B.C. Touring Routes

[GolfFoxtrot]

Hello All,. .I'm heading back to the motherland (1st time in 16 years), out to BC, to do some hour building. Has anyone flown any scenic/interesting routes from that area (Vancouver)? I'm thinking about the territories and Alaska at the moment or south into the states. I'll be out there for 60 hrs flying over 2 weeks.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

GolfFoxtrot:. .. .Sixty hours in two weeks could prove to be to ambicious on the West Coast of B.C. due to the weather difficulties and inhospitibal terrain here.. .. .Do you have any previous flying experience in this area?. .. .If not you can e-mail me and I can maybe help.. .. ................ . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[NoseGear]

Hi GolfFoxtrot, 60HOURS in 2 weeks!!!! I had to get the old calculator our, and that averages at 4.2hrs per DAY!!!! You are really going to suffer from Aquarium Ass....that is, hard, square and wet!!!!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Seriously though, get some good local advice, as you no doubt are aware, mountain flying can be quite tricky, and like mountains anywhere, the weather just around the corner can be dramatically different, and there is now where to put down if you get in the s#!$ What are you going to be flying? Think about heading east into Canada, try going Vancouver to Calgary, as there are places like the Okanagan Valley, Camrose, Banff and Jasper to visit along the way. . .. .Good luck, I'm sure you will have a great time.. .. .Nosey

[GolfFoxtrot]

Thanks for replies. .. .I'm heading out at the end of August and will be there for 16 days, so I'm keeping everything crossed on the WX front(pardon the pun). I was also hoping to do a mountain check out before I went cross country. . .. .I know it's not the softest terrain but I never got to see this part of Canada/US when I lived there. Any tips/local knowledge are always valued though.

[Avoiding Action]

GF,. .. .Flew out of Comox in a US-rented 172 in summer 2000 while on holiday . Some nice scenic stuff around Victoria and West Coast of the Island. Other trip was via Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton to Kamloops and return. Possibly some of the most spectacular flights in my short flying career although it sounds a bit short-range for what you're planning.. .. .BIG CAVEAT though - as the other guys have said, don't count on the weather. I'd planned to fly for a week but in the end only got 3 days out of it and didn't get half the stuff done I'd planned to. The only reason I went through / over the mountains was that I caught the tail end of the largest anticyclone on the west coast for years, and three seperate metmen promised me gin-clear and absolutely no chance of cloud. Anything other than that and I woudn't go near them without many hours of local knowledge and a very large bargepole <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Hope that's of some help.. .. .AA

[PaperTiger]

Tough call this. How to give advice without dampening enthusiasm.. .. .Going anywhere east of the Okanagan or north of Powell River is going to involve some serious mountain flying. August is generally benign enough to transit the passes (approved routes), but no guarantees. I assume you won't be renting anything capable of going over the top.. .. .The Vancouver area (lower mainland) is a bit congested for much more than circuits, and not terribly scenic anyway. Vancouver Island is better, less traffic and some nice fields to toodle around (Tofino, Campbell River etc.). .. .Going south may be the best idea. You can fly the coastal plain all the way to Southern Oregon and the seashore is spectacular, with lots of handy fields along the way. A number of air museums too. . .. .One other thing to consider is availability of rentals. Not an unlimited supply in the area and I'm not sure they'd take kindly to your 'monopolizing' an airplane for the amount of flying you plan. Certainly need to make arrangements well in advance, very much doubt you could pick one up on the day as it were.. .. .Sorry to sound like a Jonah. You've probably considered all this anyway. Have fun.

[Jetgate]

End of August shouldn't be too bad but that is when it used to get Marginal VFR on some days. Middle of August would be ideal. Couple of years ago two other guys & I managed a cross-country in a 172P from Boundary bay in the lower mainland to PEI and back. We covered approximately 7000 Nm with around 76 hours logged in 17 days. On the return leg which was the 1st week of September we spent a lot of time in Northern to Mid US as Canada was mostly off limits to VFR. There were a couple of hairy moments even then, especially Snoqualime Pass (I think that's how it's spelt??) in Washington. The Mountain Flying training we all had prior to embarking on this voyage sure did come in handy. Practicing a couple of Canyon turns prior to heading in to the pass..... oh what fun and adventure! GolfFoxtrot I sure am very envious of your planned trip!! I felt that on my trip we just didn't have enough time to appreciate all the places we got to as we left them as soon as we arrived, so keep that in mind as the west coast of BC is simply fantastic in my book and many times I used to wish that I was flying something on floats whereby I could plonk her down and then go sight see. One day after paying for this astronomically expensive JAR conversion I might be able to head back...... .. .One of the nicest trips I used to do was from CZBB to Tofino. Especially in the summer with having to cross Vancouver Island and Tofino's gorgeous beach it was a great trip. The golf course restaurant is next to the parking area at the airport and you can take a short stroll to the beach from there as well. However, keep a sharp eye on the weather while your there as it comes in very QUICK. Another one is CZBB-mid field crossing of Vancouver Int-Whistler and then finally Pemberton.. .. .I was at Pacific Flying Club for 2.5 years and if your wondering where to sort an aeroplane and some mountain flight training then try <a href="http://www.pacificflying.com" target="_blank">www.pacificflying.com</a> as they have large rental fleet, mountain check rides, discounts on block bookings and have ton's of experience with brit pilots coming over.. .. .All the best and hope you post back on the board all your adventures upon your return.. .. .Jetgate. . . . <small>[ 26 March 2002, 15:46: Message edited by: Jetgate ]</small>