzlow,

On a quick side note. I just had to turn down a invite for a middle fork trip launching on 7/8. (It's my busy season). Wondering if you are heading out with my cousins. Initials M.D.

Pete

pburns wrote:Hey Bazzlow,

On a quick side note. I just had to turn down a invite for a middle fork trip launching on 7/8. (It's my busy season). Wondering if you are heading out with my cousins. Initials M.D.

Pete

If MD has a Mooney then I'll be on his trip!

I'm at least as excited to fly up there as getting time on the river. I probably should just float the whole thing but I'm time constrained on the back end.

I'll give Gem Air a try, thanks for the suggestion! Stolhunter: if there is anyone else up there you might suggest I get a hold let me know. I'm fairly flexible on the front end of the trip. I'm also happy to help shuttle anyone else or their gear around if I can help.

If FlyingB let me park there for $35 a night I feel like that'd be reasonable. Seems like good insurance leaving the plane there for a few nights compared to the USFS strip (bernard) just down river.

BazzLow wrote:If FlyingB let me park there for $35 a night I feel like that'd be reasonable. Seems like good insurance leaving the plane there for a few nights compared to the USFS strip (bernard) just down river.

It's been almost exactly a year, but when we were last there, Bernard was *extremely* rough. So rough that the Husky and 170 in our group reported almost touching wing tips to the ground and radioed to our other two planes that they recommended skipping it as a "strip bag" and just continuing to Flying B, which was our final destination for the day.

The FS just completed some work on Bernard so it should be ok. The B would be my preferred option.

Mark does have a Mooney. You guys have a great trip. One of my daughters will be in Stanley working on the day stretch of the Main. If you need any direction for outfitting at all, have Mark get in touch. I have a couple of friends that work on the middle and one of my other daughters has worked in Stanley on and off for several years and may be able to provide some good info.. Gotta say I am a bit jealous.

Pete

Have you thought about parking the plane at Indian Creek and getting a ride back. Mike Dorris at McCall might be someone to check with too. Back when he was running McCall Air Taxi, he took a friend and stuffed a kayak in a 206 to Lower Loon.

Float the whole thing. Flying B would be ok and you'd avoid the painful shuttle back to civilization but Indian Creek and Thomas are too far upstream. You'd spend very little time on the river.

Arnold Aviation in Cascade
Sawtooth flying service in Mccall
Mccall air in mcccall
Gem in salmon.

They all do a fine job.

I was just Back there today and landed lower loon. Great smooth day.

Thanks guys for all the input!

Talked to a few air shuttle services. They generally seem like great folks willing to help. Spendy, but not unreasonable. One operation was 2X as much as the others but most in the same general price range. MFA did mention that Bernard is in decent shape and they'd taken the 206s in there recently. I did mention I'd be happy to bring a load in the B if that'd help them any.

Pete - I'll let Mark know to get a hold of you. He mentioned that you guys have had some great floats together up in AK. I hope we get to cross paths sometime. I did learn to paddle is upstate NY. Its got plenty of great WW!

Idahomike - You're right. I should float the whole thing and I'm making this much harder than it should be. Lower loon does look like an okay place to leave the plane but that approach looks fairly tight and I don't want to bite off more than I can chew on my first trip up there.

Stolhunter- I'm trying to set up a ride out of B July 7 or plan B would be the 13th or 14th.

Yes... I would not recommend Lower Loon on the first trip. The take off is even more tight.

180Marty wrote:Have you thought about parking the plane at Indian Creek and getting a ride back.

I heard that you were no longer supposed to fly into Indian Creek because of folks asleep in their tents?

Idahomike wrote:Yes... I would not recommend Lower Loon on the first trip. The take off is even more tight.

+1

No matter how good a stick you are, Lower Loon deserves a lot of respect and a very careful analysis of aircraft performance. Considering how many other good options there are, I wouldn't even consider it.

Does anyone know the story about the Morgan Ranch Strip?

It looks like its owned by a public trust and part of the Frank Church Wilderness?

Has anyone landed there, know the condition, and who to call to get permission?