Around The World @ 90 Kts - Part 2

[India Four Two]

Day 33: 1997-06-20

ATW Retro-blog: 1997-06-20 (Day#33)

Watson Lake (CA) - Muncho Lake (CBF8 – CA)
230nm; 2h30; Cowan(962)/Hughes(833)

Another day of poor weather between Watson Lake and Fort Nelson, the desired destination. Things were looking better around noon and Tony and Ced got off shortly after a Super Cub flying the same route. Things didn’t look better for too long, however. Following the highway, the weather deteriorated, as it had the day before, and the three aircraft were now obliged to retrace their route. However, the weather now closed-in behind them and a landing on the highway was the only option.

The Cub landed, but shortly before the Chipmunks followed suit another bush pilot joined them on frequency and advised of a dirt strip, Muncho Lake, which would be preferable choice. This guy actually got airborne to guide them in, and the Cub pilot also took off and repositioned. This is the kind of camaraderie which exists between pilots in such locations, where flying is often done near the limits of what terrain and weather will permit.

Meanwhile, back at Watson Lake, the Islander had been delayed and departed some 1h25 after the Chipmunks. On contacting Fort Nelson they were somewhat concerned to learn that nothing had been seen or heard from the Chipmunks. Tony Cowan had realized of course that their failure to arrive would not go un-noticed and had taken steps to get a message through to Fort Nelson, which duly notified the Islander crew of Tony and Ced’s location. Bill then made just four phone calls to locate them at a garage/motel– beating the law of averages in a town which had only about twenty phone numbers.

Thus, the team spent the night at two separate locations.

On approach to Muncho Lake strip.


Parked-up adjacent to the strip at Muncho Lake.


Day 33: CYQH-CBF8 230 nm, 2.5 hrs, GS 92 kts. Cumulative 8745 nm, 90.99 hrs, Average GS 96 kts.