You Can't Make It This Time

That's Okay - We'll Try Again

Had some end of season mining exploration work to complete a few weeks ago, at one of our Northern BC projects, before the site became snowbound. Marginal weather conditions, but our weather app showed a small window opening each day that should allow access.

What you will see is our initial failed attempt to gain late morning access to the site which was a south facing cirque with low snow levels.

We arrived at the cloud wrapped mountain and orbited mid-level trying to push up to our target site through any openings in the cloud ceiling. It’s no go as visibility drops. Hit the brakes then back-up maintaining orientation, then side-slip to a lower elevation into the clear.

Plan B: find a place to pause and wait for the ceiling to lift with the warmth of the day - as it eventually did. On the way, you’ll see we fly over an area that burned in 2023 in a forest fire (also called intense local warming).

With no helipads at 5,500’, we make-do with what we have. You’ll see careful landing site selection - are there any? - then tamping the touch-down zone with the helicopter skids to make sure the zone is stable before committing.

I had to chuckle as 20’ up the ridgeline from the helicopter was a fresh set of tracks from a pine marten that had loped through that day on its quest - the thought was that this seemed like a tough place for a small mammal to make a living.

A trusted friend with a ton of flight hours was the pilot - that’s him ahead of the camera in the right seat. A pro.

(HT to JE for the video)

Pause, Breathe, Look Around And Feel Gratitude - Then Give ‘Er Again

We all don’t always make it the first time we try something and sometimes that is a blessing as it forces us to pause, breathe, and just live in the place that we stand for a while. Looking around at the tremendous works of the Creator.

After we chewed the fat for an hour on the ridge line, the ceiling lifted and our group pushed-on and reached our target destination. All good.

When we pause our efforts for a few moments during the day and look around, sometimes we find we are looking at this and just say ‘wow’.

And feel so grateful that we were forced to pause.

Forward ho!

Best regards,

David Jensen