Idaho Back Country 2001

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Rancho Murieta			Years ago a friend gave me a card. It was light blue with a hole in the center of it. He told me to hold it at arms length over my head and if the color of the sky viewed through the hole was the same color as the card, it was time to go flying and that is what six of us did on the 30th of June. Three Kitfoxes a Rans Coyote, a Stearman and a C-172 left Rancho Murieta on the first leg of a four day odyssey to the back country of Idaho. Just east of Lake Tahoe, the Stearman left the group as planned to make a fuel stop at Carson City before returning home and the Cessna with alternator problems picked up his speed a little to get to Winnemucca to do a little trouble shooting before our arrival. The rest of us, Mark, and his 10 year old son Ty, in a 912 powered model IV, Larry and his son Stacey, also in a 912 powered IV, Ken in his 912 ULS powered Rans Coyote and I in my similarly powered Model IV continued on in a loose formation to Winnemucca where we would refuel. Video - Lowell Landing at Rancho Murieta Video - The Airplanes We Learned early, that comfortable loose formation flying required some discipline . We determined the speed of the slowest airplane and maintained that as well as our relative position in the formation. when a position change was made it was announced first so there would be no surprises.
Ken's coyote
Larry's Model IV			Mark's Model IV
			Winnemucca, Nevada
Fueling at Winnemucca			Landing at Winnemucca, we taxied to the fuel pumps where the line boy recognized us immediately from the trip last September to the Skystar fly-in and greeted us with, "where are you guys going this time?" The 172 was looked over and the only visual discrepancy was low electrolyte in the battery. Some water was added to the battery and after fueling, we hand propped the Cessna and continued on to Caldwell. Video - Fueling at Winnemucca
Fueling at Winnemucca			Ty, Stacey, Mark, Larry, Ken
			On To Cascade
Larry flying to Cascade			After lunch it was on to Cascade where we fueled and found lodging for the night in a hotel with rooms and registration desk above a bar. The door leading upstairs to the hotel was in the front center of the building and near the door was a conspicuously placed notice "PLEASE DON'T LET THE CAT OUT". The bar served dinner so after a short sight seeing walk to the nearby lake (Mark said two miles, but it seemed less than half of that) we ate. We left before the belly dancer started her gyrations so as not to be too distracted from the real purpose of our being in Idaho Besides Ty was getting tired. We were up fairly early the next morning as the afternoon temperatures meant high density altitudes and we didn't want to get stuck anywhere. We always had a morning briefing with plans for the day. While the fliers did that, Ty was always able to entertain himself. This time by rolling Dad's airplane like one would roll a log.
Mark down low
The hotel			One big Lobby		Breakfast, Ty, Mark, Stacey, Ken, Larry
The Morning preparations			Lowell's Model IV		The morning Briefing
More Briefing			Ty Taxiing his way.
			Landmark
Larry climbing			Our first stop after departing Cascade was Landmark a long dirt strip at 6680 feet elevation in a high mountain Valley. This strip has a RHI (Hanselman Relative hazard Index) of 10.
On the ground at Landmark			A view down the Runway		Larry is off in a cloud of dust
			Johnson Creek
Mark on final			One of the highlights of the trip was landing on the beautiful 3400 by 150 ft. Grass strip at Johnson Creek - RHI 14. Imagine a perfectly manicured lawn 3400 feet by 150 feet situated in the bottom of a meandering canyon. This was Johnson Creek, a very popular mountain stop for pilots flying Idaho. There were already a number of airplanes there including an AT-6 and a Stanley Screamer - a highly modified Harmon Rocket. The Screamer pilot spends a lot of time in the Idaho wilderness and mentioned some must see strips and gave us a few approach tips. One of his recommendations became our next stop - Big Creek. We enjoyed the grassy shade as we sat under the wings chatting with some of the other pilots there, and watching a couple of aircraft depart. The sounds made by the aircraft as they took off was awesome. You could hear the engine sounds echoing off the canyon walls long before you could see the plane moving down the runway. And the sound seemed to come from everywhere at once. After lifting off, departing aircraft would disappear out of sight behind a ridge that flowed into the canyon from the mountain on the right as they turned around it in order to hug the right side of the canyon wall to take advantage of the lift provided by the prevailing winds. A bit later the aircraft would reappear as it followed the flow of the canyon to the left. Larry used this technique to his advantage as he was flying right at maximum gross weight with he and his son Tracey on board - both big guys. The rest of us, flying with less weight held back a bit on the throttle so as not to get too far above him. After climb out we formed up again and headed for Big Creek.
Mark touching down
Chatting with the strip caretaker			Close-up of the group		Larry's and Mark's IVs
View from under the wing			The Runway at Johnson Creek		Ken Departing in his Coyote
Video - Ken Landing			Video - Mark Landing		Video - A 3400 ft. by 150 ft.Lawn
			Big Creek
