Backcountry Pilot • Flying to Alaska

Flying to Alaska

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Re: Flying to Alaska

If I dont sell the champ in seattle I will bring it up this way...June is good so perhaps there will be more company ?
glaciercub offline
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Re: Flying to Alaska

M6RV6 wrote:Slowhawk
I'm not even going to ask you what your going to be doing there!!!!! [-X
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?? [-o<
GT


It's nothing too exciting. I'm a PA (physician assistant) I'll be working for Norton Sound Health Corp in the White Mountain clinic and the clinic's Elim and Golovin. Did the same thing out of Unalakleet for 3 years a few years back. Loved it there, just got tired of the politics in that village. Anyway, looks like i'm going back. Family's pretty excited, if we can just survive another bush Alaska move #-o

Lookin forward to Iditarod =D>
slowhawk offline
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Re: Flying to Alaska

That's pretty country in there... Gettin' homesick again. I do dumb stuff when I get homesick. :roll:

Gump
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Re: Flying to Alaska

GumpAir wrote:That's pretty country in there... Gettin' homesick again. I do dumb stuff when I get homesick. :roll:

Gump


Ya, missed it as soon as i left it. Texas has been a good vacation from all the long hours i put in up there, but it just dosn't capture the soul the way Alaska did; no offense to the Texan's out there. :wink:

Although, got a buddy who manages a ranch out south of Elko, NV i used to go cowboy with. If this PA gig ever goes south, might have to head back that-a-way. Even though it is God-forsaken country. :^o :^o :^o
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Re: Flying to Alaska

ASW wrote: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.


Went to ANC last summer(64 >210 with big tanks) -via the coastal route -going up the "trench" this summer with another 210 >1961.Trying to Make Alaska Airman's Association gathering and Valdez fly in -before coming back on Alaska Airlines.If 210 sells there We'll take up 65>182 and leave it until fall, then go back and move 182 back down to Oregon for winter.My other 182(56) is going to be packmule for Idaho> Austin ,NV.,KAliforina,AZ, Southwest etc. Have a place in Oregon to leave-park airplanes near Salem. Looking for a tiedown or hanger in Alaska to leave 210 at for ???. I've flown the "Alcan Hwy. " -trench years back and fuel is expensive and limited as I remember. Beautiful country !
182 STOL driver offline
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Re: Flying to Alaska

Our Route,
Two Maules, with 29 inch tires headed for the tundra:

Route to Alaska


Spokane to Penticton, BC & Canadian Customs: 162 SM

Penticton, BC to Williams Lake, BC: 212 SM

Williams Lake, BC to Smithers, BC: 279 SM

Smithers, BC to Dease Lake, BC: 270 SM

Dease Lake, BC to Whitehorse, NWT via Teslin, BC: 241 SM

Whitehorse, NWT to Northway, AK & US Customs: 293 SM

Northway, AK to Fairbanks, AK via Delta Jct., AK: 221 SM


1678 SM total

Fairbanks, AK to Bettles, AK: 179 SM

Bettles, AK to Galbraith Lake, AK: 133 SM

Galbraith Lake Airstip to Happy Valley Airstip: 66 SM

Happy Valley Airstrip to Canning River Airstip: 67 SM

445 SM total
Image
Super-Maule offline
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Re: Flying to Alaska

James/Rob
Last time Thru gas was way cheaper at Mile 108, Real expensive at Williams Lake,
Unless you just want to stop in Smithers it's a good run to hit Prince George for Custom, Direct to Dease Lake for gas, They have a good motel and folks are nice, Crazy Blond Woman has a great restaurant' there.
The Stikine River Canyon is BC's Mini Grand, some fantastic flying if you are down low, some real hard corners!
If the weather is good you should stop in Atlin and have lunch at the yellow Pine, about a mile walk to town. It's a great little town. I might have to retire there if I ever make it. At least in the Summer time. It is the most remote town in BC you have to go to the Yukon Ter. to get there!!
White Horse is just a little ways farther, While your that close you might want to hit Dawson, Lots of fun but a $20 dollar ride or hitch to town. Take a lunch if you walk to town!!
I've got a AK Airmans Log book if you want to borrow it, Get a current MilePost and your all set.
GT
Guns are a pain you have to get a Licence, I think 50 bucks, if I remember no mags or clips with more than 5 round capacity, hard with a 10-22.
Have fun Great ride.
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Re: Flying to Alaska

James, and the rest of you with big tires, the coastal beachs are cool to check out. Here is a little view from our 2008 trip.
http://vimeo.com/5652280
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Re: Flying to Alaska

Thank you everybody for your help, suggestions, and stories. Keep them coming.

