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Rob Kailey is a working schmuck with no ties or affiliations to any governmental or political organizations, save those of sympathy.
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Wed Sep 02, 2009 at 12:00:37 PM MST
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| James Conner of the Flathead Memo writes an excellent post on the navigation of Flathead Lake from Lakeside to Bigfork (with map!), showing that, even sober, the conditions and route was challenging for a boater after dark.
A must-read post for the curious (wth shades of MacLean's obsessive detail in "Young Men and Fire"!). Here's an excerpt:
The end of astronomical twilight was still 20 minutes away when Barkus pointed his boat northeast and advanced the throttle. As the U.S. Naval Observatory notes, "...for a considerable interval...before the end of evening [astronomical] twilight, sky illumination is so faint that it is practically imperceptible." To the northwest, various objects would be faintly silhouetted against the residual light, but the lake's eastern shore was much darker. Light from the moon may have provided some help, and there may have been a moon streak on the water that commanded the attention of some on board. Full dark adaptation of the human eye requires 20-30 minutes; longer if exposed to bright light while adapting.
If identified correctly, lights on shore - the dock lights at Wayfarers, or at Flathead Lake Lodge to the south - could have provided a heading that skirted the waterfowl production area. But at night, entering a route into a GPS device, and sticking to that route, all the while keeping a sharp watch for other boat traffic, etc., is the safest course of action. Judging distance over the water at night is difficult because a point of light can remain a point of light until you're virtually upon it. A calm sea can make matters worse, as there is no white foam from waves breaking against the shore or docks. |
| Jay Stevens :: Old Man and Lake |
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