View of Frank Church Wilderness from our aircraft

            “Okay, now we’re going into aircraft carrier mode.” our pilot said.  I peered through my Plexiglas window and saw nothing but forest and jagged hilltops below. 
            As he adjusted a wheel in the floor between our seats, he began to recite his landing checklist aloud: “Fuel on both, trim is set, cowl flaps closed, 20 degree flaps, airspeed 80 knots…”
            Our craft dropped lower and lower.  We were now between two rocky cliffs that were previously below us. And still our pilot kept us on a steady descent.  A jagged ridge on the shoulder of a mountain threatened our right wing tip as we passed by. 
            Getting nervous, I leaned forward to look over the instrument panel for a better view out front.  At last, a small grassy clearing came into view.  It didn’t look very big, or very smooth, and there were trees at one end and a creek at the other. 
            “Sit tight, we’re going to buzz it once for moose or elk.” our pilot spoke into my headset.  My stomach flipped as we dipped lower and skimmed the surface of the clearing below.  Sure enough, we interrupted the quiet grazing of a huge cow moose, which trotted indignantly off into the woods with her head tossed high over her shoulders.....

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