If you are reading this, chances are high your bucket list includes “add seaplane rating” and “experience backcountry flying.”
There are numerous places to strike either from your list. But there are few places a pilot can scratch both itches with one stop.
Curious? Open up a map and look for northwest Montana in general. Specifically, find Kalispell. It’s surrounded by lakes and mountains and rivers.
The Backcountry Flying Experience’s PA-18 Super Cub on Edo 2000 floats at their Lee’s Landing seaplane base.
That is where Peter Gross hung out the Backcountry Flying Experience shingle five years ago. Gross started with seaplane instructing. As with many best laid plans, “the seaplane instruction evolved into wheel and ski stuff in the last three years,” noted Gross.
Today, Backcountry Flying Experience has two Super Cubs and a Cessna 180.
Specialized Training
Backcountry Flying Experience’s evolution, combined with its place on the map, has led Gross to produce customized training for each individual.
Wheel plane instructor Perry Brown (left), float plane instructor Terry Hayes and Peter Gross with their Cessna 180 on amphib floats at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.
“We respond to the pilot’s desires and needs,” starts Gross. “If you think you’re going to be doing float flying in rivers, then we’ll concentrate on rivers and we’ve got plenty of those that we can get into. If you’re more inclined to mountains, then we’ll focus on the mountain lakes, and get into some of the tighter spots to see what that’s all about. On the other hand [that’s three hands if you’re counting], perhaps in the future you’re going to be flying a lot of bigger lakes. Then let’s concentrate on our big lakes and winds, and currents, and all the things that come to play there.”
New seaplane pilots Lexi Jampolsky (center) and Rich Verploegen (right) with examiner Stephan Robinson following their check rides.
That covers the seaplane side of things, but what about backcountry and off-airport operations?
“We tailor our training very specifically to an individual and his desires, skills and abilities,” said Gross. “We operate a Super Cub on wheels with bigger tires. We start at our private grass strip on the valley floor. We want our students to get used to grass, which seems to be rare these days. First we experience grass and then we work our way into the mountains, learning as we go — mountain currents and all of the things that go into mountain flying.
Tailwheel operations require a logbook endorsement. Backcountry flying is neither a rating not an endorsement. It is both book-learning and practical experience.
Meanwhile, to fly seaplanes, a pilot must earn a rating. And Backcountry Flying Experience has “a designated examiner available to us seven days a week. So there’s no waiting, no problems with getting your rating.”
The Setting
Gross can justifiably call the Bob Marshall Wilderness — called “The Bob” by locals — his backyard. The 1,577-square-mile patch of land is a Congressionally mandated wilderness area. Terrain ranges from 4,000 feet above sea level to 9,000 feet.
The Bob has “plenty of mountains, plenty of scenery, backcountry strips, private and forest service that we can get into, including Ryan Field, the Recreational Aviation Foundation owned strip.”
Morning on Big Salmon Lake in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Montana. Photo by Troy Smith via Flickr.
“We’re pretty successful in not being too crazy up here,” continues Gross. “We don’t have a lot of competition doing what we do. We try not to pick on any one strip or lake for a lot of touch-and-gos. We’ve got enough to go around so that we can continue to provide the experience, which is truly in our name and what we believe. It’s an experience.”
A lot of Backcountry Flying Experience clients bring their families along.
Over the Hungry Horse Reservoir (one of several training lakes), between Glacier National Park and The Bob Marshall Wilderness.
“We fly a few hours in the morning, then we all go up to Glacier Park and ride the jammer buses or float the rivers or go horse back riding, bicycling, hiking, and on and on,” he recounts.
You get the idea. If you love the outdoors, northwest Montana is up to the challenge.
Experience Not Adventure
Why didn’t he call it Backcountry Flying Adventures?
“I don’t like adventures,” he says. “That’s when that adrenaline hits a little too hard. I like to have an experience and I like it to be a positive experience.”
If you’ve not yet crossed “seaplane rating” or “backcountry flying” off your bucket list, you might want to consider signing up for an experience.
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I see that your 180 is N4636B. My first solo was in N4634B, a 180 on straight floats in 1961. What engine & avionics do you have in 36B? Do you sell dual in 36B (no longer have medical)?
