CRA - Sitka - 11-Sep-16 Beaver 1

[Deleted]

Well, busy day today. I had to take a group over to Baranof on the far side of the island, drop them off then head up to the Eva camp and pick up a group there, and bring them back. Things didn't quite go according to plan, as is typical. Here's the story:


Sure started off nice. Beautiful weather, front tanks at about 3/4's, reasonable load. We were roughly 4800 and change TO weight


We took off south through the harbor and started our climb. There was one pretty decent hill to clear at about 3500 ft but otherwise we really didn't need much altitude


We made it over the hill alright (not by much though) and headed through this gut that would take us over the camp. The far coastline of the island was just beyond the camp, although the camp is on Baranof Lake, not the ocean.


That's Baranof in the foreground left. The camp is right on that point nearest us


I swung out over the ocean to get turned around (winds were negligible) and made my approach heading west. Piece of cake (PoC)


Pretty nice camp in here. It took about 10 minutes to get everyone unloaded before I could head out again.

[Deleted]

For takeoff I taxied west a bit then took off towards the ocean. I could follow the coast up and around to Eva Lake


Just airborne and cleaned up.


Out over the ocean again, I could see a fog bank ahead. I was worried.


That fog bank was to be my undoing for getting the guys off Eva. It was right down on the deck and there was no way to get up into the lake


I did try several times, but it was just too socked in. Besides, I was down to about a third of a tank so fuel was getting low. Time to head back.


Finally there was nothing left to do but drop right down on the deck (and at times, that meant 50' ASL and pick my way home through the channels. I was thinking of heading over to Moser Island Cabin, but I hear the guy there is nuts and has at least 2 shotguns, so I decided to keep going


Finally as I started to turn south the fog started to lift. This would allow me to get a bit of altitude again


It was a pleasant flight back and I set up for a left downwind for the harbor, per the tower's instructions


We'll try again later for the guys at Eva. Not much you can do when you can't see.

Later

[Deleted]

Very nice Beaver you got there bro he he

Seriously nice flight and great PIREP!

[Deleted]

Why thank you, big boy .

[Bushpounder]

You need to add some tall light poles on that dock!

BP:)

[Deleted]

Haha!

[Deleted]

You're right. Most every other dock and airport apron has "wing-catchers" . Beautiful work by these guys, but they sometimes forget they are making scenery for airplanes, and airplanes have these funny protuberances called "wings" .

By the by, those guys at Eva did get got. About 2 hours later we took another run at it and the fog was gone. They were both understanding of the delay and happy it wasn't longer.

[scottb]

Really nice PIREP Glenn! Since I've been using AS16 and ASCA, I really like how it handles transitional weather. It seems to do a lot better in cases like this where you can find yourself flying into deteriorating weather, and then back out again.

-Scott

[Deleted]

Totally agree!! And, I could see the fog ahead of me then as I transitioned out of it, the fog bank behind me. There doesn't seem to be anymore of this, "now-it's-here, now-it's-completely-gone". That's the biggest plus for me, apart from the stratus that actually looks like stratus.

[scottb]

It also seems more realistic as you get close to clouds. Under ASN, if I was scud running or trying to get through a hole in the cloud cover, it would suddenly envelop me even though there should have been room. Now it seems I can get closer to the clouds without it assuming I'm in them.

-Scott

[Deleted]

Agreed. I also REALLY love the wisps of cloud blowing past the windscreen when you get near or in the clouds. Very realistic to me!