The Flight Out

I want to be a pilot. I just had the best flight of my entire life. By Kathy’s request Jake and I got sent out of Summit first Class. This means I flew out in the cockpit of the C-130. The cockpit is a much better seat than the cargo net seats in the back. First there was take off. We didn’t fire the Jato, so we ended up going up and down the skiway 4 times before we actually got off the ground. This was really fun from me because I could see all my favorite ski trails and runway flags that I would try to ski to one last time. Once we got off the ground there was a good view of summit from the sky. Then there was white ice sheet for a long time. Pretty boring really.





When we got close to the ice edge you could see the lakes starting to from. Then the ice edge, land, dirt and lakes. I was taking a few pictures when the pilot pulled me up to the window beside him and told me to hang on to a handle above my head. At this point he started flying the plane down one of the canyons leading to Kanger. He would tilt the plane to the side for every lake so I could get a good view. We flew down the fjord and circle down to the runway. I was still standing at the window when the plane said 300 feet. At this point I was instructed to buckle up for landing. Next thing I knew we were on the ground. It was amazing. I don’t think the FAA would allow this type of first class flying in the US. I have posted a few pic of my ride.









Before my flight our I did my last bit of science. Chris Shuman and come in on the flight for a turn around. Turn around means he came and went on the same flight. So we did some speed science. In the hour and a half that the plane was on the ground loading pallets and dumping fuel, we took the electric ski doo out and took 9 firn cores and some snow samples. We quickly boxed these into ice care boxes and got back to the flight. We were given 1:30 and we finished in 1:13. This gave me a chance to say some quick goodbye’s and hello’s to Joe and Mike who cam in to replace us. I had a great time and Summit, the five star resort of field camps.

I am now in Kanger relaxing a bit and waiting to hear about flights back to the US. I looks like we may have an afternoon flight so I may have to stay in Albany a night.