Friday, June 25, 2010
Alaska - we made it!
These photos were the last few miles in Canada before we crossed the border into Alaska. We cleared customs in Northway and had to wait about 40 minutes for the arrival of the customs office who turned out to be a nice guy after giving us a scare about not following proper reporting procedures. When you land to clear US Customs you are not allowed out of the airplane until the customs agent arrives, but we ended up standing on the wing and chatting with the other two aircraft that arrived about the same time.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
We Crossed the Yukon River
Twice. Once flying in to Whitehorse and once in the cab on the way to town from the airport.
Today was our most challenging day as far as flying goes. Not wanting a repeat of yesterday where we flew half way to Watson Lake and had to turn back, we looked for other options.
The weather in Fort Nelson this morning seemed somewhat better than yesterday but the pesky low pressure trough off the Pacific is still sitting over the Rockies to our east and bringing rain showers, thunderstorms and low visibilities. The weather in Watson Lake was still reported as lousy with fog and rain showers. Not good for low level flying up river valleys. So we explored the option of going direct to Whitehorse by flying high and between cloud layers. The weather in Whitehorse was also reported as good for the whole day which was important as by the time we got there we'd have very little remaining fuel and no alternate.
We got a little assistance when a aerobatic show pilot by the name of Melissa who landed at Fort Nelson in her blue Extra while we were getting organized for the day.
She was headed to Alaska for an airshow but today was also heading to Whitehorse. We all got weather briefings and decided to follow her and go direct to Whitehorse by picking altitudes along the way that would keep us above the terrain (mountains up to 9,000ft or more) and between the cloud layers. She was much faster than us and could also change altitudes quickly so from her view of things she could radio back to us what it looked like at various altitudes. When she told us she had to go to over thirteen thousand feet to get above one solid chunk of cloud we knew we had to ask for almost maximum effort from our Piper Archer. The temperature was also just about right for there to be ice in the clouds so we needed to be very careful. Unfortunately, the time between when Melissa reported the cloud tops and we got to the same place, the tops had risen and even at 14,000 ft were were still going to be in cloud. 
We knew from another report that the cloud bank only extended about 20 miles before giving way to scattered layers and good visibility. So we called up Whitehorse Radio and picked up an IFR clearance and were cleared direct to Whitehorse at 12,000 ft. in cloud but fortunately with no ice. 
As predicted we were not in the clouds for long and broke out on top of a scattered layer that gave some great views of the still partly snow covered mountains, deep gorges, and snaking rivers below.
We flew through just a little more cloud on our approach into Whitehorse and then broke out to a stunning view of the airport, the town, and the Yukon River.
We had hoped to go on to Northway and so make it in to Alaska but found that US Customs closed at 4pm and we wouldn't make it in time. So here we are in Whitehorse where it was difficult to find a hotel and impossible to find a rental car. Apparently things get busy up here. But Billy's Taxi got us to a motel in town with an entertaining run down on the town and the Yukon as we drove in.
We also found today that the four hour flight not only stretched us and our airplane to capacity but our bladders as well. Luckily we had brought the required equipment along for just such a situation.
Today was our most challenging day as far as flying goes. Not wanting a repeat of yesterday where we flew half way to Watson Lake and had to turn back, we looked for other options.
The weather in Fort Nelson this morning seemed somewhat better than yesterday but the pesky low pressure trough off the Pacific is still sitting over the Rockies to our east and bringing rain showers, thunderstorms and low visibilities. The weather in Watson Lake was still reported as lousy with fog and rain showers. Not good for low level flying up river valleys. So we explored the option of going direct to Whitehorse by flying high and between cloud layers. The weather in Whitehorse was also reported as good for the whole day which was important as by the time we got there we'd have very little remaining fuel and no alternate.
We got a little assistance when a aerobatic show pilot by the name of Melissa who landed at Fort Nelson in her blue Extra while we were getting organized for the day.
