Maule Gathering - Johnson Creek Idaho (3U2)
We got an early start, zipped across the Sierra range north of Lake Tahoe and headed out over the Black Rock Desert
Just about the point that we were about as far from civilization (and an airport) as we were ever going to get
it started to rain
It wasn't bad though, just a few light showers and we punched through to the beautifully rugged Idaho backcountry
Overhead at 11,000 feet we look down on our destination and watch a few arrivals to get an idea of how to do it
It's already 11 am (we forgot about the time change) and it's best to get in in the morning before the wind picks up
We decide to come up the canyon from the south and do a regular pattern like the others we observed
It's not too difficult but there are a few gotchas for first timers with not too much mountain flying experience
like us....
First of all, you've got to get down in that canyon, and I mean down
Notice the relaxed, easy grip on the controls that marks a true greenhorn
Lucky for us that strip is 3400 feet long and plenty wide with no crosswind to worry about
Like I said - good thing - because when we turn final it's pretty obvious that we didn't get down in the canyon far enough
I mean, I'd say we're a trifle high here but hey, I'm just the photographer
Don't try this in a 182 folks - full flaps, pull the nose up and the Maule drops like a wall safe
people who saw it thought we just wanted to camp down at the far end
Okay, we landed a little hard - enough so to flatten the tailwheel tire anyway
So we found a tailwheel stand and inner tube repair kit and did a 'bush' repair
This guy's landing was even worse than ours
We staked out a spot and set up the tent
This is one major cool place
looking south
For perspective here's a guy on base
The afternoon sported a few thunder claps and a sprinkle or two but it was all just show
Only in America - God bless this country!
I've wanted one of these since I was 14 years old
ain't she just the cutest thing ya ever saw?
Cessnas, there was even a 150 and believe it or not - a Beech Muskateer was there too
Early morning departures
We only got to stay the one afternoon because I had to get back to work but we had all day Sunday
so we left early and flew west to the Columbia river gorge
Like an apparition Mt Hood rises out of the smoky haze
You can't pass Mt Shasta without being in awe of it's majesty
Troughout the west there were numerous wildfires burning and everywhere there was thick haze and smoke
This one was just west of Lake Shasta and was pretty big
Finally back in the big valley following the Sacramento River southward past Sutter Buttes and home
Here are some more pictures of the flyin on the MacNab Clan website