Blue Ice Aviation - Blog http://blog.blueiceaviation.com Transporting You to Alaska's Wilderness. Come and See. posterous.com Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:11:00 -0800 Photo of the Day -- Little Airplane, Big Cliff http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-little-airplane-big-cliff http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-little-airplane-big-cliff

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I've flown over this landing site probably a hundred times but never considered setting down until last Spring.  There is probably a good reason for this, it is at the end of a tight valley and lies in the bottom of a little bowl with only one entrance that is very narrow.  Short, short final is flown through a 50 foot wide cut nearly perpendicular to the strip.  The strip is totally invisible until you have flown through the notch and turned hard to the right.  You are commited long before this point and the strip has been hidden from your sight the whole time.  There is a short decent over 6 foot high gravel bank and then 300 feet of smooth terrain before heading up and over a steep little rise and into a dry creek bed.  Because it lies in the bottom of a bowl my biggest concern was ensuring that there was virtually no wind.  Landing uphill is the only option on this strip, and it's way too dicey to do with a tailwind on approach.  But if I had any head wind on final that would mean a tail-wind on departure.  A tail-wind departure was not an option because a certain gravel mound was waiting to clean the landing gear off my Cub if I did not find adequate lift after takeoff.  So again, my primary concern before endeavoring to land here was ensuring a virtually calm air environment exsisted, not only in the air, but also on the ground.  This is challenging when surrounding terrain inhibits an adequate fly-by and there are no pools of water to gauge direction and velocity.  I made enough dive-bombing low passes into the bottom of the bowl to conclude the air was virutally still by closely examining my ground speed and the feel.

Because landings like this have absolutely no go-around or margin for gross error, I am always prepared to fly away as soon as a succesful out-come is in question.  There are a multitude of factors that play into a decision like this.  A few of them would be; aircraft loading, wind, elevation, sun position and shadows, fuel weight, obstacles, braking effectiveness (both mechanical, and vegitation), rain on the wind screen, am I feeling "cocky"?, am I in a hurry?, does somebody know where I am at?, are there sharp rocks that will cut my tires? am I sure I can take back off?, will this leave big ugly permanent tracks? Is this worth it?, etc., etc., etc.  The difficulty in my job is not the piloting skill, but the ability to weigh all of these factors day in, and day out, and know where the tipping point on the scales is.  Often I will dance with a new landing site and determine, "This ain't worth it, I'm going home".

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:55:00 -0800 Photo Dump--Sometimes It's Best to Just Stop and Watch http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-dump-sometimes-its-best-to-just-stop-an http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-dump-sometimes-its-best-to-just-stop-an

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The view from our hangar, busy flight schedule, people waiting on us, but sometimes you've just got to stop and stare.

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Chugach Mountains, Matanuska Glacier

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Foothils of the Chugach

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7500' in the Talkeetna Mountains
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Right Here in the Matanuska Valley

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Out-skirts of the Talkeetna Mountains

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Pioneer Peak

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Big Island, Hawaii

In October, Samantha, Ali and I went to Hawaii for a break.  While there, we were late for dinner at a friends house, and I was driving like a maniac trying to make up for lost time ... I HATE being late.  We were cruising down Alii drive almost to Magic Sands beach when I noticed traffic getting slower.  The sky was turning orangish pink and as I looked around I noticed the whole West side of the Island had stopped to watch the sunset.  The boogie boarders, and body surfers were all paused with their backs to the shore.  A sweaty jogger and his dog stood still and looked to the West.  Traffic came to a stand still, and not a single person averted their gaze from God's display on the horizon.  And then, when the sun had disappeared, everybody returned to their activity, including me driving like a maniac.  But it struck me that something that occurs every day, in fact, is occuring every second, because it's always sunset somwhere, could bring absolutely everybody to a stand-still.  This was one second of one day in one geographic location, imagine all the beauty displayed each day around the globe.  God Almighty has a never ending imagination and He is kind enough to share it with us in His creation.  It's almost a shame to try and capture these things with a digital re-representation, but I can't help to try.  

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:20:00 -0800 Video and Photo of the Day -- My First Cessna 185 Video http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/video-and-photo-of-the-day-my-first-cessna-18 http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/video-and-photo-of-the-day-my-first-cessna-18

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I own two airplanes.  Well, let's be honest, the bank and I own two airplanes.  These two birds are my old faithful 1962 Piper Super Cub (160 HP engine, with stock wings), and a 1961 Cessna 185 (265 HP, with stock wings).  I fly the Super cub more than 3 hours to 1 over the 185, but I still managed to put 200 hours on the "blue streak" this past year.  It cruises at approximately 155 mph on 29" Bushwheels and has a 1400 lb useful load without a gross weight increase kit.  I did not take any video with with the 185 until the very end of the season, but eventually I strapped the camera on, and got a few shots.  I've atteched them in the form of a YouTube video for your viewing pleasure.

