I've acquired Orbx (CRM) since some time, but, have hardly explored it...in much detail...except for, once, the (remarkable) Jackson Hole and Grand Teton region...via a post here. So, today, I am taking a ~200 miles trip, from Missoula (Montana), near Idaho border, lifting off from the dirt strip of the nearby (privately owned) Horner Field Airport (MT49), flying south along the narrow valleys skirted by the spectacular Bitterroot Mountain range of the Central Rockies, then crossing over the Montana-Idaho border to finally land on the (asphalt) runway of (U62) Mackay Airport, Idaho.

In the Epic (westward) adventuress of Lewis & Clark Expedition, there are significant references to the Bitterroot Mountains, though, the descriptions of the eleven-day journey across this (formidable) mountainous terrain are particularly brief in Clark's journal, and almost nonexistent in Lewis's. 

Here are a few snippets:

1. "Lewis and Clark reached the Bitterroot Valley in Montana mid-September 1805. The weather was beginning to change, with frost at night and snow on the surrounding mountains. To the west lay the mountains they knew they had to cross..."
2. "September 11: After several days at Traveler's Rest near Lolo, Montana, the Corps began crossing the Bitterroot Mountains, the most dangerous leg of the entire journey. Over the next 11 days, the men struggled through deep snow...Under the guidance of Old Toby (Shoshone), the Corps... ascended into the Bitterroot Mountains...walking the 200-mile stretch of mountain terrain..."
3. "They suffered from frostbite, malnutrition and dehydration. In the crossing of the Bitterroots, 16 September 1805 was one of the worst days of the expedition. "I have been wet and as cold in every part as I ever was in my life," Clark complained. "Indeed, I was at one time fearful my feet would freeze in the mockersons which I wore..."..."

Here, in today's (virtual) flight, seated within the warm comfort of the cockpit of my Turbo Commander 690B...🙂...I'm navigating across the same inhospitable terrain.... effortlessly overflying the highest ridges of (Idaho) Bitterroots at 15,000 ft cruise...see screenshots... (it's humbling to think, though, that Wright Brothers' first flight would occur ~100 years after that (perilous) on-the-foot ground-crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains, by Lewis and Clark...) ...And, this 690B model of the Aero Commander, would come by another ~75 years later...

For the later part of my flight, I've adjusted the time, for (golden) twilight, for a bit of extra effect. BTW, landing on Rwy 12 of U62 (Mackay Airport) is not for the faint-hearted...🙂...the town and airport are closely snuggled in between the Rockies, with several tall mountains overlooking the town, making the landing from northwest a real challenge...requiring (critical) last-minute maneuvers to align with the Rwy... I barely made it safely down...touching down just close-enough to the centerline of the Rwy... (See screenshots) ...

My a/c, here, the Aero Commander, is a plane that I've known and flown since the earliest days of my simming, thanks to the wonderful creations (multiple 500 Series and the 680, but no 690, as I recall) from the (well-regarded) freeware developer and contributor, Milton Shupe...This here is a 690B (Turbo) model by Carenado. The livery is of AirLift Northwest, an air ambulance service operating in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.

Hope you enjoy this collection of images...! Thanks for viewing...!!

[Orbx(CRM), Carenado(AC690B)]

Excellent snaps Sir !! . 

Beautiful set of shots, seems to be a nice Trip to me..

cheers 😉

Super set of shots! 🙂 

johnbow, pmplayer, Alaska738:

Thanks for the kind words...!!