Went searching for fresh powder and found it. A little bit too much maybe. Did not get any snowboarding in that day but was happy we weren't camping on the glacier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_tk6t4hxhs

Took me a couple days to find time to sit at a computer...it's just been too nice out.



The Chugach was refreshed last last weekend with 2-4' depending on how far back and how high you went, but a slight wind event and lots of good sun made for some heavy and interestingly loaded areas. Lots of natural slide activity on the steeper parts, with cornice releases evident. So, again I stayed low angle...



Sunday was good for adventuring in the Talkeetnas. There was only about 8" of new snow, so previous tracks were evident if you looked close enough. I found a really fun rounded table top at the 5000' level that was good for some challenging landings, but I wasn't brave enough to park the airplane and ski it alone, for fear of a misjudgment or a quick wind event, and subsequent miserable ski home!
Instead, met up with a buddy exploring the envelope with his super-180 (you 180 builders would be proud, this thing is 'fireball' quality and performance!), with some wheel skis and his youngster learning to cross country ski. I had him doing his first tele-turns by mid-afternoon, and I think created a monster.



Karl

Flying Dutchman wrote:Went searching for fresh powder and found it. A little bit too much maybe. Did not get any snowboarding in that day but was happy we weren't camping on the glacier.

THAT, that was great vid, loved the soundtrack! So, did you dig out, pack a lane, spin the airplane around, or a combo? And, did you have help? Ugh, you must have been sweating the timeline a little bit.

Karl

Here's Dutch's vid:

How come you and Zen only have 18 posts each to your credit?? With stuff like this, we want more!

-DP

zenpilot wrote:...I made a late run from work to the ski strip, went out this evening in the Talkeetnas, and found a couple great play spots. If only these conditions could last for a couple weeks more!!!

Looks like you might get that wish. April didn't seem to get the memo this year. Still acting like March!

Flying Dutchman wrote:Went searching for fresh powder and found it. A little bit too much maybe. Did not get any snowboarding in that day but was happy we weren't camping on the glacier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_tk6t4hxhs

That is some of the most amazing terrain footage ever posted on here. And the light! Nice work.

Good looking tailfeathers:

zenpilot wrote:

Didn't find the same powder yesterday as Udo found over the weekend, but a good time was had none the less. My first attempt at a time lapse video, battery ran a bit short.

Zzz wrote:

Flying Dutchman wrote:Went searching for fresh powder and found it. A little bit too much maybe. Did not get any snowboarding in that day but was happy we weren't camping on the glacier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_tk6t4hxhs

That is some of the most amazing terrain footage ever posted on here. And the light! Nice work.

X2. Great video! Deeeeeeeeep powder!!

Great Video
Reminds me of a time in the past with my Maule,

Make some packing passes going down hill before you land in the new real soft stuff! You loose all your pull when the prop starts throwing snow? Be damn carefull on turning by hand as you can really exert some strain on the gear legs!!

Left it on the MT for a week as weather was bad, had 7' of snow fall in that time!! Less flew in with a 185 and got Rodney and my Ass out of trouble!! Found just the tip of the tail sticking out? Got stuck in the 185 when we landed?? Broke the landing gear on it turning it around by hand, 3 of us?? Finally got the M6 dug out and a day or so later Les flew it out as he was the only one of us 3 that had kids . Spent a few days and nights pulling the gear and keeping a landing strip packed down The trio arrived in Kurt's 185, took 2 trips to get Scott and I out, Les and Wayne installed a new gear leg, Les flew the 185 out while Kurt did a couple of circuits to come back and get Wayne, Weather was closing in and just about couldn't find Wayne!! Sometimes end up doing some Stupid Stuff!!
Damn lucky I had good friends and some Damn good airplane people around or I wouldn't be here, and I could have taken someone else with me!!
And we were just screwing around!!
Thanks All!!
Be careful and be prepared, shit can go down hill real Quick!
Somebody watches over fools and stupid people sometimes(quite often on my part)!


GT

I hope I get stationed in Anchorage again so I can bring my 170 up there and put some skiis on it!

Dutchman, I hear ya about the fresh snow in the Chugach. We flew the Eklutina traverse on Saturday checking on a son who was doing it on skis. With 3 souls on board I wasn't brave enough to land up high. We landed 20mile and found 18 inches of fresh powder so it was like landing in a featherbed. I laid a few tracks and had lots of room so didn't stick it.