The airplanes from the runway			Big Creek has a RHI of 14 and the approach is an interesting experience. There is a hogback that separates the airplane on down wind from the runway. This low hill totally blocks the pilot's view of the runway until it finally appears as the airplane approaches final from the base leg. After finally seeing the runway, I found a little side slip was necessary to make a reasonable landing. The strip is also grass, but without the perfection of Johnson Creek. As with Johnson Creek there was a visitor registration book and we dutifully made our entries. There were other airplanes there, but not as many as were at Johnson Creek. By now the temperatures were high enough that density altitude was becoming a concern. We decided to call it a day and fly to McCall for fuel then to Elk City (RHI 13) where we were planning on spending the night.
Airplanes from the cabin			Horses at Big Creek by request		Larry, Mark, Lowell, Ty, Ken, Stacey
The Forest Service cabin			The Runway
			McCall
			McCall was a fuel stop for both man and machine.
The Airplanes tied down			Evidence of Big Creek		Larry pushing back
			Elk City
			Elk City (RHI 13) is so small and so far from anywhere that the high school kids are sent out every Sunday night to the "big" town near by for a week of school to be returned home on Friday afternoon. Notice in the photo to the left the beetle infected trees. The landing strip has an up slope and as usual we landed down hill, which had a dog leg to the left from that direction. None of us had any problem landing as tail draggers have a natural tendency to want to wander and it was easy to just let it wander in the direction of the dog leg. Unfortunately there are no photos of the landing strip. It was in Elk City that we joined up with Wray, flying a 582 powered Model IV and Roy flying his Series 5 with a Franklin out front. It was also here that a couple of our group found themselves in the clutches of the law. But first our search for accommodations. In the lower part of town we found a "hotel" and finally scared up someone to help us. A quick look of the accommodations that were offered convinced us that there had to be something better. Apparently word got out that there was some money to be made, because almost immediately a couple of local women showed up in "Elk City Taxis," more commonly known to us city folk as ATVs or quads. They drove us to their place, another hotel, that had two rooms. One room was already taken, but the other one had enough beds that if we were good enough friends we would each have a bit of mattress space. We took the room. A bit later Larry, Stacey and I found another room down the street a bit with three beds. That made it more comfortable. Later that afternoon, I had a chance to meet the local deputy sheriff, A real nice guy - a former pilot and once retired and since rehired as deputy. We talked about Pine Bark Beetles and the BLM and stuff. That evening after dinner, a couple of the guys, Mark and Wray snuck off to the strip for a little evening flying. Flying especially low over the town. I was able to get my camera in time to get one shot of Mark directly overhead in a 90° turn. Larry got some video. After they tired of their antics they went back to the landing strip. Moments later, Larry and I spotted the deputy and thought we could have some fun with his help. We suggested that he go up to the strip and give the two guys a little what's for over their show boating. He said that wouldn't work because he had already been up there and told them that everything was OK and there had been no complaints. What we didn't know was that he was working both ends from the middle because it was only a few minutes later that he had Mark in handcuffs over something about flying while intoxicated. Wray evaded the law by hiding behind his airplane.We didn't really learn all this until dinner the next evening and it made for some great fun. Elk City seemed to be everyone's favorite spot. There was a small bungalow on the main street between Karen's High country Cafe and our hotel that a Sacramento expatriate bought for $13,000 a few years ago as a fixer upper. He later sold it to a local for $32,000 after working on it up a bit. He is now in the process of building a Log home on five acres he owns on the river. At these home prices most of us could retire yesterday. However, the snowmobiles parked in the side yards indicate that the great flying weather doesn't last forever. Skis might be a possibility, but their is an up slope to the landing strip and taxiing back down after landing could get exciting. After Breakfast at Karen's it was good by to Elk City and off to Grangeville for fuel.
Walking to town
Roy on the "taxi"
Wray and Roy on the "taxi"
Ty and Mark unloading			The hotel		The other Hotel
Larry, Stacey and Lowell's room			The trail to the landing strip		The $32,000 home
Mark in his steep turn overhead			Early morning Elk City		Karen's for breakfast
Video - The "Air Show"			Video - Departing Elk City
			Elk River
			After fueling at Grangeville, we landed at Elk River (RHI 6). A local brought out a bucket of water for us as we had flown through a swarm of something outside Elk City and our airplanes were covered with bugs. I didn't know insects would fly at 1,500 feet AGL. We walked the short distance to town and had one of the legendary Huckelberry milkshakes. They were great. We then walked back to the airplanes and spent some time laying in the grass in the shade of the wings and remembering all we had done the preceding few days and used the time to became better acquainted. It was here that during run-up I was in a patch of daisies and a few pieces of the flowers ended up stuck on the front of my airplane.
Video- Elk River Approach			Video - Elk River

