Idaho Backcountry Flying 2023

In this video, I fly back to Idaho from Redding, CA with my daughter this time, and enjoyed some backcountry flying and camping. We camped at Johnson Creek, ID (3U2) and flew out one morning to Big Creek, ID (U60) to have breakfast at the Big Creek Lodge on the airfield. We traveled in our Piper Cherokee 180, and got to showcase the new panel that we had upgraded this winter. Super fun trip and time together!

[@Up_north_with_Mike]

Daddy daughter time will always be the best time.

[@mustanggun]

Some great daddy/daughter time doing aviation and beautiful Idaho.

[@rexcox8165]

really great video,,low wing still see alot,glad all had a blast, great plane travel in,awesome scenry..

[@Kitfoxj]

Daddy daughter time is the best time! Great video. What an awesome place to be able to fly around in…..

[@bhendo44]

Couldn't agree more!

[@AMB955Bosbok]

Great video, thanks for sharing

[@kenthigginbotham9716]

Great Job Dad and hello from O88🙏

[@adventureaviator]

Making memories that will last forever! Good stuff.

[@rumbear1]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!!

[@copycatcarlton]

Great video!

[@budowens6478]

Simply awesome!!! Panel looks great 👍🏻

[@johndoe6985]

I did that trip 3 years ago from okc. Definitely a bucket list if you have a plane.

[@Yaateeh1000]

Great vid. Good family time.

[@alvarogaitan2529]

great job thanks for sharing this video and good luck

[@michaelmurphy5738]

It was nice meeting you guys at Johnson Creek. Mike and Karsten (RV-12iS)

[@bhendo44]

Nice to meet you! Maybe we’ll see you back next year.

[@SMcda]

Great video, I lived in Bend for 22 years and took my kids to JC all the time in my TU206G. Great memories with your daughter.

[@dtwyckoff]

Great video!!!! Well done.

[@TheShays]

Looks like you guys had a blast! High quality video and editing 👍

[@trevorhewitt2438]

I really enjoyed your back country video with your daughter. Excellent 1440p clarity, narration, beautiful music, drone use, and flight video. Love seeing the clear water, Big Country Lodge, and the approaches into the back country airstrips. I'm an experienced pilot myself and really appreciate just being able to take-off to exotic destinations. Great video!

[@bhendo44]

Thanks for checking out the video!

[@skyhawk21]

I would jump to this opportunity in a heart beat, camping and flying in Idaho! Best times….

[@bigalant]

Hi Guys . Alan here Cambridge U.K. . Fantastic video of Idaho flying . Loved it . Here our area is very flat indeed so the valleys and landing strips look so challenging . Thanks again .😊 16:40

[@AVMamfortas]

Johnson Creek is world famous in Tasmania :) Magical place. You guys are so lucky.

[@letsfly72x]

I really liked the video!

[@amywhite375]

Simply awesome!

[@reyesben]

Fantastic! As a PA-28 owner it’s great to see other cherokees out doing this kind of flying. Looks like the Oleo’s and low wing was comfortable in the back country

[@bhendo44]

It’s definitely capable in the back country. I try to avoid the really rough strips, but you don’t need an expensive tail-dragger with big bush tires to go out and enjoy unpaved airports!

[@StuPierce77]

Fantastic video! Thanks for posting!

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

What a great video for so many reasons, I am happy for you! I learned fly in High School in the early 70’s off of a 2600 foot grass strip. However can not say I have done any back country flying in the mountains. Corporate jets are not conducive of that! Seriously what great video! 😁🛫

[@mohlenair]

Great video, you helped bump this up on my bucket list! Love the panel upgrade too! 👍👏👏👏

[@DrJohn493]

I enjoyed the vicarious aerial visit to some of Idaho's back country strips! Great scenery!! I've only visited a few of them when I've been on road trips in Idaho. The state does a good job maintaining those it owns and operates. When you plan another trip to Idaho, be sure to stop in a Smiley Creek, they have a good little lodge and cafe just across the road. Stanley also has a nice paved runway and good eats in town. I like your panel upgrades in the 180, especially the Aspen PFD. I loved the one I flew behind for a number of years in a Baron. New sub! Safe flying!