She was headed to Alaska for an airshow but today was also heading to Whitehorse. We all got weather briefings and decided to follow her and go direct to Whitehorse by picking altitudes along the way that would keep us above the terrain (mountains up to 9,000ft or more) and between the cloud layers. She was much faster than us and could also change altitudes quickly so from her view of things she could radio back to us what it looked like at various altitudes. When she told us she had to go to over thirteen thousand feet to get above one solid chunk of cloud we knew we had to ask for almost maximum effort from our Piper Archer. The temperature was also just about right for there to be ice in the clouds so we needed to be very careful. Unfortunately, the time between when Melissa reported the cloud tops and we got to the same place, the tops had risen and even at 14,000 ft were were still going to be in cloud. 
We knew from another report that the cloud bank only extended about 20 miles before giving way to scattered layers and good visibility. So we called up Whitehorse Radio and picked up an IFR clearance and were cleared direct to Whitehorse at 12,000 ft. in cloud but fortunately with no ice. 
As predicted we were not in the clouds for long and broke out on top of a scattered layer that gave some great views of the still partly snow covered mountains, deep gorges, and snaking rivers below.
We flew through just a little more cloud on our approach into Whitehorse and then broke out to a stunning view of the airport, the town, and the Yukon River.
We had hoped to go on to Northway and so make it in to Alaska but found that US Customs closed at 4pm and we wouldn't make it in time. So here we are in Whitehorse where it was difficult to find a hotel and impossible to find a rental car. Apparently things get busy up here. But Billy's Taxi got us to a motel in town with an entertaining run down on the town and the Yukon as we drove in.
We also found today that the four hour flight not only stretched us and our airplane to capacity but our bladders as well. Luckily we had brought the required equipment along for just such a situation.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Heading East?
Yes, today we flew about 70 miles in an easterly direction after turning back to Fort Nelson on our way from there to Watson Lake. We had flown under a low overcast over some fairly high terrain to get to the Liard River and follow it and the Alaska Highway into Watson Lake. Unfortunately the overcast got lower and eventually the valley we wanted to follow became obscured by rain. Not wanting to mess with mountains either side in poor visibility, we took the wise and prudent choice and headed back to Fort Nelson.
There we met a father and son from Arizona who are also headed to Alaska and were stopped by weather. We spent some time chatting with them and some more time on the phone with Nav Canada weather briefers (who do an awesome job). After they told us of impending thunderstorms, unstable air, and the chance of worsening conditions, we decided to stay in Fort Nelson for the night.
Fort Nelson has four hotels and the Shell guy at the airport called around for us (after he had loaned us his truck to drive into town for lunch). Only one had rooms at a pretty high price. Why? Well Fort Nelson is booming. Oil and gas drilling as well as a lot of new construction. They are adding 80 rooms at the hotel we are staying at. There are also a lot of "fire bombers" stationed here and we saw some in action today at the airport. We also flew by two forest fires that were burning this morning but by days end after several "runs" by the fire bombers, they were out. One airplane used was an old four engined Electra.
Earlier in the day we enjoyed some great scenery in northern Alberta and British Columbia. Moving into BC today we gained another hour and have now gone through three time zones. The photo here is of the Peace River Valley which we crossed a few times and were amazed at the beauty of the river and the deep gorges it carves into the landscape.
There we met a father and son from Arizona who are also headed to Alaska and were stopped by weather. We spent some time chatting with them and some more time on the phone with Nav Canada weather briefers (who do an awesome job). After they told us of impending thunderstorms, unstable air, and the chance of worsening conditions, we decided to stay in Fort Nelson for the night.
Fort Nelson has four hotels and the Shell guy at the airport called around for us (after he had loaned us his truck to drive into town for lunch). Only one had rooms at a pretty high price. Why? Well Fort Nelson is booming. Oil and gas drilling as well as a lot of new construction. They are adding 80 rooms at the hotel we are staying at. There are also a lot of "fire bombers" stationed here and we saw some in action today at the airport. We also flew by two forest fires that were burning this morning but by days end after several "runs" by the fire bombers, they were out. One airplane used was an old four engined Electra.
