Flying B Ranch (Work Trip)

I've been camping since I was a child, always driven to get outside, discover and explore. Grew up preferring the mountains over the beach, humbled by the terrain. It was only later in life that I went to Europe and got off the east coast to see the wonders of the US. I am very fortunate to have a job that dangles the carrot or traveling to places like Idaho and the beautiful ranch known as the Flying B. The views, weather, beautiful skies and people working with the land was awe inspiring.

The Geography is very different from anything we know on the east coast. It appears to be mountains in the distance but we are actually in valley, it is flat over that ridge. The altitude is similar to Richmond and they get very little snow. We flew into Lewiston Idaho at the northern tip of this valley system and followed it around to the B. The ranch is in Nez Perce Indian territory, one of the last tribes in the US to settle on their reservation agreement. We floated the same river, clearwater river, where Lewis and Clark experienced this land in a dugout canoe. The valley where the lodge is scattered with shear cliffs and golden meadows of grass. Lawyers creek flows thru the middle and creates a couple of stocked ponds.

Taxidermy was on every wall in the lodge. The grand room had a brilliant stone fireplace with oversized arm chairs. The bar area had a casual family room with TV. Most of us got our own bedrooms that were super comfy and the dining room made for great family style dinners. Large patio, accessible from each bedroom had a huge fire pit, sauna and hot tub for star gazing. Small groups collected in all corners of the lodge at night around a bottle of wine, cigar or liquor bottle. The lodge had anything you could want on hand for your stay. The 24 hour travel day to get out there with jet lag made for a tough first day. 

I've never had a hunting license in my life, so I had to take the hunters safety course last minute and get licensed for all the activities. I have to say I was dreading the online course but it was very well written and I am glad it is mandatory. I have always respected guns and sportsman fishing/hunting. I have just never felt the need to pursue it. I am glad that I did. One of the things about the B that I have heard over and over is how well the dogs are trained and how well they work birds. I still find myself amazed by how it all works. These inland birds run to escape just as much as they fly. So the dogs work quickly back and forth running to be faster than the birds. If the birds are just out of the dogs sweep they very well can run away without ever being detected. The first part of the morning hunt it wasn't odd for the birds to be so heavy with dew that they just stayed hunkered down. Hunkered down to the point where we stepped on them, or dogs just picked them up.



Now I have done a fair bit of skeet shooting in my life and the group I hunted in had great success "wacking birds". It was quite the workout pushing thru tall grass, worrying about stepping on rattle snakes and being soaking wet. I would do it again tomorrow with zero hesitation. I actually had those pants from my cold weather camping wardrobe, looks pretty natural don't you think?



We went float fishing the last full day there. Down the fresh water river, the same river that Lewis and Clark floated down so long ago. Once again the scenic views from down in the valley were amazing. In this style fishing our guide paddled and directed trolled thru parts of the river. My boat only caught two fish, but Tony's guide went with different bait and was very successful. The people of Kamiah and surrounding areas are complete lovers and protectors of their habitat. Many of them have worked as guides for a long time and feel it is as important to protect the habitat and its' inhabitants than it is to make sure you kill or catch anything. I love that spiritual balance and humble existence with the earth. Not to be all hippy dippy but I learned that philosophy young and this place really spoke to everything I've ever done.





I wish I could have stayed a few more days. I want one more cup of coffee with these views or one more beer with my guide at the truck after a long afternoon hunt. I want to see those dogs work on their best days and their worst. The balance out here was just perfect, it was the great adventure of Rawls and Clark. Sure, he took the most epic and expensive shower bath of his life, but opportunities like this don't come around too often.



I will be back Idaho, save that spot by the fire for me or just bury me at the B.

- Mitakuye Oyasin