Photos of the Week: Jan. 5-9, 2026

Read about the right way to fly the Idaho Backcountry in the January/February issue of Plane + Pilot magazine.

Friday, January 09, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

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Tag along on a flight from Missoula, Montana (KMSO) to Big Creek (U60) in the Idaho Backcountry. [Credit: Jordan Lefler]

Key Takeaways:

The article chronicles a flight to Big Creek (U60), a legendary backcountry destination located in the Idaho wilderness.
Big Creek Lodge serves as a primary basecamp for pilots and outdoor enthusiasts.
Owned by the Idaho Aviation Association, the lodge offers comfortable accommodation, hot meals, and a strong sense of camaraderie.
It is presented as an ideal spot for sharpening mountain flying skills or simply disconnecting from the modern world.

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Tag along on a flight from Missoula, Montana (KMSO) to Big Creek (U60) in the Idaho Backcountry.

Deep in the heart of the Idaho wilderness lies the Big Creek Lodge, a legendary backcountry destination that serves as the ultimate basecamp for pilots and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Owned and operated by the Idaho Aviation Association, the lodge offers comfortable housing, hot meals, and a unique sense of camaraderie that can be hard to find anywhere else.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your mountain flying skills or simply escape the noise of the modern world, Big Creek is the perfect place to touch down and disconnect.

Photos by Jordan Lefler

Cayla McLeod

Cayla McLeod is a private pilot with a love for all things tailwheel and grass strips. She has been actively involved in general aviation for the last decade, and can’t imagine life without flying and the people that go with it.