I think the 185 is superior to the Cub for filming from because it is so much faster and the camera is mounted more solidly.  I did not play much with the 185 this summer because it is really expensive to just fly around for fun when the 1700 hour engine costs $45,000 to replace.  

As long as we are talking money ... I upgraded my 8.50x10 tires and wheels with 29" Alaskan Bushwheels, and there is absolutely no comparison.  Bushwheels are as fine of a mod as you will ever put on a cessna product if you plan to use it off-field.  The gear boxes on the 185 have a tendancy to wear out when used over rough ground, and the grey-haired guys who have flown these things way more than me, say the Bushwheels will save both your gear boxes and your wallet.  You can't always look at the initial investment as the end-all, because new gear boxes will cost you $30K and a set of Bushwheels costs you $5.5K.  It's really no comparison.  Welp, enjoy the video.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:24:00 -0800 Photos of the Day -- Remembering Fall http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photos-of-the-day-remembering-fall http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photos-of-the-day-remembering-fall

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The last two weeks in Wasilla would make even the most stable individual doubt their choice of zip code.  It blew an average of 40 mph for eight days straight and the temperature held steady at 12 degrees on the thermometer.  I love my state, but sometimes I despise the tenacity of our weather patterns.  It's like our weather gets stuck in a rut, like a cd with a scratch that keeps repeating a 2 second phrase.  This is a good deal when it works in our favor with sun or snow, but it usually repeats wind in the winter, and rain in the summer.  

As soon as the wind started to diminish this afternoon, my brother and I took off in the 185 to go cruising.  We took a beating getting out of the wind tunnel and into calmer air, but once over the mountains it was beautiful.  Winter is great, but tonight I was looking at my photos from this past fall and I am looking forward to the next yellow and orange season.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:23:00 -0800 Photos of the Day -- Weddings, Web Guys, and Weather http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photos-of-the-day-weddings-web-guys-and-weath http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photos-of-the-day-weddings-web-guys-and-weath

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I had some friends in town this week so I had the opportunity to get out and spread my wings a couple of times.  The weather has gotten clear and cold for us Alaskans.  My sister-in-law got married this past Sunday and I think the high for her wedding day was -10.  All of the guests that flew in for the big event got a taste of the "real deal" as the cold temperatures were unrelenting.  The cold weather did not keep us from dancing our brains out and making fools of ourselves on Sunday night.  It did finally warm up to 12 above on Monday, but only because the wind started blowing 40 mph.  

One of the Blue Ice Aviation web-design dudes, who made this whole website/blog thing a reality, was able to make it up for the wedding.  It was great to get him and his girl-friend out on a flight Monday morning before the big winds hit ... that's him in the bunny boots.  Unfortunately the other web dude was not able to make it because he is on the other side of the pond, but if you have any web design needs give these guys a call, Side Project Co. is the best!  I took these shots as I was flying high over the Chugach Mountains.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:46:00 -0800 Fat Tire Photos From America http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/fat-tire-photos-from-america http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/fat-tire-photos-from-america

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A friend of Blue Ice Aviation sent me these awesome photos today.  They were taken ... well, I don't know exactly where they were taken, but they are from a flight on Tuesday the 10th.  Thanks for sporting the Blue Ice Aviation hat Brad, and thanks for the great photos!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:45:17 -0800 Photos On the Fly-- Crusin' http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photos-on-the-fly-crusin http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photos-on-the-fly-crusin
Photo

Sent from my iPhone

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:55:00 -0800 Photo of the Day -- 8000' Over the Talkeetnas http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-8000-over-the-talkeetnas http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-8000-over-the-talkeetnas

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I was flying direct from Palmer to the Black River and this was view over the Talkeetna Mountains.  The Talkeetna Mountains top out at nearly 9000' with Mt Sovereign.  On the far horizon you can see the Chugach Mountains.  

This was in April of 2011 and I was headed out to a remote camp.  April and May are difficult months to operate because the seasons are changing and conditions are generally horrible for tires, and worse for skis.  I am equipped with hydraulic wheel skis but they have definite limitations as the tires are just itty-bitty little things and they generally leave me lacking.  Any tennis ball sized rock tears up the tails of my skis as the hydraulic actuator can only lift them a couple of inches off the ground.  Tennis ball rocks may sound big to some of you, but in the land of pumpkin sized rocks they are small and hard to dodge.  I was uncertain about the landing strip at the camp, but fortunately they had plowed the snowdrifts down to gravel so I could land on tires rather than bounce my head off the cieling over the snow drifts.  After we departed the camp we flew to Eureka and landed on the lake for a greasy Eureka Burger, and thankfully did not get stuck in the overflow.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:40:00 -0800 Photo and Video of the Day -- Valley of the Giants http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-and-video-of-the-day-valley-of-the-gian http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-and-video-of-the-day-valley-of-the-gian