Hi John:
Nothing too exciting in the panel but do have P Ponk with 3 blade prop up front.Come fly with us for $350.00/hr and rekindle an old relationship!
What are your charges? I am Comm. Milt Engine Helo. In Aerial spraying for 44 years. From Cubs to M 18 1500 HP Turbines with 800 gal Hooper 41,061.07 TT 37,643.01 AG hours 21,346.07 Turbine AG Hours. I need a Sea Plane Rating. 73 years old. My wife is pilot also , but no medical because faa eye regulations. My medical is new and flight bi annual new. I am flying 502 turbine airtractor this year. Would like to go back country, fishing, and camping. My window of no ag flying is After Nov. 15 2016 to my start in May 2017. Thanks Please reply. I am James R. Davis.
Hi James: The basic package is $1900.00 plus $450.00 for the flight examiner.WE will do our best to work around your schedule. Please call wit other questions you my have and to schedule your Backcountry Flying Experience!
Peter
406-890-3419
Got my SES with these guys last summer, very professional all around. Excellent instruction and by far some of the most beautiful flying I have had the chance to do.
Highly recommend them!
Thanks, Brent- come back and fly with us again and we’ll find some new places to splash into!
What is Bob Gross’ contact info
His website is: www.backcountryflyingexperience.com/
Can we use our own aircraft? Watch and learn scenario?
Please bring your own aircraft! We help you gain confidence in your skills and your aircraft’s capabilities.Please call to arrange your Backcountry Flying Experience. 406-890-3419
Considering a Wilderness experience, take the seaplane, camping gear, and food for a week and return to base with your SES, knowledge of wilderness camping, (firestarting, axmanship, campfire cooking). Now that is an adventure for a bucket list!
You’ll also return with the biggest smile on your face that will take a long time to diminish!
How much.? Sounds like fun. I already have a seaplane & tail dragger endorsement/ rating but, would love to be part of that experience.
Do you have accommodations?
Troy: How much fun would you like to have? Our Super Cubs rent for $275.00 dual and we will build a custom program around your skills and desires. Wheels, floats or both! Accommodations from tent camping to 4 star resort with pick up at their dock are available.
I think I met Peter Gross this last winter here in Fresno at APT therapy. Sure looks like the same man. He has flown a lot in Alaska with the fishing camps/lodges, likes the Helio Couriers and Pilatus Porters, Twin Otters on floats. Lots of power and jump, great to see he is running this operation……………..hope the Enviros don’t shut him down for noise, etc. etc. Great service for the folks who want to learn with experienced mountain pilots…………….whole different cat in the mountains. Have seen many crash sites where folks didn’t make it………..service ceiling means service ceiling and you can’t just guts ball things. I was fortunate to fly with Bob White, Lone Pine Flying service when I worked for the USFS doing fire suppression in the Sierras…………he got us in and out of Monache Meadows ( Golden Trout Wilderness) with out a hitch…..down wind landing and large Rock wall at the end of the runway…….many wrecks there.. folks just ran out of room. Bob would land immediately after the barbed wire fence at the beginning of the runway and haul back on the yoke and stick it on the ground…not much roll out. Going out was much better………..start at the rocks and go to FMP……can’t remember the altitude but it was high and thin. Willy Geiger landed on glaciers in Austria and Switzerland with skiis for the skiers and rescue work………..another great mountain flier.
Should note that there are no airstrips or landings permitted in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. There are several airstrips and lakes adjacent where landings are permitted. The Great Bear Wilderness grand-fathered in the Shafer Meadows Airstrip; landings are permitted there.
Yes, I thought wilderness areas were prohibited to motorized vehicles, including airplanes except at a very few heritage US Forest Service airstrips that were grandfathered. Wouldn’t wilderness area lake landings be prohibited? Can someone clarify?
Correct on wilderness areas,except as grandfathered, and National Parks but plenty of other landing sites and scenery all around those areas! the beauty doesn’t stop at the border.
I’ll have to get up there some day. It looks like a great experience.
Very beautiful place, likes The Swedish mountains in Lapland north of Sweden
Pretty sweet place… Northwest Montana. Backcountry Flying Experience has some fine instructors as well.
Thanks, Jeanne- quite a compliment from a respected authority!