Awesome collection BRD, thank you!

Kurt

G44 wrote:Awesome collection BRD, thank you!

Kurt

X2!

Pete

Finally a day to run around the lakes before the next blizzard.

Ben was out flying the Husky yesterday and the sky was an intense blue! The lakes are full of overflow right now so landing even on skis is going to be sketchy.

We finally have power back (thankful for linemen!) after the latest storm and so went sledding on our hill down to the lake. My brother's family is in town for Christmas, so great fun! We got Debbie into "Warren Miller Television" mode.





alas...

I finally took my little Madison up in the Stinson. She did pretty good but soon lost her ear muffs. I guess she wanted to hear the Frank purring.

https://youtu.be/9RqVl5CURgU

A few from this shift at work. It's a much better view than the old cube farm.

It's been a tough season so far for ski flying. Between early snow, then no snow, then too much snow, then 5" of "Snain" then a deep freeze and now a warm spell, I have only been able to get up twice since I put the skis on. I think if you are somewhere with a paved runway or one that is plowed it wouldn't be too bad, but it's been tough here (Grass strip, we don't plow it, but do have a groomer for the winter). Also, no lakes nearby are solid enough to land on, which is pretty unusual for this time of year. This has been the latest I have seen open water on all but the biggest lakes. Typically we would have a solid foot+ of ice by this point. Not bitching (Maybe a little) but more of a observation. There were some ice fishermen on a couple lakes, but no machines at all and it definitely looked sketchy from the air.

This is a spring fed pond a few miles from the strip which still has open water.


A couple of ice fishermen if you look close.


A couple more on a different lake (Near the clear ice that no one was on. It was open water a few days ago.)


At least the local ski area has decent coverage.


Looks like above normal temps for the next 5 days. Hopefully things will get back to "normal" soon.

Pete

New Year's Day swan spotting thwarted by fast dropping ceilings and vis, oh well...

A couple from work, different planes I took to the same location

Got Mrs. Burns out today. Took her ski flying last year on a cold day and she swore she wouldn’t go up in the winter again. Some weather stripping on the windows, wool, down, new boots, toe & hand warmers, 20 degrees, sunshine and some persuading got her back in the Champ. Turned out pretty good.. took a trip around the back 40. Crystal clear and smooth. Photos are sort of in order of the flight.



Davis Mt.. there was some cool frost on some of the mountains. There is also parts here from a plane crash in the 70’s.



Some ice fishermen out, but still no machines on the ice.


Blue Mt.


Blue Mt Lake. Still open water. Never seen this before in January. Normally there’s would be pickups on the lake this time of year.


Long Lake


Looking at Santanoni Mt. With Algonquin in the background. Kind of a cool little slide on Santanoni.


Some logging near Newcomb


Building the cross course and big air jumps at the ski area. I will be setting net and working the event as race crew starting this week. World university games first then the Hole Shot Tour in Feb.


A old guy and his 65hp steed. Mrs Burns made me put this in.


Pete

Sure was a great day to fly here in the north east. Not very winter like. Thanks for sharing Pete.

Ice and crosswinds today on Gull lake. But sunny and 35!




Overflow

More ice roads today, Pelican and Gull.







Ski Gull

Just north of Seattle, we only have make-believe winter. So flying for coffee without a lot of extra clothes and skis is still an easy morning trip.

Short Final to W10 on Whidbey Island


On the "ramp" at Seabiscuit Bakery & Mukilteo Coffee Roasters


Welcome to pilots:


What's on offer:




Flying home


Sometimes we just have to think about the backcountry while having a civilized breakfast...

Zane doing his camera thing today at Jackson's

Fun stuff. My parents live on Whidbey near Langley. Its a 1.5 hour flight for me vs a 6-7 hour drive + ferry. Ive never stopped at the coffee roasters before and that looks like a mistake.

First flight on wheels since December. Got back from a Grand Canyon trip on 3/30 and there was 3’ of snow on the ground. Less than a week ago you could still use skis. Now…..gone and the runway (most of it) dried out enough to use. Took the skis off Thursday and flew around the last couple of evenings.

Yesterday


Typical ice out is the third week in April so we are a bit early, but not by much. This is 13th Lake- just up the road from us.


The organic farm my wife works for part time. It’s amazing how much they produce in so little space.


A waterfall that comes out of a cave a few miles from us.


That’s it.

Pete

[ice fishing northern bc

$fish we caught

Nice! I see a rod on the ground. Are you jigging with full size gear?

Pete