Hole in the Wall

This narrow slot canyon carved into limestone cliffs was one of the most spectacular (and unnerving) sights of our survey. We flew into this slot, turned around on the opposite end, and flew back so we could capture both sides of the tide channel shoreline in our imagery.

Our last day in the field on North Prince of Wales was the worst fog I'd ever flown in. We had to fly very low and slow in order for our pilot to maintain a view of the ground. There were islands offshore we couldn't see or get to, so we just had to survey in pockets where we could keep moving.





That worked for a while, but it became too thick, and we had to set down near Cape Pole and wait it out.



We were on the ground here for almost two hours waiting for the fog to lift. A pod of whales was just offshore, and we couldn't see them through the fog, but we could hear them snorting and blowing and splashing. Surreal. The geology of this site happened to be very interesting... ancient sand dunes, now lithified, called eolianite.





Limpets and periwinkles make homes for themselves in the sedimentary limestone rock, which erodes more easily than volcanic or metamorphic rock.

We finally lifted off again, but by that time the tide window had closed, so we ended our survey just being happy to get off the ground. We flew to the Georgia Lee in Port Protection at the north end of the island, and refueled before Lewis took off back to Juneau.





We were all fairly exhausted when we said goodbye to Lewis, who has hais arm around me in this photo. Note the lovely blue sky!



Pulling the anchor and leaving Port Protection under clear skies and no fog.





We enjoyed sleep, food, and an afternoon transit back to Coffman Cove to anchor overnight. The next day was sunny, clear, and warm, and we cruised the Inside Passage to return to Ketchikan.

Liftoff

Late summer in SE Alaska can bring foggy conditions, which complicates our surveying work. Helicopter pilots can't fly in low ceilings and can't lose sight of land, so we often have to pick our way through foggy patches of coastline. This has been the most challenging trip in terms of fog, but the weather was otherwise calm, dry, and lovely.


Jack contends with fog from the wheelhouse.


We transit over fog in the early hours of low tide.


Me working with our heli pilot Lewis in the field.


We had some beautiful days as well. Deep in Kasaan Bay on eastern Prince of Wales Island is a long fjord called Twelvemile Arm, where the tidal currents shape beautiful and interesting features like this sand spit.


This decrepit structure is a building that used to serve the Salt Chuck Mine. I had drums of fuel placed in the field at this old mine site, and after landing on our barrels and refueling after the tide one day, we flew around a little, looking for the mine pit. This photo doesn't do justice to the great maw in the ground. What an eerie feeling I had flying over this place.


The yellow Mustang suit and its grateful owner during a transit across Clarence Strait.



Thorne Bay, one of the larger communities and harbors on the island.


A small community at Point Baker, the very northern tip of the island.


Jack's wife Sharon in the galley on the Georgia Lee.


Sean and me enjoying breakfast after an early morning of flying.