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I know I've talked about this lake before, but it's my favorite thing in this world besides my iPhone.  OK, that was sort of a joke, but God's imagination is truely awesome.  It's called glacial lake outburst flooding and it is the cause of all these stranded icebergs.  This massive glacial lake drains in 48 hours and leaves behind a frozen waste land in the middle of summer.  I've hiked through this valley of icy behemoths in 70 degree weather as they are crumbling to the ground in the afternoon heat, and it is indescribable.  I have also included a short video I made a couple of years ago showing the lake before and after it drained.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:17:00 -0800 Photo of the Day -- I Think It's Steeper Than It Looks http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-i-think-its-steeper-than-it http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-i-think-its-steeper-than-it

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We landed here for the first time to scope out sheep hunting possibilities.  It's a no-name glacier that feeds the Tazlina Glacier and this location is no longer landable.  This portion of ice has become so side-sloped that landing on it now would be a one way trip.  Side slope is not bad to operate on if you have good footing, but side-sloped ice is a good reminder for why we have aircraft repair shops.  This runway was actually quite a bit steeper than this photo lets on.  So really we were landing on a hump, and right in the middle there was a boulder the size of a Buick.  It's funny, the more I describe this landing site the more I hate it.  I remember now that as I dodged the boulder, the side-slope increased the ill-handling affects of the ice, and that might be where the stain on my seat came from.  It's been a few years and we have not been back to this place ... I think I'm glad.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:59:00 -0800 The Other Side of the Coin http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/the-other-side-of-the-coin http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/the-other-side-of-the-coin

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For anybody who might mistake my life as an endless flight of perfect weather and beautiful scenery, remember that every coin has two sides.  There are many aspects of this job that I never share on the blog so tonight I will offer a small glimpse of the "other side".  This evening I found myself stuffed in the tail cone of my "parts only" 185 fuselage at -15 degrees with my fingers froze to my wrenches, and my lips froze to the aft bulkhead while removing a cable and pulley.  If you would like to know what this is like, cram yourself into an 18" aluminum tube, at -15, and try to milk a hamster. It'll give you a snap-shot of the other side of my coin.  I still think it's a great job.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:46:00 -0800 Happy New Year Photo Dump! Favorites of 2011 http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/happy-new-year-photo-dump-favorites-of-2011 http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/happy-new-year-photo-dump-favorites-of-2011

The classic approach to entering a new year is to look back at the past one.  So here are 54 images from 2011.  Thanks to all who flew with us this year, visited the blog, bought a hoodie or hat, or just enjoyed some of the photos through Facebook.  We would not be doing what we are doing if it was not for ya'll.  It was a great year, and I expect 2012 will be just as good. Thankyou much for your support!  Enjoy the pics, Lord willing there will be many more in 2012.

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Ali enjoying the Pilot's seat.

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High in the Talkeetnas.

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Still high in the Talkeetnas looking at the Chugach.

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Toe of the Ruth Glacier, Alaska Range.

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I can't remember where this was.

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Getting passed by my buddies in the helicopter.  That's as fast as I could pedal the Cub.

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Skiing at Alyeska with friends.

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Secret powder stash in the Chugach.

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Summer Clouds on Pioneer Peak.

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Skiing with a buddy in the Chugach.

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Dropping of some bear hunting friends.

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Refueling in Lime Village.

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Taking a break in Koliganek.

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Hanging out with the caribou on Kemuk.

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A rotting seal burried by bears on the beach.

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Whale vertebras and ribs.

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Beach combing on the Nushagak Penninsula

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A small walrus half head-set found on the beach.

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A walrus skull with some of the small ivory still intact.

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Sharing fuel with the helicopter in a rain storm.

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Lake Clark ... not an ugly place.

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Short break during a long work day.

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Picking up clients in the Talkeetnas.

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Ali getting comfortable with the controls.

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Samantha and Ali basking in the Alaskan Summer sun after a short hike.

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Ali helping me on a re-supply near the glacier.

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Hanging with friends on the runway in the evening sun.

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An energetic NOLS team at reration.

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I always forget the name of these mountains ... argh ... anyways, it's in the Alaska Range.

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Ali now getting comfortable with my 185.

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Briefing the team before the big fly-in.  30+ trips with the Super Cubs in one day.

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Preaparing for departure on our family summer outing.

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A steep landing strip with a good view and awesome sheep hunting.

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Everyone loves a photo by a Super Cub.

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Samantha and I sitting on the front porch of our "Summer house".

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Dropping off hunters on the ice.

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Dropping off more hunters on the ice.

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Enjoying the new tires on my 185.

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More hunters exploring the unexplored...

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And yet again.

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Great mountain-top-ish landing site ... slightly sketchy.

