John and Sandy Rose have be in the outfitting and guiding business for the past 45 years. John started guiding in Idaho in 1964 on the Lochsa in the Lower Selway Wilderness. In 1975 he and Sandy moved to the beautiful Bitterroot Valley in Montana and bought the Erv Malnarich Outfitters & Guide School. Together they operated the school until 1993. The students would spend 3 weeks at the ranch learning practical skills. They would learn to ride horses, pack mules, lead pack strings, wilderness first aid, horse shoeing, caping of big game animals, shooting, making saddles, camp construction, map reading and much more. The students would then spend 2 weeks putting all that knowledge to use in the Bitterroot Selway Wilderness Area. In the 18 years of running the guide school about 850 students attended, with several going on to become outfitters themselves.
In 1975 Bar 44 Outfitters was started after John had been outfitting and guiding in the Idaho Primitive Area, now called the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. John worked in French Creek out of McCall and also Cold Meadows. The name of Bar 44 Outfitters came from his brand of Lazy Bar 44. John worked for years with Elmer Keith while operating the guide school ands both Elmer and John loved the .44 magnum. Bar 44 would have 4 - 10 day pack in hunts each year. The trip for many hunters throughout the years started with being picked up at the Missoula International airport and traveling 60 South to Hamilton. Then a day of sighting in rifles and packing gear and food. That night the guides that worked for John would transport all of the gear and mules to the trail head and stay the night. By the time the hunters arrived early the next morning all they had to do was get on a horse and start riding. The trip took about 9 hours and was approximately 32 miles. Once in camp the hunters were met by John's dad (Pap) and Sandy. They would be served a nice hot meal of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, fresh baked bread and dessert. John and Sandy definitely know how to take care of hunters!
In 1987, the move to the ranch up Skalkaho took place. John has continued to outfit and guide and in 2004 they turned the lodge into Skalkaho Steakhouse. John no longer outfits in Idaho, however he does guide hunts and can arrange a pack in hunt into Idaho. John currently hunts in Montana and hunts directly from the lodge each morning. The lodge can house up to 6 hunters. 2 rooms downstairs, each with a private bath, and 2 rooms upstairs with a shared bath. Each day you get a home cooked breakfast, delicious lunch to put in your pack and you come home to a home cooked meal each evening!
In 1975 Bar 44 Outfitters was started after John had been outfitting and guiding in the Idaho Primitive Area, now called the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area. John worked in French Creek out of McCall and also Cold Meadows. The name of Bar 44 Outfitters came from his brand of Lazy Bar 44. John worked for years with Elmer Keith while operating the guide school ands both Elmer and John loved the .44 magnum. Bar 44 would have 4 - 10 day pack in hunts each year. The trip for many hunters throughout the years started with being picked up at the Missoula International airport and traveling 60 South to Hamilton. Then a day of sighting in rifles and packing gear and food. That night the guides that worked for John would transport all of the gear and mules to the trail head and stay the night. By the time the hunters arrived early the next morning all they had to do was get on a horse and start riding. The trip took about 9 hours and was approximately 32 miles. Once in camp the hunters were met by John's dad (Pap) and Sandy. They would be served a nice hot meal of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, fresh baked bread and dessert. John and Sandy definitely know how to take care of hunters!
In 1987, the move to the ranch up Skalkaho took place. John has continued to outfit and guide and in 2004 they turned the lodge into Skalkaho Steakhouse. John no longer outfits in Idaho, however he does guide hunts and can arrange a pack in hunt into Idaho. John currently hunts in Montana and hunts directly from the lodge each morning. The lodge can house up to 6 hunters. 2 rooms downstairs, each with a private bath, and 2 rooms upstairs with a shared bath. Each day you get a home cooked breakfast, delicious lunch to put in your pack and you come home to a home cooked meal each evening!