Cheers...Rob
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Re: Flying to Alaska

James,

Whitehorse is actually in the Yukon Territory, not the NWT. I'd second the suggestion of a visit to Dawson either on the way north, or maybe on the way home. It's a fun little town. The cab fare is pretty steep to town, but used ta was that the B and B's in town would come pick you up, if you were staying with them. Also, if you hit there about the time the airline arrives or departs, there's a bus to town, and it's a LOT cheaper. Some good B and Bs there, though, and prices used to be not too bad.

The Palace Saloon and Diamond Tooth Gerties offer evening entertainment. Lots to see of the Klondike gold rush around there by air.

Are you planning to fish on the north slope? Not that scenic up there, but depends on what you're after.

MTV
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Re: Flying to Alaska

Cinnamon Bun strip on your way up to Dawson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braeburn_Airport

A bit of Dawson City

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You can clear customs at Boundary strip here

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This is customs just down the road from Boundary strip

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Visit Eagle after Boundary, see what the ice did last year

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Then fly to Chicken just down the road an hour. Taxi to the bar and have some cold suds, stay the night. I have the password to give to the owner. You will be treated like VIP. There is history everywhere to see. Get off the beaten path.

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After Chicken fly to Kenicott mine land and explore.

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Then fly through a rainbow. Make a wish as you enter

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Check out the mountains, use common sense but don't let them intimidate

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After that go check out the Anchortown and the Kenia or better yet the Brooks range. Entering the state through this route is unique. Very few pilots, even AK pilots have been this direction. It's AK at it's best.
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Re: Flying to Alaska

Oh, man! I want to go!

I'm hoping to make it up there within the next few years with the family. Alaska's the only state I haven't visited yet.
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Re: Flying to Alaska

Great pictures scout!

I just realized that the two rock face pictures are the same! Does the ice really raise that lake that much or is it just an optical delusion because the pictures were taken at different heights? :lol:
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Re: Flying to Alaska

That is the Yukon river. Last spring it got warm real fast. The ice and water were jammed up and then let go. Many villages were damaged or destroyed. Eagle will probably never be the same again. The energy and destruction a river like the Yukon can cause is massive. Quite the photos in this link
http://eaglefloodinfo.wikispaces.com/
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Re: Flying to Alaska

Are you looking for someone to tag along with or to ride with you and share expences?

DJ
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Re: Flying to Alaska

Captcubby, I was looking for someone to tag along with, and it looks like I found my travelling companions (Patrol Guy, etc). Were you looking for someone to tag along with?

Scout, great pictures!

Everyone, thanks for the advice on routes and what to see on the way. It seems no matter which route you take, there's something interesting to see and do on this trip.

ASW.
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Re: Flying to Alaska

Truth be told there's way too much to be seen on one trip. So, plan this one carefully, and as soon as you get home, start planning the next one.... :D

MTV
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Re: Flying to Alaska

You're right, Mike, I've realized that Alaska is way too big to see it all in one trip, or even many trips. I've been there twice (via airline), and other than a couple of must-do's, I just wander and enjoy whatever I happen to see. I haven't even seen "all" of my home state yet, but whatever I see I enjoy. I don't believe in the "1000 Places You MUST See Before You Die" theory.

Last big trip I took was in '83 on my Moto Guzzi, across the US and Canada, 34 days, 8800 miles, camping the whole way (except when visiting friends in CA). I'm really looking forward to this one.

ASW.
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Re: Flying to Alaska

ASW wrote:
Last big trip I took was in '83 on my Moto Guzzi, across the US and Canada, 34 days, 8800 miles, camping the whole way (except when visiting friends in CA). I'm really looking forward to this one.

ASW.


This has to be one hell of a story! One that, if we ever meet over a few beers and a campfire, you'll have to tell.
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Re: Flying to Alaska

182 STOL driver wrote:Went to ANC last summer(64 >210 with big tanks) -via the coastal route -going up the "trench" this summer with another 210 >1961.Trying to Make Alaska Airman's Association gathering and Valdez fly in -before coming back on Alaska Airlines........

..... Looking for a tiedown or hanger in Alaska to leave 210 at for ???. I've flown the "Alcan Hwy. " -trench years back and fuel is expensive and limited as I remember. Beautiful country !



Bill, When are you looking for a tiedown or hanger? Tiedowns are pretty easy to find at Merrill. The going rate now is $60/month w/o elec or pull through. You just need to have someone that can check on the plane now and then while you are gone in the summer or to sweep snow in the winter. I also have a friend that has a hanger at the Big Lake Airport north of PAMR. He has a lift, but he's looking for someone that wants to store a bird over the winter...said he will give a good rate for the winter. He's been bugging me the last month or so to take my 182 there for the rest of the winter. I figure I'll just wait a few more months and start flying it instead.
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