Earlier in the day we enjoyed some great scenery in northern Alberta and British Columbia. Moving into BC today we gained another hour and have now gone through three time zones. The photo here is of the Peace River Valley which we crossed a few times and were amazed at the beauty of the river and the deep gorges it carves into the landscape.
Into the Wilds
After a great rest day in Edmonton we are heading out again today and hope the weather will co-operate. Our first stop will be Dawson Creek.
Then we hope we'll be able to get on to Fort Nelson and Watson Lake but will have to see how the weather goes. Showers are forecast.
Then we hope we'll be able to get on to Fort Nelson and Watson Lake but will have to see how the weather goes. Showers are forecast.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
We're in Canada now eh! Day 3
We made it to Edmonton, Alberta. It's almost 10pm and the sun is still shining in the western sky as we look at it out the window of our 15th floor hotel room.
What a day. Two long 3 hour plus legs of great flying. It was raining and misty in Thief River Falls, Minnesota as the cab took us from our hotel to the local airport. We decided to head direct to Regina, Saskatchewan and clear customs into Canada then head west across the prairies to Edmonton. We launched IFR into a 600ft overcast but broke out on top at 4000ft to sunny skies with silky white clouds underneath. We talked to Minneapolis Center who handed us off to Winnepeg. We were going to be out of their radar coverage and communications for most of the flight so they gave us reporting points and frequencies to try at various times along the route. With no one to talk to and not much to look at, we cranked the Sirius radio to the Bruce Springsteen channel and checked the sports scores on ESPN News as we once again pushed into a headwind (although not quite as bad as yesterday).
The clouds soon gave way to a brilliant green landscape below as we passed over corn farms, wind farms, and oil fields in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. All of it flat, flat, flat.
Nearing Regina we set up for the RNAV Rway 31 approach and got vectored to final. The weather was pretty good but there was a misty haze that restricted forward visibility, hence the instrument approach. We taxied to Apron Two for our appointment with Canada Customs and Immigration. Two officers were there to meet us and were polite and professional and after a few questions and a look inside the airplane they stamped our passports and welcomed us to Canada.
We refueled and the Esso guy told us we could find a good lunch over in the airport main terminal. He was right. A burger for Chris and a BLT with Poutine for me.
We got a weather briefing and filed a flight plan for Edmonton. Chris flew while I worked on the navigation and boned up on the Canadian procedures for arrival into Edmonton. We also got to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the Canadian prairies and were in awe of how great it is to see all we did from a few thousand feet above it all at celebratory speed now in excess of 120kts. We landed at City Center Airport, right next to the downtown and with the help of the guy at the Shell AeroCenter (we like to spread the wealth) we found a great downtown hotel for $74/night. Thinking it would be good to eat something different to the midwest bar food we've been eating the last few days, we found a good inexpensive Japanese restaurant near the hotel. Edmonton looks and feels like a great city.
Initially we planned to stay just one night but decided we needed a rest day, so will have a no fly day tomorrow and explore the area a bit - most likely the famous Edmonton Mall.
What a day. Two long 3 hour plus legs of great flying. It was raining and misty in Thief River Falls, Minnesota as the cab took us from our hotel to the local airport. We decided to head direct to Regina, Saskatchewan and clear customs into Canada then head west across the prairies to Edmonton. We launched IFR into a 600ft overcast but broke out on top at 4000ft to sunny skies with silky white clouds underneath. We talked to Minneapolis Center who handed us off to Winnepeg. We were going to be out of their radar coverage and communications for most of the flight so they gave us reporting points and frequencies to try at various times along the route. With no one to talk to and not much to look at, we cranked the Sirius radio to the Bruce Springsteen channel and checked the sports scores on ESPN News as we once again pushed into a headwind (although not quite as bad as yesterday).
