The North Thompson River valley is filled with beauty, which amplifies the joy of spending time in the air above it. Key points along this journey included Barriere, Little Fort, Clearwater, and Spahats Falls. I originally planned to fly over only the three southern waterfalls. I didn’t have enough fuel to reach the region’s main attraction, Helmcken Falls.

Ground visibility was challenging because of the early morning deep shadows on the west-facing slopes contrasting with the bright light on the opposite side. Both my eyes and the cameras struggled to capture the scenery hidden in those dark canyons.

On my way back south, I noticed a well snow covered peak on the east side. I decided to fly toward it for a closer look. This became the highlight of the entire flight: seeing Mount Raft, rising to 2,440 metres (8,006 feet), in full morning beauty along with its surrounding terrain.

I turned home with better sun conditions, which made it easier to appreciate the landscape on the return leg. It was a superb flight.