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Excitement and terror are combined with a practical guide to wilderness survival. Bush flying challenges and techniques are explored in detail.
On the pages of these true Maine bush flying stories, a floatplane races toward the shore and crashes in front of the lodge, Jake’s plane engine quits twice, a forest fire threatens Hardscrabble, a gale flies the plane minus a pilot, Jake searches for lost guests at night, firefighters are trapped between walls of flames and a boy must be airlifted after suffering a compound leg fracture.
After Jake completed engineering school, one fact was obvious: Life behind a desk was the wrong choice.
So off to Maine with his young bride, Beth! A teaching job led to flying lessons and a lifelong love affair with planes. After several years of instruction and practice, a dream job as a commercial floatplane pilot materialized.
As a flying family, exposure to the numerous remote lodges in Maine prompted Jake and Beth to purchase a dilapidated set of remote buildings, which they rebuilt and named Hardscrabble.
Today, Jake and Beth are retired and live next to their air strip, ME32.
“Morrel’s book reads like you are sitting around a campfire or possibly a wood burning stove in this case and listening to the tales of someone who’s done the things you only dream of.”
“Hi Jake,
For Christmas, my wife gave me two of your books, one on Gary Dumond and
one on Hardscrabble.
To escape 2020 we went out after the holiday to Baxter State park to
Daicey Pond for a few days. For nights by the fire after a day of
hiking, I had the perfect companion and finished both books.
So thanks- I really enjoyed the stories of life in the north Maine woods.”
“We love your book Hardscrabble Lodge: True Maine Bush Flying Stories. Our youngest reading member, George, 2 1/2 years old, thought it was a good story, too!”
“Jake, I read your book. It was awesome! You and Beth were so inventive, so hardworking, so adventurous —- and, yes, damned lucky too!”
“Your book is very impressive! Congratulations on a job quite well done.”
“Hi Jake. Just finished your book this week. Looking forward to the next one. Great job!”
“Just finished your book. Love it! I love the sitting around and repeating hunting stories. That’s the best part of hunting!”