Tonight was our monthly "Bush League Backcountry Fly-In Series" trip, and our 62nd such event was a revisit to the same area we had been in three months prior for the 59th edition -- Williston Lake, in British Columbia, Canada. That one had been our first "Bush League" flight we attempted in the A2A Simulations Piper Comanche -- heavier and faster than a traditional bush plane, but a capable short-field operator in the right hands. We brought the Comanche back for a second run through the area. But from the outset, we found that snow cover added by the sim might complicate tonight's revisit.
We started the evening at Hudson's Hope (CYNH) and DownwindSim provided an audio clue as to where we were headed from there. Christina Falls Ranch was our first destination -- north and west of the Crying Girl airstrip we had visited along the Graham River last time. The ranch was purported to be big and easy to spot -- but the layer of snow negated that description and it took us quite a number of circles to determine where the ranch was, and then, which exact surface was the grass landing strip. We eventually made it down and taxied off to take a break.
The scenery's clue (which we had to switch to "clear skies" temporarily to see, under the snow layer as it was) directed us to a second audio file, which described a location where some hikers were stranded at Lundington Marsh and in need of a pickup. It was purported to be back toward Emerslund Lakes, off of a draw between there and the Graham River. First things first, we navigated way too far east along the river and completely missed our turn. Once back in the right area, we searched along those draws but didn't see anything land-able -- except off of one valley that led us in a circle that put us right back over the river. Although it was the only candidate we saw in the vicinity, I convinced myself that it had been one we landed at in the #59 event. It wasn't -- I should have trusted myself the first time.
Once we decided to land and assess whether it was the right location by reading the banner, it still took me about three, possibly four attempts to get set up for a decent approach. Once again, the snow cover made determining where the actual strip was next to impossible. But eventually we lined up for what appeared to be the longest flat area we could find, and managed to keep our speed down close to the stall threshold. We got down, read the location event banner which confirmed we were in the right spot, and saw our stranded hikers.
With them safely loaded and warm inside the airplane we struck off for the final stop of the evening, Ospika (CBA9). We charted a meandering path west from Lundington but we weren't ever really sure we found it. However, we knew that the Ospika River would be distinct enough that we couldn't miss it. Whatever we followed, it brought us onto the river just barely north of Williston Lake and the 5,800-foot gravel and turf strip -- and in the absence of any crosswind, we were able to end on the easiest landing of the night! -- Watch live at https://www.twitch.tv/slantalphaadventures