24.4.07

Some people may say I'm crazy, and some people may be right about that. I did manage to forget my camera this morning, but then I wasn't planning on this adventure. I kept looking out the window at work today, not a leaf moving, the flags drooping. I called the AWOS (automatic weather observation service) at the airport a couple of times, they said winds calm, etc., etc........ So, to make a short story long, this is what I did.

No pictures, but next trip up there I will get some evidence.

I left Phillips airport at 3:35 in the afternoon. I flew north hoping to get a better look at Superior since the sky was much clearer than the last time I went up that way. I was on a heading of about 340°, so I decided on 4500' altitude (going east{0° to 179°}you fly at odd 1000's +500. Going west{180° to 359°}you fly at even 1000's+500. This if for VFR flight...). ANYWAY, I flew over Park Falls and Butternut, both places I have flown before. I looked ahead for fields or other open places for possible forced landing spots(ya gotta thin' of that). They were few and far between, but looked do-able from that altitude. So I continued on and could see Glidden quite easily. The Penoke mountains were ahead a ways, but easily seen. Of course Lake Superior was in sight by this time, even from that altitude. If you have ever seen the area from Glidden to Mellen, it's pretty desolate. More so from the air..... but I pressed on, staying a few miles east of highway 13. Soon I was crossing the mighty Penoke range, a wide, fuzzy looking ridge that goes quite far east and west of the Mellen area. The Porcupine mountains were looking quite impressive from this point, too. I had to decide what to do at Mellen, as the area staight ahead toward the lake was pure forest, the Bad River reservation. So I needed to go either to the west, toward the Ashland area, or east toward Hurley. The western area looked more likely due to much more open area, but I didn't know about getting close to the lake in the Ashland area. If I went more easterly, I could follow some sparse areas of farmland and get to the lake sooner and away from Ashland city and airport. I decided to go east. The view of the lake was getting really fantastic at this point, and as I pressed on, I spotted US 2 winding along through the woods. Hurley was plain to see on my right. I dug out my sectional map and confirmed that the southernmost bay on the lake was indeed Saxon harbor. It was the closest point to me, so I headed for it. The map indicated that the land protruding into the lake just to the east of there was Little Girl Point. I remember my uncle Russ Mattson talking about looking for agates on the beaches there. I'll have to tell him about this trip! I noticed that there were VERY few cleared places north of US 2, but it was only about two miles from the lake, and I was now at 5500 feet after turning east at Mellen. The lake was looking awesome now. I noticed a grass landing strip out in the middle of nowhere, about a mile from the lake. Lucky bums.... By now I could not see land in front of the nose of the plane!! Woo-Hoo, I'm getting there! A few more minutes and the shoreline was nearly under me. I had a great view of the sand spit that runs out on the east side of Chequamegon Bay. The islands were not real distinct, but you could definitely tell you were looking at the Apostle islands. A little more altitude would have given a little better difinition of the islands, but what the hey??? I was now totally over the water. The different colors of the water in the lake was amazing. From sand color (runoff, I suppose) to light blues, sky blue and some really dark greenish/blue areas. I did a slow bank turn and headed southwest. I descended to 4500' again. It had taken 1 hour,20 minutes to get to the lake. Now I picked my way south, following any open areas below til I got to Mellen and crossed the Penokes again. What a beautiful stretch of country! I held my breath and crossed that mean looking area from Mellen to Glidden. At Mellen, I had turned more easterly and descended to 3500'. The rest was just a nice cruise home along familiar airways. I reached Phillips at 5:40P.M., a two hour fifteen minute trip. I used nearly 7 gallons of fuel from the 10 gallon tank, so had plenty for the trip. One of this summer's plans is to fly to Ashland, meet Peggy with the extra fuel supply, re-fuel and fly to Madeline Island. I'be been studying the maps and farm country, looks O.K. For the trip to the Island, we'll need some extra altitude for safety sake. Then will come the trip to Marinette and the crossing of Green Bay. That looks do-able a little north of Yram's place, with Chambers Island in the middle of the bay. Looking forward to that!!! So call me crazy if you want to......

I gotta go, Carlo

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gene, It scares me to read about your trip. It really must have been wonderful. I am very proud of you but but could not do that myself. Such a wimp I am. Your trip to Madeline Island sounds good.

Love, Lucy

Westboro said...

Do so appreciate the amazing detail of the descriptions/photos of your and Peggy's doings/travels, and yes, you do seem a bit nutty when you get going on something - must be the magic ingredient for getting things done.

yram said...

Sounds wonderful. You should have had a camera although your descriptions create lovely images in my head. Lake Superior is the absolute best and I know all the places you speak of.
You must be cautious flying here because the winds are fickle. They switch quicker than you can imagine. Early and late are the best bets. Seems always windy late morning and afternoon. Look forward to a fly over!

yram said...

so what are the markings you found???? the xs.

Anonymous said...

the x's iz how sum peepul marc dar signachur... Have HAPPY day!!!
;-)
s.d. or X

Brian J Krueger said...

What a great flight! I've been up there in my Cessna 152 and it truly is beautiful. I highly recomend going up to Madeline Island. Small little airport about a mile from town, but if you call one of the restaurants will pick you up and drop you off. I can't remember the name of the one I went to but it was great food.

Blue Sky's!....