Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2015 18:26:41 GMT -5
We knew it had to happen some day. Autumn "officially" arrived overnight. When I got up for my one flight of the day, which was happening at dawn, I could see the leaves had come down and there was a trace of snow on the ground. We had had a pretty big wind and rain overnight, which saw the temperatures drop from from summer values to something close to winter in just a few hours. Oh well, at least I'd have lots of lift for the Beaver for the run up to Loon Lake, a small camp near Bark. I was dropping off 4 people who were going in a few days before the moose hunt was to start down this way. We were at gross coming out of Dunlop Lake, our home base, but with lots of wind, lots of cold and lots of room, we were over top of the hills in quick order. The sky was mostly clear and the temps hovering just above freezing. Fortunately there was no snow or frost on the wings to that saved me getting wet on this, our first really cool day of autumn.
The flight was uneventful, if a little bumpy from mechanical turbulence, and the visibility was excellent. I sure got a good look at the now bare trees on the way up though! Man, that happened fast! The winds on Loon Lake were downright squirrely, and no matter which approach you used, you were starting off into wind and ending up downwind, as the wind was blowing directly across the narrow lake, then funneling towards each end as it hit the far shore. It's not that large a lake to begin with so I'd have to be alert for this one. Things worked out just fine though and I got my passengers and their (considerable) gear deposited in the camp in short order. I told them that if they got a moose, I'd have to ferry them in pieces to the next lake over, whereupon we'd collect everything and head south in one load. I'd never get all of them and a moose out of Loon Lake in one shot.
The trip back alone was quiet and restful, with the Beaver rising and falling gently on the air currents. I swung around to the west and landed mostly into wind, taxied up to the dock and retired up to my cabin on the hill. Nice trip. This weekend would get very busy as the moose season officially opens next week.
Dawn departure, minus leaves
Climbing out into a stiff, cold wind
Yep. That's snow alright. No leaves left either. Time to get ready for winter!
Final approach (steep due to winds and obstructions) into Loon Lake. We'd use most of this lake on the landing, again due to the winds.
In the flare bucking the winds
Depositing my fares at the Loon Lake Camp
On the roll on Loon Lake. I decided to take off opposite direction to my landing as the winds seemed to favour that just a bit more. At least I was light now, so the takeoff was a piece of cake (if you don't count the turbulence rattling your teeth and trying to knock you into the nearest tree
)
Almost got it made, but this would be a bad time for an engine failure!
Arriving back at Dunlop Lake, our home base.
Thanks for looking
The flight was uneventful, if a little bumpy from mechanical turbulence, and the visibility was excellent. I sure got a good look at the now bare trees on the way up though! Man, that happened fast! The winds on Loon Lake were downright squirrely, and no matter which approach you used, you were starting off into wind and ending up downwind, as the wind was blowing directly across the narrow lake, then funneling towards each end as it hit the far shore. It's not that large a lake to begin with so I'd have to be alert for this one. Things worked out just fine though and I got my passengers and their (considerable) gear deposited in the camp in short order. I told them that if they got a moose, I'd have to ferry them in pieces to the next lake over, whereupon we'd collect everything and head south in one load. I'd never get all of them and a moose out of Loon Lake in one shot.
The trip back alone was quiet and restful, with the Beaver rising and falling gently on the air currents. I swung around to the west and landed mostly into wind, taxied up to the dock and retired up to my cabin on the hill. Nice trip. This weekend would get very busy as the moose season officially opens next week.
Dawn departure, minus leaves
Climbing out into a stiff, cold wind
Yep. That's snow alright. No leaves left either. Time to get ready for winter!
Final approach (steep due to winds and obstructions) into Loon Lake. We'd use most of this lake on the landing, again due to the winds.
In the flare bucking the winds
Depositing my fares at the Loon Lake Camp
On the roll on Loon Lake. I decided to take off opposite direction to my landing as the winds seemed to favour that just a bit more. At least I was light now, so the takeoff was a piece of cake (if you don't count the turbulence rattling your teeth and trying to knock you into the nearest tree
)Almost got it made, but this would be a bad time for an engine failure!
Arriving back at Dunlop Lake, our home base.
Thanks for looking
. I do see your point, but painting those parts will make them look "too good" IMO for what they are