Transitioning from IFR to a VFR untowered mountainous approach

[Karelpatch 29]

Hi,

I’ve had quite challenging approaches in this area: 

1S2 : Darrington Municipal airport. 

 

This is an unattended airfield with no approach plates and no indications. It’s at a 553ft elevation and completely surrounded by high mountains. I believe that the only informations you can get are from this VFR chart.

 

When planning an IFR to VFR approach to this airport, I had to transition from FL013. I found it very hard to find a way through the mountains. Best bet was to follow the river, but it all felt a bit risky. Do you have any tips for this kind of challenging routes?

[Dave_YVR 973]

 File IFR to KBVS or KAWO to shoot the approach and break visual, then cancel IFR and continue VFR to Darrington. 

[snglecoil 1,828]

Dave_YVR is right. Closest you are going to get IFR is Arlington. Depending on weather, you could cancel IFR and go visual. If you have to shoot a full approach to Arlington, you're probably not getting to Darrington VFR....leagally anyway 🙂