The clouds soon gave way to a brilliant green landscape below as we passed over corn farms, wind farms, and oil fields in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. All of it flat, flat, flat.
Nearing Regina we set up for the RNAV Rway 31 approach and got vectored to final. The weather was pretty good but there was a misty haze that restricted forward visibility, hence the instrument approach. We taxied to Apron Two for our appointment with Canada Customs and Immigration. Two officers were there to meet us and were polite and professional and after a few questions and a look inside the airplane they stamped our passports and welcomed us to Canada.
We refueled and the Esso guy told us we could find a good lunch over in the airport main terminal. He was right. A burger for Chris and a BLT with Poutine for me.
We got a weather briefing and filed a flight plan for Edmonton. Chris flew while I worked on the navigation and boned up on the Canadian procedures for arrival into Edmonton. We also got to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the Canadian prairies and were in awe of how great it is to see all we did from a few thousand feet above it all at celebratory speed now in excess of 120kts. We landed at City Center Airport, right next to the downtown and with the help of the guy at the Shell AeroCenter (we like to spread the wealth) we found a great downtown hotel for $74/night. Thinking it would be good to eat something different to the midwest bar food we've been eating the last few days, we found a good inexpensive Japanese restaurant near the hotel. Edmonton looks and feels like a great city.
Initially we planned to stay just one night but decided we needed a rest day, so will have a no fly day tomorrow and explore the area a bit - most likely the famous Edmonton Mall.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Day 2 - Leg 2 Cloquette MN to Thief River Falls MN
Not exactly where we planned to be tonight but when we landed in a 30 knot wind and almost got blown away as we refueled the plane and then went inside to see a line of weather on the radar just to our north-west (where we were headed) we decided to call it a day. The headwinds were brutal today and we had continuous moderate turbulence as well for most of this afternoon's flight. Another cross swind landing which the locals tell us does not happen very often here.
Day 2 - First Leg - Sault Ste Marie MI to Cloquette MN
What a great day. Flying across the country in a small airplane brings days of diversity, just like we experienced today. Looking at the weather maps... we wonder....will we or won't we be able to get through that occluded front sitting just out there on our way to where we want to go. The weather looks great behind it but we have to get from here to there. We decide to launch with a few back up plans in mind. Other than the low overcast and rain ahead its a great morning as we climb out of the SOO (as folks here call Sault Ste Marie) and get cleared through the Canadian airspace just across the border right after takeoff.
We soon encounter the lower overcast and rain showers we saw on our computer graphics and manage to find clear air between the layers and nothing more than a little cloud before we break out into clear sunshine along the southern shore of Lake Superior. That is one BIG lake. We follow it's shore for almost two hours and detour a little to see the beautiful Picturesque Rocks - a place where there is a huge drop off of colored rock cliffs into the lake.
The weather is great but the wind has picked up. We listen to the weather at Cloquette and find we'll be landing in a crosswind with winds at 18kts gusting to 28 kts. A little bit more excitement to color our day.
After we land we meet Bill Stone from Venture North Aviation who offers to drive us to Subway for lunch. We enjoy an hour hanging out with Bill and sharing stories. One of those little unexpected but wonderful encounters that just happens on a journey like this.
We soon encounter the lower overcast and rain showers we saw on our computer graphics and manage to find clear air between the layers and nothing more than a little cloud before we break out into clear sunshine along the southern shore of Lake Superior. That is one BIG lake. We follow it's shore for almost two hours and detour a little to see the beautiful Picturesque Rocks - a place where there is a huge drop off of colored rock cliffs into the lake.
The weather is great but the wind has picked up. We listen to the weather at Cloquette and find we'll be landing in a crosswind with winds at 18kts gusting to 28 kts. A little bit more excitement to color our day.
After we land we meet Bill Stone from Venture North Aviation who offers to drive us to Subway for lunch. We enjoy an hour hanging out with Bill and sharing stories. One of those little unexpected but wonderful encounters that just happens on a journey like this.
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