Fly Steve Fly: Time Between The Clouds and Snow

Winter flying can be a challenge in the northwest. Long stretches of fog, low clouds, wind, and quickly changing conditions, this year has proven to not be an exception. But, when available plane, time, and weather, all cooperate, it can be great fun.

A flight while Matti was home for winter break only came after more than one weather cancellation, but finally, the opportunity for a simple trip down south for some breakfast. Flying between a broken scattered layer below, and a mostly solid overcast above was fantastic.

Challenge came with quickly lowering visibility necessitating a small diversion west from our northern heading to skirt around a band of rain showers. Luckily, we were able then to loop back east to land at Twin Oaks.

New years day we flew over to the coast, planning for a picnic at Nehalem Bay, and some time on the beach. Beautiful on this trip were the coast range peaks covered in light snow, and flying along the coastal beaches and headlands.

Challenge came with moderate turbulence as we reached pattern altitude at Nehalem State airport. A 15 to 20kt east wind rolling off the nearby coast range made for a the beginning of a choppy ride as we descended through 3,000ft, increasing to "really knock you against the belt" bumpy as we entered the pattern. Not really feeling the overwhelming desire to continue an approach into Nehalem with turbulence increasing the lower we got, we decided to continue south to Tillamook, where I had more runway options. Still knocked around pretty good, but at least the final approach was aligned directly into the wind. We did get our picnic in, sitting outside at the museum, in the wind. A short time of sitting at the picnic table, holding down picnic items and retrieving others that blew off the table, someone from the museum offered us a table inside. Much better.