		Coeur D'Alene
Tied down at At Coeur D'Alene		From Elk River we flew to our overnight destination, Coeur D'Alene. Ken, the Coyote pilot had a buddy that lived on a golf course there. An extended downwind notified Ken's friend that we were approaching and he was there before we had a chance to fully secure the airplanes. Between Elk River and Coeur D'Alene we passed over some pretty rugged country. Wray flies behind a 582 in his Model IV and it was like being in graduate school watching him negotiate the high country with limited climb performance. He had the more flying experience in the group by far. Rarely did he rely on the old 360 to gain altitude as he expertly sought out the ridge lifts and thermals to gain altitude. Sometimes I found myself 1000 or so feet above him as he worked his way up and over a mountain pass and it was a thrilling experience watching that little yellow Kitfox flying below me over that rugged Idaho wilderness.
The group on George's deck		Fueling the next morning		Video - The approach to Coeur D'Alene
		Cavanaugh Bay
Lake Coeur D'Alene		The next morning, really on our way home now, but yielding to local advice, we diverted to Cavanaugh Bay (RHI 5) for breakfast. Approaching from the north we didn't find the runway which was hidden in tall pine trees, until we were well beyond the threshold on downwind. This made for a long final over Priest Lake that allowed for the only approach photo I was able to take. A short walk to the lake and we were seated at out door tables at a nice little restaurant that would serve "breakfast". One of the guys ordered by saying something about over easy and the waiter/cook gave him a funny look. There was one breakfast on the menu and it consisted of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, ham home style potatoes and toast and it was $5.00 period. The food was great and would have gone for a lot more anywhere else. We talked to some locals and found out that a lakefront home close to the runway could be had for about $125,000. The runway was grass once again and in great condition.
Timber Farming		Approaching Cavanaugh Bay		Taxiing to take off
Taxiing - Cavanaugh Bay		Video - Approaching Cavanaugh Bay		Video - Departing Cavanaugh Bay
		Pullman, WA
		Burns, OR
Fueling at Burns
		Alturas, CA
Larry and Mark		After breakfast we left for Pullman for fuel (Ken staying in Coeur D'Alene to spend some more time with his friend) and then on to Burns Idaho where we spent the night. The flight from Pullman was over some interesting terrain. The ground was mostly sagebrush early on and we would occasionally come upon clusters of cattle around water holes. Later we over flew areas with numerous almost interconnected lakes with a lot of wildlife. Mark succumbed to temptation and landed on the shore line of one of the lakes. The rest of us circled overhead until he got his tailwheel out of the mud and took off again and the group reformed for the remainder of the flight to Burns. We landed at Burns under ominous looking clouds. There was unsettled air all over the western mountains with a lot of thunder storm activity. The line attendant assured us that this was common afternoon weather at Burns and the morning would dawn bright and clear. The FBO at Burns gave us the use of a loaner car and Roy favored us as our chauffeur. It took two trips each way to get the group around town. It was at Burns over dinner at an Indian Casino that we learned of the handcuffing incident at Elk city and this news set the tone for the dinner. We had a great time and the food wasn't bad either and quite reasonable. And mark was kind enough to share his pumpkin pie with us while he took Ty for natures call. The next morning we departed early for Alturas where we fueled for the final leg home. About fifteen miles out of Alturas Mark spotted an orange field to the North and asked me to check it out. He wondered what crop would have an orange flower. I finally determined that it was a dry lake formerly occupied by an orangeish algae. This diversion caused me to lose the guidance of the group and I proceeded to land at Alturas Pines instead of Alturas Muni. No longer can I feel smug at the tales of pilots calling one airport and landing at another. By the time I got to Muni, everyone else was fueling and Stacey was in position to film my triple bounce landing. Leaving Alturas we set the GPS for our home airports and flew the course. Since Wray and Roy were from the Bay area and Larry, Mark and I were from the Sierra foothills, we split into two groups. Two Kitfoxes flying more westerly and two flying more southerly. By this time you could tell we were all aching for our families and our own beds as the flying became serious and straight. No longer were we flying low and slow and savoring the view, we were on serious business. We flew up where the air was still and the temperatures were cool. Just South of Beale AFB we said our farewells and committed ourselves to doing this again.
Larry and Mark
Larry and Mark
Larry and Mark
Mark		Larry and Mark		Larry and Mark
Ray and Larry		Ray and Larry		Mark
Three airplanes - three reflections		Video - Mark landing on the lake shore		Lined up after fueling at Alturas

Alturas with ice in the sky

For those of us that were there, looking and reminiscing will bring smiles of recollection on our faces, that is certain. For others seeing this for the first time, I hope it will instill a desire to get together with others and share the opportunities provided by this wonderful little airplane. And to Denney Aerocraft and Skystar Aircraft Corporation, thank you.

Lowell Fitt