I'd like to fly to Alaska this summer, but don't really want to do this trip alone. I've got a Supercub on 8.50s plus a cargo pod and a freshly overhauled 150hp engine. I'm in Michigan, and think I'd like to do this route: Follow US2 from the U.P. out to Montana, then north, fly the Alcan to AK, then wherever for a couple of weeks. Figure a week each way and a couple of weeks there. Dates are TBD.

Anyone interested?

ASW.

I don't think I've ever made a summer run up or down the AlCan "alone." No matter where you cross the border and do customs, you'll find a gaggle of other airplanes heading along the road too. What you'll do is leapfrog each other all day long, then end up in the same spot at the end of the day. Makes for fun flying, and meeting some great folks along the way. Then you can camp, or share taxi into town for the night, and have some great lies and storytelling for the evening's entertainment.

WInter months.... It's a cold and lonely trip. There ain't nobody out there with you.

Gump

Now Gump
When I flew back down in October there were lots of folks along the way. Just none of them were in the air!!!
GT

Summer, definitely summer. June or July, preferably. Maybe hit Oshkosh on the way home.

ASW.

GumpAir wrote:WInter months.... It's a cold and lonely trip. There ain't nobody out there with you.

Gump

You got that right. Truckers and oil service workers at the few hotels that areopen, and the occasional turboprop ferrying oil folks passing by on their way to the flight levels.

I read a book a while ago (sorry I can't remember or find the title) about a guy who flew a cub from Minnesota to Alaska and back. He flew north from Minn. to Ontario, then through Manitoba/Sask into the NWT, then through the Yukon, Alaska, BC, and then back. He did a lot of it alone, but ran into a lot of people too. Lots of good fishing if I recall it right.

asw,
i have lived and flown in alaska for the last 40 years mostly via helicpter and in the maules on floats. in 2003 i bought a m6 maule in alpina mi. took it back to the ohio farm where i grew up then flew it back to anchorage with my stepson. we followed your basic route and had a wonderful time. we did not push hard at all but flew back in a little under 4 days. i have flown to most corners of the state and would be happy to suggest things to see and do. if you would like some info let me know your interests and i will suggest where you can fulfill them best.
roger pfeifer

Anne,
As of right now, Greg, Deb and I are planning to fly up in two planes around mid June. I am faster, Greg is your speed. You could certainly tag along. John

The book you are thinking of is George Erickson's book "True North". He flew from northern MN on a straight float cub. Not really a "go to Alaska" book, more just go bum around the arctic type of book. Still a very good read.

When you come by Whitehorse if you would like to drop down to Haines and say Hi we might be able to do a day of fishing or something. At any rate it is a really nice side trip to loop down to the coast and back up to the Alcan.

Hey Rhyppa:

That's the one. Thanks. You're right, it was more of a bumming around all over the north book. Alaska was the furthest west he got, but it was a good read. I remember him finding another Cub, beached on a lake somewhere, nose over with nobody around. Anyway, thanks for the title.

Hi John - mid-June sounds perfect! I'll be honored & quite happy to tag along with your group. I'd like to get together with you & talk about this. I've got charts & the Alaska Airman's Logbook. I'll send you a PM with my phone number. Thanks for the offer!

Anne.

I did the trip from N. IL in 2006. I flew my 185 on amphibs and a friend took his Maule. We made it a site seeing trip from the beginning. We went from the Chicago area to Wall S.D., Mount Rushmore and Devel's Tower. From there on to Laurel MT., just west of Billings (cheepest gas of the trip). From Laural to Shelby MT. just south of the border for the night. The next day we crossed into Canada and cleared customs at Lethbridge. From Lethbridge we took the usual route to Anchorage via the highway.

A couple of sugestions. Join the Alaska Airmans Association. They had a publication called the Log Book that discussed different route and alternitives if the weather went down. I found it a good referance. As a member you also get a discout on fule at many locations.

Following the highway from Ft. Nelson to Watson lake was the best part of the trip. If you can, land at Muncho Lake for lunch and drink in the scenery. Watson Lake had good camping but it was a very expensive taxi ride to town to see the Sign Post Forest. (bring a sign to leave if you can). The suggested side trip from White Horse to Skagway or Hanes is somthing I wasn't able to do because of weather. If I had it to do again I would rent a car and make the trip.

Just an invite to all heading North, If any of you get to Galena, On the Yukon, West of Fairbanks, I'll be there all summer so please drop in. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!
GT

A couple of summers ago I flew my Arctic Tern from Fairbanks to Oshkosh and back. Eight days down, six back. A few weather days. Lots of thunderstorms. Several changes in routes due to weather and winds.

Some of the most useful items I took were the Milepost, a National Geographic map of Canada and The Claw tie-downs.

The Milepost gave important information such as location of truck stops (many are near duster strips), distance from an airport to town and local sights.

The map of Canada was really great because it gave me the big picture of the weather fronts as I was flying through areas that had sighted tornadoes a week earlier. That map shows most of Alaska, all of Canada and the northern US states including Oshkosh.

And the Claw tie-downs kept me and the airplane on the ground during some hellacious thunderstorms. And 70-mph wind gusts.

Fairbanks has a great airplane camp ground at International. Phone, showers, grills, split wood, bicycles...

I plan on flying down to the States again this summer, maybe catch up with you somewhere!

Vickie

M6RV6 wrote:Just an invite to all heading North, If any of you get to Galena, On the Yukon, West of Fairbanks, I'll be there all summer so please drop in. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!
GT

Hey M6RV6,

I get to move back to Alaska this Spring, White Mountian to be exact. Galina is a regular fuel stop on my way to Fairbanks and back. I'll plan on checking in with you. When will you be out?

If you or anyone else gets out White Mountian way (PAWM-50 miles east of Nome), let me know. Love some company

M6RV6 wrote:Just an invite to all heading North, If any of you get to Galena, On the Yukon, West of Fairbanks, I'll be there all summer so please drop in. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!
GT

Hey GT, me and james are headed to Kotsabue and points in between August 1-20. I'll try to stop by and say hi. I want to say hi to yellowmaule, pc, and gb too.

Cheers...Rob

Reading these posts about Alaska has left me conflicted, I mean there are still places in Montana, Woming, Utah, and even Idaho I havn't gotten to yet, not many but a few! I have a brother in Fairbanks I havn't seen in a while, but the crane business really picks up in the summer and I'm a one man show...so that makes it tough dollar wise. Fly the west or head up north, nice to have that tough decision!

Slowhawk
I'm not even going to ask you what your going to be doing there!!!!!
And I thought I was going to be close to the end of the world, You might just be on the other side of there??
GT

Rob
You guys will be going by Nulato one way or the other so please stop.
There are some pretty interesting stops along the way.
We should talk about them.
GT