Day 10 Diary
Oct 3, 2009
I decide to make a run to Williams Lake at 3:45PM
The sky at Chetwynd is cloudy, obscured toward the west, couldn't see the top of mountains ahead, and there are narrow passes in between.....but according to the forecast, if I can get through this narrow canyon, it will be all clear on the other side.
I have been staying at chetwynd for two days, the snow has started to fall this morning, I move the airplane to an vacant T-hangar (no door, it's the only hangar at this field), belongs to Bruce who I've called several times and never responded until today, I offer him $20 to use his hangar for one night, just to stay out of the frost and snow. I need a clean surface for immediate take off when the weather clears up tomorrow.
I walk back to the hotel grab a couple of towels and come back to the hangar, I wipe everything dry, my hand hurts due to the exposure to freezing water. I know it will be a cold night, but I'll have a dry airpalne for take off for sure, that eased the pain on my hands.
I check the weather again after I got back to the Hotel, the forecast --- it "may" clear tomorrow after the noon time. Last I heard, it "will" clear tomorrow morning, so I still don't know if I can get out of here or not. Since the ceiling has gone a little higher and doen't seems to rain and snow for the next couple hours, I decide to make a run to Williams Lake.
The weather from MacKenzie to Williams Lake is VFR, Chetwynd is the only place traped with clouds and moisture, this mountain ridge and canyon trap a lot of moisture. I really wish I had taken the Trench route instead.
I rush a little bit, pack my bag and walk to the airport. I did the pre-flight and say goodbye to Weather station Carol. Helicopter pilot Richard and his friend Don are still there securing their helicoptor and putting the cover over the blades, I ask Richard how much chance do I have to get out of this canyon under this weather? He said, the terrain goes higher at Pine Pass, but he think I can make it through. (Weather lady told me, if it's raining here, it will be snowing toward the west where the mountains and passes are). I told Richard, don't be surprised if he sees me coming back in one hour.
It's not raining, ceiling is about 1500', it's time to make a run. I start the engine, warm it up pretty good then take off to the west.
The canyon did get obscured at one point, but luckily, the pass veers to the right and circled around, the pass I'm going through still under VFR, I climb up with the rising terrain, stay just high enough to navigate through. I finally made it out of the canyon. I recognize Mackenzie is on my right and Williams Lake should be on the opposite direction, I turn toward the south when clear the mountains.
Broken clouds allow the Sunshine to pass through, the further south I go, the better the weather is. It's truely a beautiful sky after I got out of Chetwynd.
6:27PM after 2:30 hours of flying, I finally made it to Williams Lake, it's near Sunset after I fill the tank up and tie down the airplane. Full moon appears right on top of my airplane.
I remember my best friend Tsang said, tonight is Chinese moon festival, it's the night that all the family member get together, celebrating the full moon and eat Moon cakes.
I'm thousands miles away from home, all by myself in this nothern Yukon territory, an unspeakable loniless suddernly hits me, make me feel like crying....I have traveled all alone through the desolate wildness, canyons, mountains, passes and even landed on the highway....
I walk to the airport control room, talk to the lady who is on duty, I ask if I can set up my tent at the far end of the airport where the hangars and tie down are, she said, it's quite common for travelers (pilot) to do so at the airport and feel free to use the facility at the terminal, she will let the next guy knows I'm camping at the airport (non-pilot has no access to the field, the security is tight in Canada, especially with commercial flight at the airport).
I start my engine, taxi to the far end of the airport to get ready for the night.
Early next morning, the full moon has moved to the opposite side
Continue to day 11 diary