If you are in the mood for a 12 mile round-trip hike through a beautiful forest with a touch of history at the end, this is the hike for you.
Nestled in the mountains of Idaho near McCall, sits Loon Lake. This destination offers a variety of options for hikers. Not only is the general area beautiful, but the lake also holds Mackinaw trout, and sports a World War II bomber. What did I say?! That’s right. On January 29, 1943, a B-23 Dragon bomber veered off course in the middle of a snowstorm. Low on fuel and due to the rugged terrain below, the bomber was forced to make an emergency landing in the only location possible; on the snow covered Loon Lake. The emergency crash landing was not gentle; the plane crashed through the trees shearing off both wings. The fuselage however, remained intact. Out of the 8 crewmen, there were surprisingly only two injuries; a broken leg, and a severely cut hand. Unfortunately, in this location, the chances of being spotted by anyone were virtually nil. Five days after the crash, three of the crewmen decided to try to hike out for help. After a hike of 42 miles in snow which was often waist deep, they were eventually able to find a ranger station where they phoned for help; this was after spending 10 days exposed to elements of the Idaho mountains. The men who stayed with the aircraft had good fortune smile upon them when a bush pilot delivering mail spotted the wreckage, and rescued them the next day in his skiplane. By this point, the Armed Forces were involved in searching three states for the missing bomber. To this day, the wreckage of the bomber is still at the site. It is located on the South end of Loon Lake approximately 150 feet into the treeline.
Be sure to bring your camera on this adventure. In addition to the lake itself, the hike alone is beautiful and well worth the trip. You will be hiking along the Secesh river and through many different mountain meadows. You will also have the chance to see a wide variety of wildlife in the area. And if you believe the stories, you may even see a sasquatch.
How to get there!
From McCall, Head north for 36 miles on Warren Wagon Road (Forest Service road #21), and then south for one mile along Forest Service road #378 until you reach Chinook Campground. There are several trailheads that originate from the campground; the trail to Loon Lake is trail #80. In general, the trails are well marked, but it is always wise to stop at the ranger station in McCall, and request a map of the area you will be hiking in. The staff at the ranger station will also let you know if there are any fires in the area or anything else you need to be aware of before you begin your journey.
While at the ranger station, the fishermen of the group will want to ask the staff about the fishing being reported by trekkers to Loon Lake and the Secesh river. There are many different varieties of fish in the area, and the ranger station staff will know which fish are biting in which locations at the time of your visit.
Keep in mind that any time you are hiking in the outdoors, it is always crucial to carry survival supplies and anything else you may need, just in case your planned day hike turns out to be a surprise overnighter!
Source Information:
http://www.thebackpacker.com/trails/id/trail_350.php
http://idahoptv.org/outdoors/shows/path/loon.html
http://www.publiclands.org/explore/site.php?plicstate=ID&id;=2454
