The Pacific Northwest (PNW) region in North America (see Ryan's post and pictures), on its easternmost edge, extends all the way to the state of Montana. A special part of this is the Bitterroot Range of Mountains on the western side of Montana. The Bitterroots played a critical role in the (classic) westward voyage of discovery and expedition by Lewis and Clark, this segment considered the most difficult and challenging of the entire expedition, the final major hurdle, so to speak: Temperatures dropped below freezing, the trail was steep and rocky, the party was starved and fatigued, and the food supplies were low.... etc. But the Expedition made it across these formidable mountains, eventually to be on their way, for the final stretch, to the proverbial west coast of America and the much-anticipated sighting of the vast blue waters of the Pacific Ocean... 

The Bitterroot mountains are named after the little and delicate pink & white flowers native to this region (it's the state flower of Montana). These flowers, in turn, are named after their roots, that are bitter to taste, but have been gathered, stored, dried, and used for food by the Native Americans, been also well-regarded by them for its cultural significance and medicinal values.

For this post, I start off from the Ravalli County Airport (6S5) within the Bitterroot valley, and proceed northward for about 60 miles, with these mountains, on my LHS, giving me constant company (see images below). I am flying to Missoula Airport (KMSO) at the north end of this valley, and finally land on its ILS Runway 12, after making a tight U-turn, within the narrow valley, past the airport. If you have ever flown (SIM or real) to the (other) Jackson Hole (KJAC) airport of Montana, also a classic "valley" airport, surrounded by the Teton Mountain Range, the feeling is very similar to that for Missoula Airport (KMSO).

Please find this collection of images, below, as I take control again of my favorite Piper Twin, the PA-34 Seneca, for this interesting journey on the eastern edge of the Pacific Northwest, in the state of Montana, a state that's dominated by multiple Mountain Ranges including the Rockies, of which this Bitterroot Range is one shining example.

Thanks for viewing...! Hope you enjoy...!

Nice flight. Good-looking over-the-panel shot (third from bottom).

11 minutes ago, John F said:

Nice flight. Good-looking over-the-panel shot (third from bottom).

Thanks, John...Of course, you know Pipers well...being close to the sites where the (original) Piper was born....🙂...

Appreciated the comemnt on a late Sunday, especially with the Daylight-Saving Time change ...🙂...

Nice set, thanks for showing !

cheers 😉

Interesting trip over an interesting area with a plane that carries an interesting paint 🙂🙂

Great shots! 😉 

pmplayer, bernd, Will:

Thanks very much for the comments...!!