Today I took my Australian friend Gary Cullen on a flight to New Hampshire. Gary has been here for a week-long knowledge sharing workshop at our firm's New York office. We left NYC and got underway from N14 airport mid-day on Friday.
"I've never seen ICE on top of a lake like this before..."
Alton Bay iceport is a seaplane base in fair seasons. I have always wanted to land on ice, but there is no way you would ever tell a passenger that this was the destination. Today was the day. Gary was a good sport about it.
When I told him where we were going, which was on final approach to Alton Bay, he didn't seem too shocked. I later found out that he had never seen a frozen lake, snow or any kind of atmospheric ice. I don't think he knew we landed on a lake until he saw a little water gurgling though the cracks in the ice while we chocked the wheels. I poked my key in the crack and asked Gary what he thought about the ice thickness. He replied "I've never seen ice on top of a lake like this before". Having been reassured with that expert opinion, I decided to head for cover from the 5 degree temperatures by walking to a shoreline store for some homemade turkey soup.
nICE Landing
Arriving at the Alton Bay Iceport a few weeks early or late in the season could certainly earn you a Darwin Award, but we were already down, chocked, and parked in a spot that had been cleared by a snowplow (possibly a Darwin Snowplow Award nominee).
Alton Bay Iceport
In the shadow of the Presidential Range, Alton Bay Iceport on Lake Winnipesauke was the ultimate place to practice my soft field technique. The fact is, ICE is the smoothest runway I have ever encountered.
"I've never seen ICE on top of a lake like this before..." 
Alton Bay iceport is a seaplane base in fair seasons. I have always wanted to land on ice, but there is no way you would ever tell a passenger that this was the destination. Today was the day. Gary was a good sport about it.
When I told him where we were going, which was on final approach to Alton Bay, he didn't seem too shocked. I later found out that he had never seen a frozen lake, snow or any kind of atmospheric ice. I don't think he knew we landed on a lake until he saw a little water gurgling though the cracks in the ice while we chocked the wheels. I poked my key in the crack and asked Gary what he thought about the ice thickness. He replied "I've never seen ice on top of a lake like this before". Having been reassured with that expert opinion, I decided to head for cover from the 5 degree temperatures by walking to a shoreline store for some homemade turkey soup.
nICE Landing 
Alton Bay Iceport 
2 comments:
Paul,
Nice Story and pictures - I tried to take my Cardinal FG to Alton bay last year, but I only had a few hours since purchasing her, and I wasn't comfortable enough with the approach. After four go-around's, we diverted to Laconia, and instead of a $100 hamburger, we setteld for a $100 Pop Tart from the vending machine in the terminal.
Weather and schedule permitting, I'd like to try again this year before things thaw out.
Wow... You guys get to have all the fun!
I'm taking my Cardinal out to the Ashland Shakesphere Festival tomorrow so it can get some culture... no ice but it's the best I can do...
-- Ross
http://n1826q.us
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