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This was a long, challenging flight. I logged 2.4 hours total, from AVSim Base to Mule Creek to Gustavus. This was supposed to be a mission to get out 6 people who were snowed in at Mule Creek, and take them to an unknown destination. However, I forgot to set the time of year for there to be snow everywhere. Anyways, I started out on dirt strip 15 at AVSim Base, where the Twin Otter had been parked for a while. I planned to get to Mule Creek by going to Kake, Juneau, Haines, then dead reckoning through the valley. Here I am taking off at 10:31.
After taking off, I settled into cruise and headed off towards Kake. The part going over there was uneventful. Here I am passing over Kake.
Here I am, just cruising somewhere between Kake and Juneau
I turned the nose towards Juneau and continued on. This part was uneventful as well. After I went by Juneau, I turned towards Haines and headed up Lynn Canal. This was where the weather started getting bad. Visibility got bad first.
As I moved towards Haines, turbulence picked up, and it didn't stop until I got past Haines. When I got closer to Skagway, the weather, somehow, went from horrible to clear. Here I am in the clear skies, making my way to Mule Creek with no aids except the Juneau sectional.
As I came up on Kelsall Lake, that was my cue to look for Mule Creek. Last time I flew in here, I had trouble spotting it. This time was no different. It's easy to mistake it for the road, because all there is at Mule Creek is gravel and a windsock. No buildings. Finally, with the help of the GPS (Yes, I cheated, I had to!) I lined up and only then found the runway. I touched down at 11:58. I was a tad off center, but otherwise OK. Here I am, after getting back on center.
I turned off the runway and parked it next to the windsock, since it was the only landmark around. I met the 6 campers at the plane a few minutes later. They told me they wanted to be taken back home to Gustavus, where they lived. We all climbed in, and at precisely 12:30, we were off the strip en route to Gustavus.
I had decided to fly back down towards Haines, a bit higher this time, then head down Lynn Canal until I got to Sister's Island, at which point I would turn towards Gustavus. Here are a few shots of me heading back down the valley towards Haines. I was cruising at 6000.
After getting past Haines, I flew above the overcast clouds for a little ways, then dropped back down below it so I could see the land. Visibility was a lot better where I broke out under, at 1200 feet.
I continued down, and when the VOR indicator started moving fast I knew that little island was Sister's Island. I turned off towards Gustavus, cruising now at 3000 feet. I saw Pleasant Island, and not long afterwards our final destination came into sight.
I entered the pattern on downwind.
I turned base, then final. I touched down at 13:29.
After giving an example of the Twin Otter's exceptional STOL performance to the passengers, we turned into the parking area, and shut it down. We got out and bid each other farewell. I think I'll head back to AVSim Base before the day is done, and sleep in a nice warm bed rather than the plane.
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