Post by scottb on Aug 23, 2015 19:47:12 GMT -5
After a long stint of flying some difficult jobs, I finally had a weekend off. Fortunately I had just the plan to take advantageof it. Some friends of mine had rented a cabin for the weekend on Trout Lake, in the mountains east of Kenai. We had been trying to get together for a fishing trip for a while now, and we finally all had some time off at the same time.
The weather was looking pretty decent, and the thought of a relaxing weekend of fishing in the mountains was just what I needed. One of my fellow company pilots had a Super Cub on amphibious floats that he kept at Merrill Field. He was going to be on assignment all weekend, but he generously loaned me use of the plane.
Having transportation arranged, I got all my gear together and packed into my friends’ nicely appointed Super Cub. I was still looking for my own personal plane. I had flown several but hadn’t settled on just what I wanted. A Super Cub would be top of the list though. Finishing up some paperwork at the flight office in Merrill, my plan was to fly in to Trout Lake late Friday afternoon. It was a bit of light rain, as it often is, but the cloud ceiling was well above where I needed it to be. The light rainwasn’t that bothersome, and was expected to clear out overnight.
Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Anchorage. I skirt around PANC so I don’thave to worry about getting clearance through their airspace.
Crossing the short stretch of water of the TurnagainArm and ChickaloonBay to the expanse of the Kenai Peninsula.
I skirt the east side of the Kenai, keeping the mountains to my left and the tundra to my right. Once I reach AK39 I’ll turn southeast into the mountains.
After passing AK39 I head into the mountains. It’s a short flight down a mountain valley, at the end of which is Trout Lake. The lake itself is more than long enough for the Cub, and the wind is calm. A straight in approach will be perfect.
Trout Lake is just ahead, at the end of the valley.
I get my airspeed down, and then feed in the flaps for a slow descent to Trout Lake. Visibility is good, I can see the cabin, and I have plenty of room.
Once down I taxi over to the cabin. I am the first one to arrive, so I will secure my Cub and get the cabin ready. I get a fire going in the cabin, and soon after my two friends arrive in their own planes. We get everything situated and all our gear unloaded. The light rain begins to clear out as we finish. It looks like the start of a fine fishing trip!
-Scott
The weather was looking pretty decent, and the thought of a relaxing weekend of fishing in the mountains was just what I needed. One of my fellow company pilots had a Super Cub on amphibious floats that he kept at Merrill Field. He was going to be on assignment all weekend, but he generously loaned me use of the plane.
Having transportation arranged, I got all my gear together and packed into my friends’ nicely appointed Super Cub. I was still looking for my own personal plane. I had flown several but hadn’t settled on just what I wanted. A Super Cub would be top of the list though. Finishing up some paperwork at the flight office in Merrill, my plan was to fly in to Trout Lake late Friday afternoon. It was a bit of light rain, as it often is, but the cloud ceiling was well above where I needed it to be. The light rainwasn’t that bothersome, and was expected to clear out overnight.
Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Anchorage. I skirt around PANC so I don’thave to worry about getting clearance through their airspace.
Crossing the short stretch of water of the TurnagainArm and ChickaloonBay to the expanse of the Kenai Peninsula.
I skirt the east side of the Kenai, keeping the mountains to my left and the tundra to my right. Once I reach AK39 I’ll turn southeast into the mountains.
After passing AK39 I head into the mountains. It’s a short flight down a mountain valley, at the end of which is Trout Lake. The lake itself is more than long enough for the Cub, and the wind is calm. A straight in approach will be perfect.
Trout Lake is just ahead, at the end of the valley.
I get my airspeed down, and then feed in the flaps for a slow descent to Trout Lake. Visibility is good, I can see the cabin, and I have plenty of room.
Once down I taxi over to the cabin. I am the first one to arrive, so I will secure my Cub and get the cabin ready. I get a fire going in the cabin, and soon after my two friends arrive in their own planes. We get everything situated and all our gear unloaded. The light rain begins to clear out as we finish. It looks like the start of a fine fishing trip!
-Scott
