Smiley Creek '09

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#003399" TEXT="#080000" background="043c8c00erkjxk.jpg"> <div> <B>  I hadn't visited Smiley Creek in years, so Mark and I decided to fly in for lunch at the execellent Smiley Creek Lodge across the road from the airport.   As always, the food was great and the scenery was amazing.   If you're in the neighborhood, I highly recommend a visit.</B></div> <div> <B>  Smiley Creek, ID (U87) has a well manicured 4,900 ft. grass strip.  It's very easy, as far as approach and obstacles, but the 7,200 ft. elevation means you have to be ultra careful about density altitude in the summer.  The airport features a pilots campgroud, hot indoor showers, rental car for local trips and a full time caretaker.  Located in the Sawtooth Valley, the surrounding peaks provide an impressive view.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>  </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#99CCFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>John Galban's Flying Site</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFF99" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>  |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="John Galbans Flying Site"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="16"><B>     </B><A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="West Yellowstone 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="04910100.gif" border=0 width="16" height="16" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>     </B><A HREF="id93.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Johnson Creek 09"><U><B><IMG SRC="04a10100.gif" border=0 width="16" height="16" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="John Galbans Flying Site"><U><B><IMG SRC="04b100e0.gif" border=0 width="16" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B></div> <div> Smiley Creek '09</div> <div> <IMG SRC="32ce8ee0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="750" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>    The terrain in this part of central Idaho is some of the most rugged around.   Sure makes for an interesting view along the way.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="32ee8ee0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="750" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>   The manicured grass runway sticks out from the surrounding terrain.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="330e8ee0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="750" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>   Looking southeast from the midfield sock.  The ski resort town of Sun Valley is just on the other side of those mountains.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="332e8ee0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="750" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>    This airport is always good for an airplane photo op.   The magazine cover photo of N4BQ on the home page was shot here.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="334e8ee0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="750" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>    The campgroud features covered picnic tables, water, stoves and hot showers.  The first time I landed here, I thought this was some kind of local park.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="336e8ee0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="750" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>    This is the place to go for some excellent food in the middle of nowhere.  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="338e8ee0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="750" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>   After lunch you can play chess on this giant sized, hand carved chess set.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="33ae8ee0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="750" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>    If you don't feel like camping at the airport, you can rent one of the lodge's teepees for the night.  They're equipped with double beds and furniture.  I've never stayed in one, but </div> <div> it looks like fun.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>