Comments on: Photo of the Day — Is it Worth it? https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-is-it-worth-it/ Exposing Real Alaska Sun, 23 Nov 2025 20:35:32 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Matthew Keller https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-is-it-worth-it/#comment-210 https://blueiceaviation.com/blog/photo-of-the-day-is-it-worth-it#comment-210 I have no weather services other than the radio, but there is no reporting in this area so they are seldom able to help. Generally you can get a feel for the winds as you are flying through the mountains. For instance, you know if you are bucking a 20+ headwind you better be doggone careful approaching ridges for crossing. So much of this flying is read through the flight controls as you subconsciously determine the threat that a prevailing wind carries. I’ve noticed that passengers can not tell the difference between scary turbulence and normal turbulence, pilots feel the wind through the controls, passengers obviously can’t. To read the winds I rely heavily on ripples created on the numerous mountain lakes. I also read clouds pouring over ridges, and ground speed. With regard to winds being tricky in bush flying … an old bush pilot once told me; “There are three things that will get you in bush/mountain flying, wind, wind, and wind”. I could not agree more.

Thanks for the note John,
-Matt

]]> By: John https://blueiceaviation.com/photo-of-the-day-is-it-worth-it/#comment-209 https://blueiceaviation.com/blog/photo-of-the-day-is-it-worth-it#comment-209 Hi Matt. thanks, as always. Do you subscribe or have any weather services with you in the cub when you’re flying? What’ s the best way to tell what the winds are doing up ahead of your flight path. cloud formations, blowing snow? Wind seems one of the trickiest and most critical pieces of bush flying. would you agree? thanks, John

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