Mountain Air MAIL ROUTE 7A and 7B
(Juneau Cargo Hub flight numbers 9913 and 9914)
In order to keep our happy pilots working, we have started bidding on cargo and mail ferry trips. We recently were contracted by several remote hunting/fishing lodges to deliver mail, supplies, and customers to 6 remote lake lodges. There are no official airports at any of the lodges, but each has a lake and a low powered NDB to help you along. Navigation skills are a must for this route. Weather can be dodgy. Terrain is difficult.
"Boy, we sure are out in the sticks! How did you find this place?" - Mark Williams, Wendover, Utah (our first passenger on the route)
"You guys bringing in mail and supplies makes our lives so much better. Thanks Mountain Air!" Dave 'Huck' Finn - Owner Huck's Hunting Lodge (lake 3)
"I have never been so lost, so cold, and so sure I was going to die." Pistol Pete Kozlowski - MTN011
Please continue to follow our Mail Route rules:
Remember...VFR ONLY! Do NOT fly in the clouds. There are no long range navaids to help you, only mountains to smack you. Don't be an idiot!
Each Lodge has a lake landing area, a helipad, and a beach landing area. They prefer you use the lake though.
You may fly any aircraft you wish. For this route, I tested using the DHC-2 Beaver, Pilatus Porter (PC-6), Caravan Amphibian, DHC-6 Twin Otter float, and various helicopters. Excellent Helicopters are available at Hovercontrol.com including float copters!
Fly the same plane for the route - we cannot afford to leave spare planes sitting around for you to fly.
Please be so kind as to pull up to the dock and unload your cargo before leaving for next lodge.
Plan for fuel. Fuel is NOT available at any of the docks on the route. You can bring fuel in your floats and pump it into the tanks (i.e. cheat) if you need to.
MAPS and Resources
Three different maps of the area are available depending on your desired level of difficulty. All are high resolution scans and suitable for printing. Please, don't be a retard, these charts are for Flight Sim Use ONLY. If you use these to navigate in real life and die, it serves you right.
Real World WAC chart for the flight area . No Notations of any kind...this is just a raw map.(521kb)
Chart of Area with Lakes indicated. This is the standard map...it points out the lakes, you make the route. (393kb)
Chart with full low cloud routing. If you need to see my route tested in low cloud conditions. Taking some challenge out. (492kb)
Text flight plan for this route. This is just to give you a basic idea on where to go. Straight lining the route is discouraged.
ADD ON SCENERY
- I will stop
short of saying this scenery is required, but without it the route is pretty
plain. This scenery adds docks, cabins, and NDBs to all lodge areas on
the route. You will come to love those low powered NDBs, so I
HIGHLY
suggest you download and install this little add-on. Scenery works in
both FS2002 and FS2004. Plus, when you see the cabins, you know you
found the correct lake!
The Add On scenery will place a low powered NDB at each stop on the route. Frequencies for the NDBs are sequential. Lodge Number 1 frequency is 701, Lodge 2 frequency is 702, and so on. Sheldon Lake, the starting point, has a NDB at frequency 700. NDB ranges are 5 - 10 miles so you must be CLOSE for them to come in. Navigate to the area by map, then let the NDB guide you in.
The Add On Scenery will also add startup points for Sheldon Lake Dock, and each lodge along the way (dock, beach, and helipad starting points). They can be found in the Go to Airports menu under Search Add-On Scenery.
ROUTING - Route 7A (for route 7B, route is reversed)
Leg 1: Sheldon Lake Dock (CFS7) to Hunting Lodge #1 (approx N 62 56' W 130 11')
Distance: Approx. 40NM
Lake Elevation: Approx 5000ft MSL
Navigation Tips: (Compliments of Larry Jones - MTN553)
After departing CFS7, Fly heading 030 until you find the road running NNE. This road is Yukon Route #6. Follow the road up the valley.
Fly at 5500 feet if wx permits.
Road (Rte 6) dog legs to the left, then up a hill and down into another valley. Keep following the road.
