2007

I went to check on my little girl this weekend. The weather was beautiful most of the way, but was iffy in the lower mainland. We flew at 12,500 ASL direct over the top with a smooth ride, and a headwind barely worth a complaint. Topping the coastal range at Hope B.C. we were greeted with a blanket of broken cloud covering 7/8 of the lower Frazer River Valley. We spiraled down into the pass at the Hope Slide to have a look and see if it was safe to duck underneath. We were successful getting into the valley, and cruised slowly down the valley, over Abbotsford, and Blaine Washington, across the Georgian Strait to Victoria at 1500 AGL. Time enroute was 3:03.

Couldn't get out of Victoria on Sunday as planned due to weather. What a place to get stranded! Rain and low ceilings all day. Wandered around downtown to kill time. It was full of street performers, artists, tree huggers and bleeding hearts. Few other rednecks to be seen besides myself. (Those who don't know me, or Victoria, think satire.)

We found a great place to stay. It's called Dunsmuir Lodge. Owned by the University of Victoria, and not advertised to ensure they don't compete with the private sector, it is the best value in town. Easy 3.5 stars, and only $95.00 per night. Meals beyond my expectations too. Highly regarded by critics. Secluded on 100 acres overlooking the airport.

Sunday, after another restfull night back at Dunsmuir, and a good breakfast in the dining room, we departed for home. We made it almost to Hope, and turned around due to cloud. We declined to become an addition to the shredded aluminium in the area of the Hope slide. Lunch was at the airport cafe in Chilliwack, famous with area aviators and locals for their pie. Victoria to Hope and back to Chilliwack 44 minutes.

The weather lifted a bit after lunch, and we were able to leave Chilliwack at 3500 AGL. We peeked around the corner at Hope and saw our way clear to proceed. We climbed through the pass. 5500 was required, and gained without concern. We left the preferred VFR route at 8500 ASL. Alex and I discussed a lot of the material covered in Sparky Imeson's talk at Salida, CO throughout the day. We cruised as high as 10,500, direct over the top, but had to descend rapidly over Lake Minnewanka to emerge under a 2000' AGL broken layer on the Eastern slopes of the Rockies 50 miles from home. Chilliwack to Airdrie 2:15 minutes. Here are some pictures:

At any point, I could have chosen to stay on top, and work my way North along the slopes toward Red Deer where the weather was reported as scatterred instead of broken.

I'm more motivated than ever to complete an IFR rating now. Both going to Victoria, and coming home, the flight would still have been largely VFR conditions, but IFR capability would have made the completion of both directions more comfortable, and I could have left Victoria on my schedule. Time over the mountains would have all been VFR. Icing in clouds would not have been a factor this past weekend.

Daryl Medd

Cloud hanging in the rocks along the south shore of Lake Minewanka at our altitude as we descend to the ceiling on the Eastern slopes

As we near the end of the lake, assessing the height of the ceiling

Here we are ducking under