AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014 - 88

P&E

PROFICIENCY

THE MOUNTAINS and tundra are unforgiving

off-airport landing spots, making gravel bars
on rivers an attractive option.

used weather cams to provide insight all
the way to Fairbanks. But the 150 miles
from Fairbanks to Bettles have only two
weather cams.
The only weather indications available at Crevice Creek were a windsock
and nature. The very terrain that made the
prospect of an engine failure terrifying was
a useful aid in judging wind, ceilings, and
visibility. Ripples on the numerous lakes
served as wind direction indicators (wind
blows from the glassy, or protected, side
toward the rippled or unprotected side).
Mountains rising from about 800 feet
msl to 5,000 feet msl on either side of the
turquoise John River five miles north of
camp provided a gauge for ceiling and visibility. Sometimes, a scout flew ahead and
reported weather conditions to the others
on the ground, as was the case upon leaving camp at the end of two weeks.
Low ceilings and mist prevailed the
morning of departure for the long trek
home, so a pilot in a Cessna 152 took
off and provided a pirep for the group.
After determining that conditions were
marginal VFR, the group departed for
Bettles where Internet and phone connections were available for the lead pilot
to get a full weather briefing; many of
us downloaded weather on our EFBs
and discussed a plan of action (the
perks of civilization). The weather was forecast to improve continually on the way south,
88 | AOPA PILOT December 2014

but the nearest weather cam was almost
75 miles southeast, leaving a black hole
of information over an area of rising terrain.
I took off with a turn-back plan-if
conditions deteriorated or if they didn't
improve within 15 minutes after takeoff, the student pilot I was flying with
and I would return to Bettles (see "Pilot
Briefing: Fly-Outs," page 38). The weather
did quickly improve, making for a less
stressful trip back.
Snow-covered Mount McKinley rose,
stately, in the distance to the west as we
neared the end of our six-hour journey
home. Fifty miles from our destination,
we altered course for a scenic route-
well, every route is scenic in Alaska-by
climbing over the Talkeetna Mountains
to fly by the Talkeetna and Chickaloon
glaciers. Inching our way up to 7,500 feet
msl in a 200-fpm climb, we stayed over
the Chickaloon River (the 150 isn't going
to out-climb this rising terrain) that flowed
into the valley where we would be landing.
Knowing this two-week aerial adventure would come to a close in a few
minutes, I reflected on the lessons I had
learned flying over this harsh terrain and
tried to imprint one last image of Alaska
in my memory-the splendor of mighty
glaciers just a couple of miles off
the wings.
AOPA
EMAIL alyssa.miller@aopa.org
http://www.trade-a-plane.com http://www.trade-a-plane.com http://www.airfleetcapital.com http://www.airfleetcapital.com
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2014

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