Flight Training - February 2015 - 22

FLYING CARPET

By Greg Brown

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ARIZONA'S SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS, with
Camp Colton's snowy driveway at lower right (left).
Flaming autumn aspen trees ignite the flank of
Humphrey's Peak (right).

CHARITY ALOFT

SURFING SUNBEAMS

ast summer my friend Chris Barton asked me to take aerial
photos of his church to help raise money to complete its
associated school. The charitable mission sounded both
worthwhile and fun, so I readily accepted. The opportunity presented itself one sparkling morning, as I returned the Flying
Carpet from nearby Prescott.
I'd yet to visit the church on the ground,
but I knew it overlooked a prominent
intersection just outside Flagstaff Pulliam
Airport's traffic pattern. On a whim I
coordinated with the control tower and
went for a look. The complex was easily spotted on open, elevated property,
backed by magnificent views of the San
Francisco Peaks. Armed with a telephoto
lens and flawless visibility, it took only a
few passes to capture the requisite views.
That was easy and fun, I thought. So when
referred a few months later for another
charitable shoot, I eagerly volunteered.
Camp Colton is a revered institution
located on the west flank of Humphreys
Peak. Every local sixth-grader is offered
a week there to learn teamwork, natural sciences, and love for the outdoors;
most Flagstaff natives under age 50 once
attended.

22 /

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Friends of Camp Colton Director Tracy
Anderson sought aerial photos of the
camp's stunning mountainside location
for fundraising purposes, including promoting the upcoming Kahtoola Agassiz
Uphill trail-race benefit sponsored by
board member Danny Giovale's company.
Gorgeous autumn weather prevailed
when the three of us connected. With
golden aspen trees blanketing the
mountain, we agreed to shoot the very
next day. Given the camp's western-slope
location, I chose late afternoon sun to
illuminate Colton's idyllic setting amid
brilliant fall colors.
Camp Colton resides in wooded wilderness, so I was concerned about finding it.
I also worried from a safety standpoint
about its proximity to the 12,633-foot
mountain and surrounding foothills.
Danny eagerly consented to help with

spotting and shooting. But Tracy hesitated, having once been traumatized by
a poor-weather Alaska air-taxi flight. I
explained that we'd fly only in perfect
weather, remain within minutes of the
airport, and land at her request anytime
during the flight. After considering it
overnight, she agreed to join us.
At the airport I engaged Tracy and
Danny in the preflight and pretakeoff
checklists to ease any concerns. Then we
launched into late-afternoon sun.
"There's Camp Colton, under the
wing!" Tracy exclaimed moments after
takeoff. She noted the lodge roof amid
dense pines, well clear of any threatening terrain. Unfortunately, smoke from a
nearby forest-clearing "prescribed burn"
blurred our subject. Danny snapped some
photos, but clearly it was best to fix the
camp location in my mind and return
under better conditions.
That opportunity arose a few days later,
at the peak of the autumn aspen display.
With no one else available, I launched
alone an hour before sunset. It was the
most perfect flying evening anyone could
ask for-crystalline skies and the aspens
gilded gold by the sinking sun. Gleefully
I steered for Camp Colton, my camera at
the ready. Arriving at the area, I circled...
and circled, and circled. After 30 fruitless
minutes, I abandoned my search to revel
in the vibrant scenery. Clearly I needed
guidance to find the place.
For the next two weeks, clouds, rain, and
snowshowers obscured the mountain. The
one flyable afternoon Danny and I were

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Flight Training - February 2015

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