[@johnorlovich4789]

What a great video. Glad you enjoyed it up here. Big Creek is one of my favorites. Hope you can get up to Stanley and Smiley Creek area for your next trip. In the late spring/early summer, you will be surprised at the amount of snow cover still up in the Sawtooth Mountains and how frozen the high lakes are.

[@bhendo44]

Thanks for the tip. We loved Big Creek, but we definitely want to try the bakery in Stanley next year!

[@SMcda]

Don't miss Sulpher Creek

[@DrJohn493]

This is a good recommendation. Been to both.

[@DrJohn493]

@@bhendo44 You will not be disappointed. Had b'fast there twice when I was knocking around the area fly fishing.

[@skyrunner1818]

Loved your video, great editing. I have been at the exact same places this year - Johnson Creek, Big Creek, Cascade and enjoyed it very much. I wish it is only 3.5 hours from my home base.

[@bhendo44]

Awesome! Where's your base airport?

[@steini6771]

Greetings from Norway. As a 40-year + private pilot, I loved this vid. Thanks -

[@bhendo44]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@PaulAmdahl]

Good Stuff Yup

[@jerryogstad688]

Iam 81 and half and grew up in Ldaho and flew at all of the back country even had a cabin Big creek I had a super cub and 180--185--205 loved it only had one miss hap at waren on skees we plowed into the end of the rumway nobdy gor hirt but we all had to change our pants love that kind of flying you better have it gether we use to love to fly into one strip it was a strip that you CANT go around you have get it right the new people are blessed I KNOW FOR A FACT JESUS WAS WITH US

[@GSGS-1950]

I really like your panel upgrade. I would like to do something similar to my PA-28-180C. Can you please let me know who cut your panel? Thanks. Gary

[@bhendo44]

Superior Aircraft Components cut our panel. They’re located in Texas. They did a great job!

[@dakotafunnel5635]

Great video! I have a Cherokee 180 as well and have been dreaming heading out there. Any issues with the wheel pants? What time of the year did you go? Favorite part of the trip had me rolling with the couch comment. 😂

[@bhendo44]

I took the wheel pants off for last years trip to Idaho, and I found that I was more likely to throw rocks into the underside of the wings with the tires exposed, so I put them back on for this year. I’d rather damage the wheel pant than the wing. And I’ve always gone up there in July or August. Great weather! Thanks for the response.

[@DavZZee]

Great family oriented video. Nice panel but I thought if 2 G5 were installed and one was set as an HSI the original glide slope indicator had to be removed per the Garmin STC?

[@DWBurns]

Is Big Creek suitable for a Piper Arrow? Little nose wheel and folding feet thing.

[@bhendo44]

Big Creek definitely had some decent ruts, especially compared to how smooth Johnson Creek is. That being said, my Cherokee handled it fine as long as I kept the nose light, and kept the flaps extended to the second notch to get off the ground ASAP.

[@ryvgmxus]

Which route did you fly from KRDD to U70?

[@bhendo44]

@@ryvgmxus We went direct to from Redding

[@cajunnathan4586]

What is the white box on the dashboard of the plane for?

[@bhendo44]

It's called a Stratus 3 ADS-B receiver. It shows ADS-B traffic targets on my iPad while running Foreflight so I can keep track of other aircraft in the area.

[@cajunnathan4586]

Thats a Great Device to have! I've watch several flying videos and the pilots had the device on their dash board. The most I fly is RC Planes. Thx for answering my question. Be Safe!

[@DavidSmith-jj5pr]

I da pimp

[@mike3543]

🙋 'Promo SM'

[@thomasm8699]

Buddha's country for sure.....and yours too. Thanks for the journey. Nice peaceful presentation.