I am contemplating a move to Idaho, or western Montana. I have been wanting to get out of Colorado for quite some time, but I am having trouble making it happen. What is the flying scene in that part of the country in the winter? Decent winter camping at low elevation desert strips? Skis into the usual summer strips? Buy a second home where winter is minus lots of white stuff?

It totally depends which part of ID your looking at. Some areas are pretty mild all winter while others are cold and snowy. Inversions with bad visibility is common in some areas. There are desert strips that are open in the winter and you can fly skis into the wilderness strips but if you have an issue you’ll be on your own for the most part. There isn’t much traffic in the winter.

I love winter flying so it’s great for me.

Keep in mind the housing market is kinda crazy right now. My area is the 4th most overpriced housing market in the country. Great time to sell a house but terrible time to buy one.

Like whee said, it really depends what part of Idaho. In North Idaho the winter flying is really hit or miss. There are always multiple weeks in a row where you can't fly at all (IFR, Low Freezing Layer) more than once per year. Last winter I went 6 weeks without flying because of crap weather. The airport here is insanely busy, which is good to see.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all ... -and-idaho

I am looking at Salmon area, and Hamilton MT. I like the areas, but not sure about the winters. Probably better than where I am now, but I just don't know.

I love Salmon. I go there to base for fishing in the backcountry. Salmon seems to be what Heber City was like 20 years ago… That is a guess of course.

I live in western Montana and would comment that there is no winter camping unless you like snow caves. Same with northern Idaho. Personally I like winter and this one has been good for ski flying. But as others have mentioned there are often inversions in the valleys with low stratus and fog. I had three Alaska Airline flights cancelled in January out of Missoula because of fog.

Housing prices in western Montana have risen insanely over the last two years. But if you sell a house for an insane amount and buy one similarly priced maybe it doesn’t matter.

Hamilton is nice with a brand new runway and taxiways.

As noted above, the valleys of western Montana are subject to a lot of winter inversions. Can be dreary and not good VFR. I attended college in Missoula, and hated winters there. Spent twenty years in Fairbanks, AK, and much preferred the winters there. Seriously.

Bozeman has better winter weather, but bring $$$$$, lots of it.

Salmon seems like a nice community, but it’s a ways from the “big city”. If you’re not a small town type, maybe not a good choice.

Heaven is where you find it. Me, I’d be in Lewistown, MT.

MTV

When it's good, it's very good, when it's bad, it's so bad that at least it's not a struggle trying to decide whether or not to go fly. I never fly 4 or 6 hrs. a day in the summer, unless going somewhere, during the winter with the smooth air all day, I've done it several times this winter. I'm always surprised when I look at the hour meter, the hours just fly by.

Yes MTV, Lewistown is nice, not ruined yet, was my impression last time I dropped in there. I used to live in Mizoo, and flying over the entire valley south the rampant growth makes me think I'd pass on that area.

I live and fly out of Stevensville, MT. I love it, but like others have said since the filming of “Yellowstone” and Covid property values have exploded.
Best Wishes - Dave