Set your ADF receiver for the first low power NDB, 701 KHz.
As you are following the road on an approximate heading of 030, the road will veer off to the left. Begin flying 040. Shortly you should pick up the first NDB.
As the ADF points 30 degrees off your right wing, turn right and fly up the narrow lake.
As the ADF swings right turn toward it. The first Hunting Lodge is located in the small lake . You should be able to see the wharf extending from the SSE shore line. Lake elevation is 4770 ft.
Helpful tips from JY
An alternate route is to follow a small river valley. As Yukon Route 6 branches left, follow river valley to the right.
Head towards the tallest mountain at the end of the river valley. Swing to the left (North) side of this mountain. NDB should become active when you are near large mountain. Hunting Lodge 1 is on the North side of the large mountain.
5500 MSL is a good cruise altitude for this leg.
Screenshots of this leg
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Leg 2: Hunting Lodge #1 (approx N 62 56' W 130 11') to Fishing Lodge #2 (approx N 62 36' W 128 40')
Distance: Approx. 50NM
Lake Elevation: Approx 4600ft MSL
Navigation Tips:
Depart Lodge #1 northbound. Drop into the valley north of Lodge #1's lake. Pick up a small river and series of lakes heading northeast.
The valley will swing around to an east/southeast direction and open into a very large valley.
Follow the small river along the middle of the large valley to the southeast for several miles. Enjoy the lovely scenery.
As you go farther southeast, the large valley will begin to narrow. As the valley gets fairly narrow, your NDB (702 KHz) should become active.
Continue in the large valley until the Needle on your ADF points almost directly off your left wing. Turn up a small valley to the left at that time.
Follow the NDB right to the lake. It is nestled in the side of a small mountain with a creek flowing out of its eastern banks. Elevation approx 4600 MSL.
Sceenshots of this Leg:
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Leg 3: Fishing Lodge #2 (approx N 62 36' W 128 40') to Huck's Hunting Lodge #3 (approx N 62 46', W 127 37')
Distance: Approx. 35NM
Lake Elevation: Approx 5000ft MSL
Navigation Tips: (Compliments of Larry Jones - MTN553)
Fly about 035 degrees magnetic after leaving Fishing Lodge #2. Climb to about 5500 and follow the valley.
The valley you are following will descend into another valley cross wise to your flight path. Turn left and follow this new valley on a heading of about 355 degrees.
Turn right at the next valley to begin flying a heading of about 070 magnetic. Your destination is up on the side of the snow covered mountain straight ahead. Your ADF should point the way shortly. (703Mhz)
The lake has a wharf and two rustic cabins. Elevation of the lake is 6130 ft. There is a stretch of sand on the southern shore on an axis of 310/130 that is suitable for landing wheeled bush aircraft.
Helpful tips from JY
The lake is located in a bowl in the side of a mountain. Land from West to East, depart opposite way.
This is the highest elevation lake on the route. Every time I have flown into this lake, there have been strong winds...be prepared for some sporty flying.
Low clouds can be a problem at this airport also. Just remember, Stay CLEAR OF CLOUDS. Brush right by em, but don't go in em!
Screenshots of this leg
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Leg 4: Huck's Hunting Lodge #3 (approx N 62 46', W 127 37') to Fishing Lodge #4 (approx N 63 11', W 127 53')
Distance: Approx. 25NM
Lake Elevation: Approx 5600ft MSL
Navigation Tips: (Compliments of Larry Jones - MTN553)
After departing Huck's Hunting Lodge #3, Fly heading 270 retracing your flight back to Fishing Lodge #2.
Fly 330 until you can drop down into the adjacent valley north. Follow the creek that flows up the valley.
Creek eventually branches to the left. Follow it onto a heading of 030.
Keep looking for another creek the branches to the left. Turn to follow it on a course of ~270 magnetic.
Shortly, your ADF should become active. (705Khz)
Land on the lake or on the SE shore. The landing area is oriented approximately North / South. Lake elevation is 5605 feet.