Robw56, If you have the chance, do it! Ski flying is a kick! As DP shared, make sure you have straight skis and a tail ski unless you can spring for a big engine.

robw56 wrote:I hope I get stationed in Anchorage again so I can bring my 170 up there and put some skiis on it!

Rob- if you get any kind of detail up here, I'm sure many of us would be glad to take you out. I would. Just get detailed in March or early April!

-DP

zenpilot wrote:

Flying Dutchman wrote:Went searching for fresh powder and found it. A little bit too much maybe. Did not get any snowboarding in that day but was happy we weren't camping on the glacier.

THAT, that was great vid, loved the soundtrack! So, did you dig out, pack a lane, spin the airplane around, or a combo? And, did you have help? Ugh, you must have been sweating the timeline a little bit.

Karl

The plane got stuck before I could turn her facing downhill so we had some digging to do so we could get the plane turned around. That was half the battle because I knew I wasn't going to be able to take off in that deep snow. I had a ski partner which was great. We packed down about 300' before trying to get out of there. This was only enough to get some speed before getting into the powder again. Needless to say I consumed a lot of glacier before I got airborne.

Lessons learned:
- There were clear indicators a lot of snow had fallen in the area since the last time I landed there. You don't know if it is 8" or 3' until you are in it.
- if there is any doubt on the snow conditions and you cannot make tracks, think twice!
- bring a (strong) ski partner.
- packing down a runway with skis is a whole lot more efficient than with snowshoes.
- always be prepared. We had all the gear to camp if needed. It was ~ 2F at 3,300' and cooling off.
- 300' packed down is just enough to accelerate to 30mph, need 40 - 45 mph to take off. Next time i will pack 600' or more.
- horsepower, stol kits all help to give you that extra bit of lift.
- when trying to get 'on step' giving it more flaps helps.

Went to the Ruth glacier on the weekend. Stayed on top of the snow this time and spend my energy trying out my new splitboard.

Flying Dutchman wrote:Went to the Ruth glacier on the weekend. Stayed on top of the snow this time and spend my energy trying out my new splitboard.

Nice. See much activity around the Mountain House?

denalipilot wrote:

Flying Dutchman wrote:Went to the Ruth glacier on the weekend. Stayed on top of the snow this time and spend my energy trying out my new splitboard.

Nice. See much activity around the Mountain House?

The strip at the mountain house is well packed. There were two parties camping out and people renting the mountain house. My first time out there so I was a little bit careful and did not meander through the crevasses. Snow conditions are very good though and lot's of cool ski tracks around. If it wasn't for my paying job I would be out there for the whole week!

On our way back we looked at rootcanal glacier at the base of moose's tooth. Saw some tracks in there, anyone has experience landing there? Any tips ? Will be a very cool place to land.

Dutchman: Watching that vid from the comfort and safety of my LazyBoy was still gut wrenching! Not the approach and landing, that was sweet, but the part when I realized you/we were stuck, I found myself yelling "kick it around, kick it around", too late to help though, I really got into it, great stuff! Easy to say after the fact of course, and sitting on my ass a few thousand miles away . Interesting take on the passenger helping dig out, my plane is smaller and I feel the dead weight, so to speak, would be more trouble then they're worth.... plus I only carry enough overnight gear for one. A strong and in shape passenger I could see would be better then a fat out of shape one though.

In 40 hrs of ski flying last winter, my third season so still learning, I didn't get stuck once. Partly because I am much more suspicious, and partly (mostly) luck I'm sure. This was all undisturbed powder but not sticky and only a few feet deep. Digging out on hillsides sure adds a further dimension to what can go wrong, as in the plane taking off without you, that is my big fear sometimes. Hell, my biggest adventure and screwup last year resulting in damage happened about 20' from the hangar, I plan to post on how I solved that problem for next winter's flying. I am really enjoying these late in the season ski vids and pictures, keep 'em coming One other thing, I'm of the school of thought that thinks that no matter what type of skis or aircraft, getting stuck is going to happen, period. Good to hear that about the skis being better for packing then the shoes. I'll pack them along next year.

Headed out with the 185 to play with the cubs in the hills south of skwentna the snow should be set up enough for a heavy 185 on skiis! I'll try to get some pics. DP you going out today?

Probably not the day for it here, but the next three are looking pretty great. Have a great time, and send us a postcard!

-DP