For the Pilot Sportsman.  Make your vacation days count!
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Map of flight day one. Image from www.SeattleAvionics.com's Voyager flight planning software.Some of the food
Some of the survival gear (note Smith and Wesson 329PD .44 Magnum in soft case.) www.Smith-Wesson.comBaggage for a passenger
Early morning Texas sky.'THE' Jay Pratt
MX20 display between Dallas and Trinidad, CO.Refueling at Trinidad.
No idea which resort this is....somewhere between Trinidad and Gunnison, CONearing Gunnison, CO
The terrain mode of the MX20 is one of its best features in this area.Down for a couple of hours in Gunnison for lunch and fuel.
I took this specifically for Larry Pardue, because I know he has an interest in Geology.Rain over the Rockies north of Gunnison.
Great Salt Lake off in the distance.Great Salt Lake off in the distance.
Fields near Brighman City, UT.Approaching Hailey, ID (Sun Valley ski resort)
On the ramp at Sun Valley. Coupla goofballs. Note survival vest loaded with essentials.Sun Valley resort and town.
Sawtooths south of McCall, ID.Approaching McCall, ID (BEAUTIFUL CITY)
Jay, Lori from www.MountainCanyonFlying.com, and me.View from Hotel McCall.
View from Hotel McCall.


Dallas, TX to Johnson Creek, Idaho 2004 by Doug Reeves

Day One
On the advice of Rob 'Smokey' Ray, Jay Pratt and I left the Dallas area in our RVs for McCall, ID on Thursday 8/5/04 for some mountain/canyon flying instruction at McCall Mountain Canyon Flying Seminars, LLP followed by two days of camping at Johnson Creek airstrip near Yellow Pine, ID (sectional). Dallas area RVator Rick Freeman worked up a list of 'must have' and 'nice to have' survival items to take, since we would be flying over some very inhospitable areas of the country. The idea of being something's lunch motivated me to pay special attention.  One tip was to wear a survival vest (a fly-fishing vest really) packed with those items you would really want to have on your person in an off-airport landing (signal mirror, way to start a fire, compass, etc). I plan on working up an article on the survival aspect a little later on.

I removed the passenger seatback and cushions so I could pack my gear where the passenger would normally sit and was packed, fueled and ready to go the night before launch. We set out at 6:30am from our airports and joined in the air with Trinidad, CO in the GPS.

Time to KTAD (Trinidad, CO): 3 hrs exactly.
Distance covered: 420nm.
Gallons purchased: 27.6 gallons ($2.75)
Average speed: 140 kts.

After topping off and visiting the facilities we started off for our intended 2nd waypoint, KEMM (Kemmerer, WY). Some weather formed along our route so we diverted to the left a bit and ended up putting down in Gunnison, CO (KGUC) for more fuel and lunch. The terrain feature of the old MX-20 was very much appreciated here. It made the go/no go decision very easy. We took the courtesy car into town and ate at a little Italian restaurant, eating WAY too much ravioli. By the time lunch was over the skies were clear enough to continue on.

Time to KGUC: 1hr 35min
Distance: 145nm
Gallons purchased: 12.2 ($2.99)

Mountain flying is not inherently dangerous, but terribly unforgiving of any mistakes, neglect or inattention to detail.
   -  Rob 'Smokey' Ray

We launched from Gunnison, CO and headed west over a pretty lake with some light rain in the area before turning towards the Salt Lake City area and our 3rd waypoint (Hailey, ID). We passed just east of the Great Salt Lake area, an area that is pretty desolate looking if you ask me. I took some pictures through the long lens. In contrast Brigham City looked pretty lush. We contacted Haily tower (Sun Valley ski resort) and descended into the most expensive fuel of the trip - and attendants straight out of a Victoria's Secret catalog. This was the highlight of Jay's day.  I would have preferred cheaper gas <g>.

Time to KSUN: 3hrs 17min
Distance: 452nm
Gallons purchased: 25 ($3.59)

Time for the final push into McCall, ID. Flying over some of the most rugged mountains I've ever seen (the Sawtooths) made me glad I had about 60 lbs of survival gear. If you survived the landing you would almost certainly be on your own for quite some time. Be prepared. 

We arrived at McCall (KMYL) around 5pm local after about an hour of flying. Lori from www.MountainCanyonFlying.com  was waiting for us on the ramp. Hugs and high fives all around then off to the classroom for some mountain instruction.

Time to KMYL: 58min 20sec
Distance: 114nm
Gallons purchased: none (wanted light plane for landing next morning at Johnson Creek)

Distance covered this day: 1,145 n.m.
(I can't emphasize enough how nice it is to have a dual-axis autopilot if you want to cover this amount of ground in a day.  I personally use a TruTrak 'Altrak' altitude hold and a Trio Avionics 'EZ Pilot' heading hold.)

Lori had us watch the videos of the approach into Johnson Creek and Big Creek, then she walked us through the many things to avoid (it is a long list). Rob Ray's comments are perfect for right here...."Mountain flying is not inherently dangerous, but terribly unforgiving of any mistakes, neglect or inattention to detail." 

She dropped us off at the Hotel McCall, a kind of bed and breakfast arrangement with shared showers/restrooms. Very nice hotel and the view of the lake was absolutely stunning. I kept wondering why more people don't live in McCall. A lady at the restaurant said it snows six months out of the year. That's probably why.

In the sack by 10pm local. Tomorrow we fly in canyons and land at Johnson Creek with mountains on all sides...for the first time.

I sleep fitfully...
On To Day Two

Doug

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