One of the challenges I faced before and during my trip was finding a balance between making plans and sticking to them, and leaving room for spontaneous decisions.
The “make it to Montana as quickly as possible”- part was a no-brainer. But deciding how much time to allow for Montana, Idaho, Utah - not to mention the option to continue even further West - was difficult, especially since this was my first journey out west.
Sofar I had visited 4 places in MT and was now at my fourth strip in ID.
“Have you been to …?, you should definitely go to … !” were some of the answers I received from my pilot friends after I updated them on my whereabouts.
Now, there are enough backcountry destinations in Idaho alone to keep me busy all summer, but we were already in the last week of September.
I looked at the map, the calendar and the weather forecast - maybe one more place in Idaho?
I rememberd the invitation by the 170 pilot at Moose Creek to come up to Cavanaugh Bay…
In the end decided to move on.
Utah, Colorado and friends to the south were already waiting.
“…promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep.” came to mind.
Leaving the Idaho mountains
Logistics stopover in Gooding, ID
First signs of fall in northeastern Utah
Huntington, UT, beginning of my Utah adventures