Baker Lake

[chipmunk]

I'll be working out of Baker Lake for a survey job in the next couple of weeks. Never been up there before, so looking for any information about the area, airport, town, weather, etc from those of you who are regulars!
Bug spray is already packed.
Thanks in advance!

[raven54]

Hmm, lets see...Baker lake sucks..sorry, that's all I got. If you make it to Baffin Island I could help you out. I'd also get a bug jacket with a hood, those bugs are like the borg...they adapt quickly.

[oldtimer]

When moccasins start to look like dancing slippers, it is time to leave.

[wxguy]

It's the blizzard capital of Canada! ...well maybe not for the period that you are there.

[100LL]

Don't forget the outrageous fuel costs.

[Mode C]

Watch for Caribou on the runway.

Otherwise there's actually a nice little hotel in town with a decent restaurant with a view.
The co-op on the other hand gave me the choice between the room with the wet towels on the floor or the one that smelled like an ashtray... I chose the ashtray but ended up dry heaving all night from the smell.

[app flap]

Airport can get busy at certain times of the day - making for a bit of a wait to get gas, as mentioned... fuel is steep - I think I was told it was $2.60/L, that was on Wednesday. Baker got shorted 200,000L by the barge last fall, their fuel is sitting in YRT. They've been having to fly fuel in.

Weather's been pretty good, SKC and maybe 20Kts of wind most of the week.

[nimbostratus]

Worked there back in the mid nineties. My info is FAR out of date I'm sure... Are you in a piston or turbine? When I was last up there the Avgas was difficult to come by, we ended up flying our own in.
I thought the mosquitoes and no-see-ums were bad, then the blackflies came out, and I was wishing the mosquitoes would come back.

If you get a maintenance day up there I would recommend taking a hike past the snow wall up to the cemetery. If you've never been to a cemetery up in the permafrost you absolutely have to go. People down here still have trouble believing me when I tell them what I saw....

Keep a lookout for deals on carvings as well. Often the local artists will give there kids art to sell instead of money. I brought home some really cool stuff at bargain prices.

Oh, and the IGLU hotel sucks. I bet it still has those stupid vacuum toilets too. Nothing like the 150 decibal flushes rolling through the hotel all day and night.

Enjoy your time up there, but believe me, when you get home, you won't feel the need to go back.

Cheers,

Nimbo

[Snowgoose]

Here's the highlights of my visits to Baker.

The Iglu and it's noisy toilets. Work exactly the same as on a 767 and as loud.

Landing in SKC and light winds on a summer day we went IFR through 150 feet as bugs started hitting the windshield.

A bug hat is the best 3.99 you can spend there.

The ramp is sloped toward the terminal. Leave the park brake on or make sure it's chocked. There is a nice spinner shaped dent in the terminal about 20 feet to the right of the stairs as a reminder.

There is a taxiway light where you wouldn't expect one by the fuel pumps. Watch out for it.

Never did see caribou on the runway but about 20nm southwest there is a major caribou migration point across the river. Quite a sight to see if you can make it.

[old metal]

I was told there is a sign near Baker marking the geographical center of Canada, someone else might know exactly where it is.

[Busted]

Baker is the Geographical center of Canada and they have a sign beside the inukshuk just south of the airport. If coming from town go just past the airport and you will find it.
Fishing at night is usually good. Make sure you get a license or get a fine. Not a whole lot to do otherwise.
Gas was 2.60 L for Jet A last week.
The Igloo sucks, some of the other places are pretty good.
There is no booze sold in town, you need to get whatever you want approved by the community (not a prob usually). Easy way pack a nice big bottle in your bag and don't share.
There is a hill on the north end of the runway that can get interesting if you end up circling.

Just can't think of much else right now - have fun

[chipmunk]

Thanks guys, I didn't expect to get so many useful replies.

Much appreciated.

[SuperDave]

Chipmunk,

Everything they say is true. Bring a bug jacket, not just the spray, a fishing rod, and whatever you want to drink. I'll share some of my Whiskey with you, but only until it runs out.

It's my second season here, and I like it. But everybody is different. I'm one of the Otter drivers up here, so I'm sure I'll see you and would be more than happy to take you for a ride (read: roll drums) when it's too bumpy for you to fly. I assume you're coming up for survey work?

Peace,

Dave

[sakism]

Forget the caribou - they're a dime a dozen. There are, however, some musk ox in the vicinity - now that's something most people will never see, even in zoos.

[HuD 91gt]

Caribou in the viscinity, center of Canada, cold in Winter, Bugs in Summer. Fuel is available(Jet), Fox and Muskox(sp?) in area. Bring your own booze. Never spent a night, but this is what I gather from being there often enough.

[WJ700]

Thanks guys, I didn't expect to get so many useful replies.

Much appreciated.

I was there in 1998. Baker is often the only alternate available when the airports along the Hudsons Bay fog in. Because Baker is inland the temp/dewpoint is better and often holds a better forecast. When the Coastal Airports fog in, like Arviat, Rankin, Chesterfield/ Whale, all the way around to Corral Harbour.... everyone heads for Baker. So be prepared to have lots of holding fuel while everyone sorts out the gong show to shoot the approach in Baker.

Have a look at flying with an un-slaved HSI so you don't do like me the first time and hear.... "runway... uh 9 o'clock"... from a 250 hour First Officer.

[chipmunk]

Thanks guys!

[sky's the limit]

Bugs in Baker Lake? Naw.....


Every time I've been there the wind's been blowing about 400kts.... All the bugs end up in Quebec...

stl

[1000 HP]

[quote/]
Oh, and the IGLU hotel sucks. I bet it still has those stupid vacuum toilets too. Nothing like the 150 decibal flushes rolling through the hotel all day and night.

Enjoy your time up there, but believe me, when you get home, you won't feel the need to go back.

Cheers,

Nimbo[/quote]

Yeah for sure! Better to just sleep in your plane and save the $250 per night!

[chipmunk]

I can't believe how massive the mosquitoes are here!!!!!!!!!!

[Cat Driver]

Well the good part is they don't carry malaria chipmunk.

[chipmunk]

Well the good part is they don't carry malaria chipmunk.

Good point!

[nimbostratus]

Well the good part is they don't carry malaria chipmunk.

Good point!

Unfortunately many survey pilots do... (It's OK, I can say that, I flew several years of survey)

[Cat Driver]

True there are pilots who carry malaria, but they didn't get it in Baker Lake from the mosquitoes.

[Flybabe]

It's been a long time since I was in Baker Lk, but I always wondered what would happen if you were still sitting on one of those toilets when it flushed (at the Iglu)? Also seem to remember they had beer there but it was about 7 bucks a bottle.

Have fun up there, chipmunk