Ridge running and flying under the radar.
A short video to show some of the fun to be had in western Colorado.

Arenal volcanoe , Costa Rica

Went flying over to the Alaska Range this morning. Looking for moose and seen 4 cows and two nice bulls. The weather was great , but had to hold off till the frost cleared. Landed on a remote strip. While we where walking around looking for moose sign we heard some wolves not to far off in the distance. We took off in the direction of where we heard the wolves. We seen 5 wolves, all black. Makes the flying a whole lot more fun. Will be flying my brother in law out this Friday hunting. Alaska , got to love it...

Be safe flying.... Ken

Musta passed Rob and the crew today. Took the Pacer and flew down to try some steelhead fishing on the outgoing tide from a Columbian River island near my home in Cathlamet. Fishing was fair, one keeping and one native that had to go back. I will try and post some pics tommorrow.

[googlemap]http://maps.google.com/maps?q=46.1488,-123.311834&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=6&sll=46.155388,-123.335125&sspn=0.015459,0.032015&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=46.148621,-123.312435&spn=0.027055,0.076818&z=14[/googlemap]

For you local guys Whites Island is on the upstream end of Puget Island. Mostly dredge spoils, but good fishing.

Musta passed Rob and the crew today. Took the Pacer and flew down to try some steelhead fishing on the outgoing tide from a Columbian River island near my home in Cathlamet. Fishing was fair, one keeping and one native that had to go back. I will try and post some pics tommorrow.

[googlemap]http://maps.google.com/maps?q=46.1488,-123.311834&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=6&sll=46.155388,-123.335125&sspn=0.015459,0.032015&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=46.148621,-123.312435&spn=0.027055,0.076818&z=14[/googlemap]

For you local guys Whites Island is on the upstream end of Puget Island. Mostly dredge spoils, but good fishing.

Any Bush Pilots today??

..Zane said this was ok and prompted me to post it...

aktahoe1 wrote:

Any Bush Pilots today??

..Zane said this was ok and prompted me to post it...

Can I get one made of chrome so I can put it on my rig?

58Skylane wrote:

aktahoe1 wrote:

Any Bush Pilots today??

..Zane said this was ok and prompted me to post it...

Can I get one made of chrome so I can put it on my rig?

"I flew one of those today"

Vitz

Couldn't fly today because the sky was almost on the ground...so I flew down US30 between Dix and Lodgepole NE chasing this beast. By the way steam locomotives are my first love, flying is my second (machinery that is ).

hicountry wrote:Couldn't fly today because the sky was almost on the ground...so I flew down US30 between Dix and Lodgepole NE chasing this beast. By the way steam locomotives are my first love, flying is my second (machinery that is ).

What's the story on this? Where is it headed?

it's a 4 8 4.... didn't know there were any left...

It looks like my American Flyer I got for Christmas 55 years ago!

Yes Iceman, this is the UP's 844 a 4-8-4 locomotive that has been in service since 1944. It and Challenger 3985 (4-6-6-4) are kept at Cheyenne and used on special occasions. The Challenger was taken out of service and put on display near the Cheyenne depot for many years and then restored to service. The 844 weighs with tender 454 tons and exerts 63,000 lbs of tractive force (pulling power). The 844 was headed for North Platte NE for Railfest, a 3 day celebration of the UP in North Platte NE where the largest Hump yard in the world is located. I will be headed that way (driving) today to take a tour of the rail facility. The locomotive will be headed back to Cheyenne on Monday and IF the wx cooperates I will chase it with the plane. You can go oline and querry UP 3985 and UP 844 to find out info on these steamers.

There is almost nothing more fun then pacing a train while flying. Pocatello is a huge railroad hub and I know a lot of the crewman so I'll usually escort them for a ways if I spot one out in the boonies. Something about the differences between the two modes of transport (light=heavy, total freedom of movement= on rails,) but both heading the same direction....especially cool if you meet one in a real isolated area, the two ships passing in the night thing. That big steamer comes through here once a year or so, I have never been able to join up (500' away of course) but will keep trying.

There is another one in the Forney Museum in Denver. If you intend to go for an hour, it'll take 4 hours to finally leave. You'll know what I mean when you go. Trains and a great car collection.

Here's a great video of 844. My hat's off to the people at Union Pacific for spending the time and money to keep this old workhorse going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKowlA4Y3Sc

thanks for the info Ernie... love those steamers.. rode the Durango to Silverton last summer... something magic about that sound as they pull up a grade.....

Towed gliders today for a few hours. Nice day for powered planes, not much lift for soaring.

I did have a bird strike on takeoff. I couldn't tell if I hit him/her or not, but after close video inspection, I think he/she is no longer with us.

Went flying with a couple of the McMinnville gang today.

According to local pilots, I'm not the biggest pussy flying in the valley anymore!

Willamette River Island. Pretty Cool!


Chad wasn't able to talk me into a downwind nose wheel water ski takeoff... "Ya Pussy".

GroundLooper wrote:Went flying with a couple of the McMinnville gang today.

According to local pilots, I'm not the biggest pussy flying in the valley anymore!

Willamette River Island. Pretty Cool!


Chad wasn't able to talk me into a downwind nose wheel water ski takeoff... "Ya Pussy".

So who is the biggest "Pussy" now that you're not?