June 2, 2021 - Day Twelve, Flight Two
Missoula, Rich's Ranch, Seeley Lake - Montana
I left Big Creek and headed north-northeast towards Missoula, Montana.  The first half of the flight I'd be flying through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.  Great!  You better believe I was wearing my survival vest on this flight.
   
Other than a few mountain airstrips, there wasn't much civilization out here. In fact there was no civilization.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
I was kind of glad when I started seeing some civilzation.  It's hard to see, but there is a little dirt airstrip down there parallel to the road by the river near the town of Darby.
   
Approaching a valley running north-south bordered by the Bitterroot Range to the west.
   
Those Bitterroots look pretty rugged.
   
Passing by Ravelli County Airport with the town of Hamilton between it and the Bitterroot Range.    The airport is obviously closed, however.
   
Continuing north up the valley.
   
Stevensville Airport (32S) is visible in the center of the picture.  The town of Stevensville is to the right of the airport.
   
Looking north up the valley, I can just see Missoula in the distance.  I continue north-northeast however, as I'm headed for Seeley Lake Airport (23S).
   
Looking down at Interstate 90 as it heads northwest towards Missoula.
   
Following a valley towards Seeley Lake.
   
Placid Lake is at center left with long, thin Seeley Lake visible in the distance in front of that snow-covered range.
   
Seeley Lake comes into view on the left while Seeley Lake grass strip airport is visible just to the right of center.
   
Seeley Lake and town.
   
Looking down the grass runway at Seeley Lake with some rather large, snow-covered mountains in the background.
   
Before I land at Seeley Lake airport, there is something I want to see.  I head southeast.
   
I recognize the area right away.
   
Yes, that's it.
   
It's Rich's Ranch, where Pete, Stan and I went snowmobiling in March 2020, right before the world lost its mind nuts over the Chinese Flu.  Of course, the area was covered in snow then.
   
We had a great time.  Link.  The main lodge is that large building with the red roof at center right.
   
I remember zooming across that big field on the snow machines, and heading into the mountains.  We had guides; otherwise, we would have been lost within the first 30 minutes.
   
We have fun racing over the trails on the side of that mountain.
   
Interesting house on an island in that lake.
   
Entering a left downwind for runway 16 at Seeley Lake Airport.  That's an unusually long runway for grass:  4,575 feet.
   
Turning final for 16.
   
Parked on the ramp at Seeley Lake.  More beautiful country.
   
Yet another nice campground area for transient pilots.
   
Bikes were available; even a courtesy car!
   
The gouge.
   
If you don't want to camp, you can stay at the Eagle Port Lodge -- an upscale lodge located right on the runway.  You can even park your plane in the ground floor hangar!  One of the rooms is in that tower.
   
Looking south.
   
I believe this airport is also an airport community.  There are a bunch of hangar/homes on the field.
   
Nice.
   
 
   
 
   
Looking north.
   
The camping area.
   
A close-up of the Eagle Port Lodge.
   
 
   
 
   
Taxiing to the north end of the runway for takeoff.  We came by this very spot on snow machines a year ago; that planted the seed to land here someday.
   
 
   
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