Backcountry Flying...

As I was sitting here at the kitchen table watching the day's sun dim through the snowstorm heading towards us down the canyon, I happened to glance down at our grocery list for the supply plane that will land once the snow has melted a bit more on the landing strip. We're down to canned and frozen vegetables and fruits now. All fresh food is gone, just canned and frozen options for our meals. Which, is fine, but you never realize how much you have a craving for a salad when you haven't had one for 3 months?! :)

In lieu of thinking about the supply plane that we expect will be able to land with fresh produce and whatnots (probably mid-March), I decided to do a blog about the views that we encounter flying in and out of this area.

These are photos I have taken on various May month flights over the last few years. Usually, we fly into the Diamond D Ranch the first part of May, taking over for the winter caretakers to spend the month getting things ready for guests and getting a head start on ranch work.   There is still alot of snow up high on the mountains first part of May, and the road is still closed due to snow (sometimes 6-8 ft still on the summit road!), but the ground at the Ranch elevation is usually bare. So it is quite the contrast!

Sometimes we fly in from Boise, ID ( takes 1 hour)...sometimes we fly in from Challis, ID (15 minute flight). Everyone has their opinion about backcountry flying in small planes (185s or 206s). I personally love it and think it's a great way to see country that you never would otherwise...Dana has a little different opinion!  (haha) Either way, the view is spectacular, no matter the time of year, and if you ever get a chance to fly into the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and land on the Loon Creek Airstrip to visit the Diamond D Ranch, I highly recommend it!