The camp has three cabins and a wooden wharf as well as a marked Helipad and the low power NDB shack.
Helpful tips from JY
Weather permitting, you can cut over the last bit of high ground before the lodge.
High winds are common here, so be especially careful.
Screenshots of this leg
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Leg 5: Fishing Lodge #4 (approx N 63 11', W127 53') to Hunting Lodge #5 (approx N 62 37', W 129 28')
Distance: Approx. 60NM
Lake Elevation: Approx 4000ft MSL
Navigation Tips: (Compliments of Larry Jones - MTN553)
On departure, fly heading 020. A valley appears to your left. Fly it on a heading of 330.
Left at the next valley on a course of approx 210.
Continuing on 210 would end up in a hill so as the river turns left, follow it on a course of 170.
When you get to a branch that enters from the right, turn on to 210. In the distance you should be able to see O'Grady Lake. Head there.
When you are directly over O'Grady Lake, turn to a heading to 150. Fly on the left side of four lakes.
The four lakes feed a small river which flows south. Follow it.
When the stream you have been following is joined by a branch from the left, turn to a heading of 110. You should see a "Y" branch several miles distant.
Fly down the valley on 110 then right following the "Y" branch to the right (Course approx. 180 magnetic).
The ADF should become active (705 Khz). Land on the lake or on the Northern shore. Elevation 4000' Azimuth 240/60
Helpful tips from JY
This is the longest leg on the trip. Keep an eye on fuel, weather, and daylight while you have the time.
You will be flying down the same large valley you flew down enroute to Lodge #2, so it should look familiar.
There are some mining buildings (provided in add on scenery) to the west of the lake. They may be easier to spot on your way in.
Screenshots of this leg
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Leg 6: Hunting Lodge #5 (approx N 62 37', W 129 28') to Fishing Lodge #6 (approx N 62 22', W 130 54')
Distance: Approx. 45NM
Lake Elevation: Approx 3500ft MSL
Navigation Tips:
On departure, follow valleys on a general course of 220. You will have to weave around some higher hills, but just follow waterways on general 220 heading.
The valley will widen out and you should notice (weather permitting) two larger hills ahead. Your 220 heading should take you roughly in between those hills.
Stay towards the southernmost of the larger hills and pick up a small river with several lakes on it.
In the distance, you should see a lake in a deep depression in the side of a mountain. The depression is shaped like a banana.
As you approach the banana shaped lake, your ADF Needle should come alive. (706Khz)
Follow the needle to lodge #6 - just slightly south of the banana shaped lake.
Lake elevation is approx 3500 MSL. A dock and helipad are available and the SE beach is available for wheeled bush planes to land.
Screenshots of this leg
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Leg 7: Fishing Lodge #6 (approx N 62 22', W 130 54') to Sheldon Lake Dock (CFS7)
Distance: Approx. 20NM
Lake Elevation: Approx 2900ft MSL
Navigation Tips:
You have had a long day and now is the home stretch. The easiest leg to end on, but don't get careless.
Depart lodge #6 northbound past the banana shaped lake. Look left for any small valley and turn to a westerly heading.
You will enter a large, flat floodplain area with many lakes. Continue westbound (hdg 270-290).
At the west end of the floodplain, there will be an abrupt elevation rise. Sheldon Lake airport is on top of that rise...Sheldon lake dock is at the base of it.
Tune in your NDB (700Khz) and cruise on home. Job well done.
Screenshots of this leg
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FINAL COMMENTS
Thanks to all my Beta testers for their help, testing, and screenshots! Including, in no particular order, Larry Jones (MTN553, Bill Brown (MTN203), Verne Cotton (MTN005), Chad Nichols (MTN199), Dan Ellis (MTN395), Don Cote (MTN520), and Barry Cook (MTN475). If I forgot you, please let me know! I am so forgetful.
I am trying a new layout for this route. Do you like it? Trying to keep it fast loading for those of you on dialup while adding a bit of color.
The End
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last modified 3/1/08
