Darrington Municipal to Concrete Municipal in a Skymaster 337

[Guest Ragtopjohnny]

Orbx PNW Flights

Darrington Washington to Concrete Washington

Leaving the Viper Behind

Aircraft: FSD’s Cessna 337 Skymaster
Departure: 1S2 – Darrington Municipal – Darrington, Washington
Arrival: 3W5, Concrete Municipal – Concrete, Washington
Weather:Real Environment Extreme for real world weather and cloud textures.

Well my friends, we had a good time with the Viper in Darrington, but it’s time to depart this little town and head back up north to Concrete – sure it was tempting to drive there, but let’s face it – flying is half the fun too.  Plus, who would return our Cessna to the aircraft rental company? 

The upper Stillaguamish valley where Darrington is located was once settled by the local Sauk-Suiattle Tribes in the drainage of the Sauk, Suiattle and Whitechuck rivers abundant in salmon and other fish. In 1870 a group of surveyors working for the Northern Pacific railroad came to the area to chart a pass over the Cascade Mountains to the Wennatchee Valley. Although a suitable route was found, the railroad chose a route further south. Gold was discovered at Monte Cristo in the summerof 1889 and prospectors began to flood into the Cascade Mountains. A road was punched in to Monte Cristo from Sauk City on the Skagit River. The location of where Darrington is now became a half-way point on the road, then a Boomtown called "Starve Out". It was July 22, 1891 when the town filed for their own post office and named the town Darrington. The Northern Pacific railroad branch from Arlington reached Darrington on June 1, 1901. This opened up the possibilties for timber harvesting. Several sawmills started up in the area and with them small towns and communities. Over the years most of the small mills have closed or merged with the mill in town, Hampton Lumber Mill which is the largest employer in Darrington. The Northern Pacific railroad was abandoned in 1991 and the tracks were pulled in 1994 to begin construction for the Whitehorse Rails to Trails. Darrington was officially incorporated on October 15, 1945 and this was the same year that the first Town Hall was built. The new Town Hall housed the City clerk and Mayor, Fire department, library and community center with a dance floor. The following year the community came together to raise money for a new fire truck. This fundraiser was named the Timberbowl and the tradition lasted for several decades. Timber harvesting is still a very important part of the Darrington economy. Many people come out to enjoy the camping and trails of Darrington's surrounding wilderness areas, Boulder River Wilderness, Henry M Jackson Wilderness and the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

On the ramp, Darrington taxiing to the active


Taxiing past the main office where our Viper is sitting, awaiting the rental car company to come and pick it up – hope no one takes it for a spin like in  “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off†with the Ferrari


A better look at the Viper with a Robinson 22 training helicopter near by


Take Off Roll


Climbing out – the Viper is shrinking into the distance airport workers seem to be peering through the window drooling over it right about now I bet…


Gear up – Whitehorse Mountain in back


Circling Darrington – what a nice, peaceful little town…


View from the flight deck


Darrington, Washington as a whole


Darrington and Whitehorse Mountain


View of the Sauk River Valley


Sauk River and Mt. Baker in the distance


Heading towards Concrete


Starting our descent to Concrete Municipal


Concrete from the Flight Deck


Concrete, Washington.  On approach crossing S. Dllard Ave,  RT. 20,  Main Street, and North Superior Ave.


A scenic view of Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan


Concrete Municipal


“Downtown†Concrete, with Main Street below us


Concrete has had its share of interesting characters—some famous, and some only locally known.
Lady entrepreneurs and telephone pioneers

Circling the airport, Mt. Baker is the prominent land mark in the area


The scenery is splendid – I always thought only Tileproxy looked this good…Turning Crosswind


Turning Upwind


The whole of Concrete below us, with the Fish Dam on the Skagit


Turning Final from the Flight Deck


Gear coming down


Lined up, on final


Almost there….


Almost…


Touchdown!


Turning off the runway – what a view!


Taxiing – hope this is right, being on the grass, no paved taxi ways


Backing into our spot…


Shut down, engines off…..Welcome to Concrete


Now that I’m here, I think – should I have waited for the rental company to come and pick up the Viper before I left Darrington?  Hmmmmmmmmmmmm……..makes me wonder….

Have a good one all!  I’ll be exploring more areas around Concrete by road in another post…be back soon!

John Thuot II
A+/Network+

[sbflyer]

Fantastic!  Just saw one of these Skymasters for real the other day at the local airport. 

Looks like you have the same NORDO Skyhawk I complained about in the support section

in the second to  last shot?

[John Lovell]

Very nice shots and a nice touch with the Viper in the shots 

[aircav1970]

Great shots of the "Mixmaster" John!Just did a flight up there myself,I can't seem to get out of the PNW lately!

[Phil Manhart]

Great pictures John, and it's nice to see your story posts again.

[alan2]

Thanks for the history lesson !