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Trading tax-prep for goat hunts, not bad at all, good people at Liberty Tax in Wasilla.

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Father daughter successful hunt.

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Double fisted.

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Father and son hunt, they each got nice goats ... I wish they were in the picture too.

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Beautiful Chugach ram.

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Fall in Alaska, there are no words to describe it.

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Beach landings with the 185, awesome spot.

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If you can't tell, that is a SUPER nice moose.

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40+ inch ram taken on closing day, the 20th of Sept.

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Sun on the Big Susitna River

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Dusk on a pink autumn evening in "The Valley".

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My little buddy sporting her dad's hat.

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Thanks for a great year friends!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:00:00 -0800 Photo of the Day -- Super Cubs Have Limits http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-super-cubs-have-limits http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-super-cubs-have-limits

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We moved a large group of mountaineers onto the ice above 5500'.  I think it took 15 trips, but with two Super Cubs working non-stop, and only 40 minutes per round trip, we were done by early afternoon.  Unfortunately, this climbing team ended up spending 7 out of 10 days laying in their tents waiting out a massive summer storm high on the glacier.  

We've found an increasing ignorance of the reality of true wilderness and wild weather.  It's not uncommon for clients to call in the middle of a raging storm and tell us they are fed-up with bad weather and ready to come out.  They've forgotten that even though they have an iPod in their pocket and a sat-phone in their hand, even NASA would be greatly challenged to extract them. When the ground is white, the sky is whiter, snow is falling 1 foot per hour, and the winds are blowing 70+ MPH, there is very little anyone can do except dig-in, play cards, and drink gin.  Even July, in Alaska, can be a threat when it comes to the high glacier country.  The weather has no limits, and we always hope our clients understand that a Super Cub does.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:45:00 -0800 Photo of the Day -- Sittin' High in the Hills http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-sittin-high-in-the-hills http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-sittin-high-in-the-hills

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I landed here because this flat little piece of paradise was unresistable.  I actually had to buzz the strip to get the caribou off and several rams were running around farther up valley.  I went back later to drop off a sheep hunter but the wind was blowing wrong and I could not get the cub slowed down enough to get on the ground.  I've only been here once but I hope to return next summer.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:45:00 -0800 Photo of the Day -- The Flats http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-the-flats http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-the-flats

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Heading home after a long day of flying it's always nice to see the Chugach Mountains sitting proud on the horizon.  Pioneer Peak is off my nose with "the flats" sprawled out at it's foot.  The Glenn Hwy runs across the flats from Palmer to Anchorage.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:29:57 -0800 Headed For Halibut Cove http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/headed-for-halibut-cove http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/headed-for-halibut-cove
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Sent from my iPhone

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:30:00 -0800 Photos of the Day -- Sunrise, Midday, Sunset http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photos-of-the-day-sunrise-midday-sunset http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photos-of-the-day-sunrise-midday-sunset

Sunrise 10:07 am, Sunset 3:41 pm

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Heading South down the west side of Cook Inlet this morning.

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Sitting fat, dumb, and happy, in a slough on Kalgin Island today at lunch time.

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Heading East for Palmer while the sunsets over Anchorage this afternoon.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:59:01 -0800 Sunrise on the fly. http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/sunrise-on-the-fly http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/sunrise-on-the-fly
Photo

Sent from my iPhone

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:45:00 -0800 Photo of the Day -- Photos Like This Make Me Miss Summer http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-photos-like-this-make-me-mis http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-photos-like-this-make-me-mis

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Somewhere in the Talkeetna Mountains in July.  This airstrip is at 5000' and the grass is only green for about 5 weeks every year.  When the flowers bloom and the caribou are running through, it is truly an awesome location to experience.  And it almost never rains here ... ok, that was a lie, it does rain a bit.  This area is probably best known for it's unique geology.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:29:00 -0800 I Hope You Enjoy My Hats More Than Ali http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/i-hope-you-enjoy-my-hats-more-than-ali http://blog.blueiceaviation.com/i-hope-you-enjoy-my-hats-more-than-ali

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I thought it would be neat to have Ali model the new Blue Ice Aviation hats for the website.  As it turns out, Ali did not think it was a neat idea because all she wanted to do was play in the snow.  I interupted her play time and she was going to let me hear about it.  She recovered quickly and Samantha soon had Ali "showing us her teeth".

I think we can still get them to you by Christmas if you order soon.  They are a high quality 100% cotton hat with the Blue Ice Aviation logo embroidered logo on the front.  The company that makes the hat is Drift Creek Outdoors.  You can order them in black or maroon and they are only $20 bucks plus shipping.  If you want to order a hat go here http://www.blueiceaviation.com/hat.php

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/274161/watermarked_for_thumbnails-01.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/36zuFtj2acIp Matthew Keller BlueIceAviation Matthew Keller