Poured here today. Flights I needed to make got delayed...wasn't the weather for going through the mountains. Maybe tomorrow. I am heading to Anchorage on Sunday...then home and back to Anchorage or Wasilla by Wednesday.


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Ok. We are leaving Fairbanks tomorrow. Probably be on the Kenai tomorrow afternoon for several days.


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It's been mostly cloudy here about 15 miles north west of Talkeetna. Cleared up real nice last night but is partly cloudy this morning with no rain or wind. I live at "Fort Crosby" or 8AK5 and would invite you to land but I have the runway blocked in preparation for my daughters wedding on summer solstice. I hope to see you fly by at least. Enjoying your posts.

Randy

Thanks Randy! And congrats on the wedding!


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When we first arrived in Alaska in the middle of May 1970, it was a bright sunny day, the kind of day that the photographers get out in droves to take their pictures for the local Chamber of Commerce, Alaska Magazine, etc. Little did we know that a goodly chunk of Alaska summers, at least from Denali southward to Homer or Seward, would be rainy. That doesn't in the least detract from the beauty of the state, but it's different from what I had expected.

I am so enjoying your trip report! It's been one of the best since I joined the BCP crowd. Keep it up, and fly safely!

Cary

Grassstrippilot wrote:Ok. We are leaving Fairbanks tomorrow. Probably be on the Kenai tomorrow afternoon for several days.


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Okay, if you let me know what airport you are based at on the Kenai, I might be able to swing by on my way one direction or the other.

Cary wrote:When we first arrived in Alaska in the middle of May 1970, it was a bright sunny day, the kind of day that the photographers get out in droves to take their pictures for the local Chamber of Commerce, Alaska Magazine, etc. Little did we know that a goodly chunk of Alaska summers, at least from Denali southward to Homer or Seward, would be rainy. That doesn't in the least detract from the beauty of the state, but it's different from what I had expected.

I am so enjoying your trip report! It's been one of the best since I joined the BCP crowd. Keep it up, and fly safely!

Cary

Thanks Cary. I hadn't planned on down my daily updates but decided this trip will be long enough that I had better...if not for anything else, so I can remember what we did each day!


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Troy Hamon wrote:

Grassstrippilot wrote:Ok. We are leaving Fairbanks tomorrow. Probably be on the Kenai tomorrow afternoon for several days.


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Okay, if you let me know what airport you are based at on the Kenai, I might be able to swing by on my way one direction or the other.

We are basing on Barnstormer's strip if it looks doable for coming and going. Should be there this afternoon.




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Day 9: Incredible! After three days of rain, we were rewarded with a near perfect day to fly from Fairbanks to McKinley to take an 8 hour jaunt to see Denali. Awesome strip, did a hike while we waited for our bus time, and saw moose, dall sheep, caribou and 4 grizzly bears!...one right by the bus! This was my third time in the park. Must be the charm because I finally got to see the whole mountain! The bus ride went by fast and the kids were great. We ended the day with a beautiful flight under clear skies back to camp at Fairbanks.

Heading to Denali.


Ducking under a layer to McKinley.


McKinley strip. Beautiful!


Our hike to Horseshoe Lake to kill time before our bus into the park.


All the morning buses were sold out so we had lunch while we waited for our 1pm departure.


On the bus!


It was an early morning.


We went quite a ways into the park before seeing anything up close. Then we were rewarded with a grizzly right by the bus!


It was so cool seeing Adam get so excited.


Adam and Tyler liked the ground squirrels.



This is my third time in the park and finally I got to see the mountain!


Ranger talk at the Eielson Visitor Center.


Tyler checking out another two bears we saw near the bus.


We saw a lot of caribou.


The here narrow in places. Beautiful scenery!


The mountain!


A beautiful flight a back to camp.


A long day for the kids.




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Day 10: Made it down to the Kenai. Left Fairbanks this morning and had good weather all the way. We stopped at Talkeetna for lunch and to let Allen visit some friends. Then on the a friend's private strip near Kenai where we were treated to tacos for dinner. It was a beautiful day to reposition.

Showers heading south through the pass by McKinley.


McKinley strip.


Gorgeous country.



Talkeetna



Walk to lunch.



Downtown Talkeetna.



At the river we could see Denali.


Ice cream stop.


Someone was super glueing quarters to the ground. Tyler wasn't amused!


Beautiful all the way down to the Kenai.


Allen landing at Barnstormer's (Phil's) beautiful strip.


Phil and Heather are our gracious hosts and fed us delicious tacos when we arrived.







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Looks fun.

Hey Troy. We are headed over to Seward today for a glacier cruise. Are you still coming this way this weekend?


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Day 11: Grocery and doughnut run, lunch, then off to land on a beach and find bears. We sound three but they were a ways off. Hopefully we will get back to look some more.

Lunch on Phil's strip where we are camping.


The kids loved the doughnuts from The Moose is Loose.


Beach landing to see bears.




We saw three but as we moved to get closer, they moved into the trees. So we hopefully will head back out there in a day or two to try again.


The beach we landed on.


Beautiful waterfalls.


Allen and Stan headed back to Kenai for fuel.


A cool weather vane at Soldatna.


Cooking piggys in a blanket in our oven. Still love it!



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Grassstrippilot wrote:Hey Troy. We are headed over to Seward today for a glacier cruise. Are you still coming this way this weekend?


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Not before very late Sunday at this point...weather days this past week stacked up the work flights. Could also come through late Monday or Tuesday. I will keep you posted.

Beach landings for bears...I know a few places...

Sounds good!


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Troy Hamon wrote:Beach landings for bears...I know a few places...

I bet you do!


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Grassstrippilot wrote: ....Someone was super glueing quarters to the ground. Tyler wasn't amused!....

Now that's funny!

Hi Cory, Dee, and Allen. Great pics and narrative. I'm enjoying it.

Cheers...Rob

Lovin this report. I know at least one of those 8.50 tires is relieved to be plowing gravel in the great North again. Good on you guys for tackling this together.

Brett


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