Zz, keep an ear out for Jamee, she left Southern Minnesota today, flying a S Cub up to Anchorage.

If for any really odd reason you decide to drop down out of Whitehorse through Skagway to Haines and then to Haines Jct. give me a call and say hi.

Good luck and have fun.

Zane, Right on! If there's any way you can squeeze sleeping bags into that thing, the gazebo at Watson Lake is one of the best stop-overs. Barrel stove, firewood, picnic table, covered shelter near plane, friendly flight service folks, WWII history all around. This time of year the lake should be starting to melt, and I've seen hundreds of swans there at sunrise. Also, the WWII emergency strips are really pleasant when they're melted out. Even if you just stop for a leg-stretcher, the scenery is so much better than, say, picnicing on the the ramp at Ft. Nelson. Prophet River is particularly nice, right by the river. The Liard hot springs are pretty far from the Liard airstrip as I recall, maybe 15 miles, but maybe in that cub you can put it down closer? Definitely worth a detour if you're doing well on time. And speaking of that portion, the Grand Canyon of the Liard is gorgeous if you route direct from Ft. Nelson to Watson Lake, though it is a long leg. On the other hand, you could fly that leg via Toad River and pin a BCP hat to the ceiling there! So much good stuff- no way you can go wrong if you respect the weather like MTV said. I'll PM you my number- I'm planning to be at the trade show myself. Would love to meet up.
Have a blast,

-DP

p.s. You've got your 2.5 lb axe, fishing net and radio station license, right??

Fishing net?? *gulp* Hahaha,

Thanks for the suggestion DP. Will give you a ring when we're back in the USA.

Man am I envious! Have a safe trip and take meticulous notes because we will need them for our first BCP AK Caravan in the next few years!

Also, where is your Spot link?

Z, Have a good trip, No matter which way you go it is great!!,
Was hoping to catch some of you guys up there, But the boss called and I have to go back to work about 6 weeks earlier!! So getting all my stuff ready here so I can leave it??
Have fun!!

Grassstrippilot wrote:Man am I envious! Have a safe trip and take meticulous notes because we will need them for our first BCP AK Caravan in the next few years!

Also, where is your Spot link?

Thanks Cory. I updated the OP with SPOT link. We're going for a midday launch since we're only shooting for Kamloops this first day and we have some prep to do this morning.

Zzz-

I made the trip last weekend in my Skywagon except I was heading south. I will be up at the Airmen's show next weekend and will look for you.

My PIREP.

My route was PALH, PAGK, Nebesna Road to Nebesna River, CYXQ, CYXY, CYQH, Trench, CYXS, KRNT.

- Look for the Nav Canada Weather Cam Web site. Very helpful.. Google it.. You will find it.
- I recommend the FlashPass iPhone app for filing eApis on the fly.. Makes things so easy.
- call your cell phone company and get some Canadian Minutes, Data, texts added to you plan.
- call your credit card company and let them know you are leaving the country. Sucks when you need gas and your card gets shut down.. Ask me how I know.


- Fly up the Fraser River if you can efficiently get that far west. It is a super cool part of the trip.
- Fuel in Prince George was the most expensive we saw. 2.26/lt
- There are several areas to land in the Trench if you look for them. Williston Lake was frozen solid still and was essentially a 150 mile long landing area. The ice was still thick and smooth, no snow on the top. It was very cool to fly along low level and explore the shore line.
- check out the terminal at Watson lake. It is very cool and the guys inside manning the radios are a wealth of knowledge on weather, etc.
- fuel at Watson Lake was very close in price to the cost in Whitehorse at the self serve pumps. Typically the fuel in Whitehorse was a lot more. No longer a big delta.
- lots of good places to sleep and eat in Price George and Whitehorse.. Not so many in Watson Lake..
- take time to check out the weather vein at Whitehorse Airport.
- watch for the winds around Haines Junction.. I seem to always get bounced around there..
- make sure you call customs in the US 2 - 3 hours before you plan to arrive in Northway. They have to drive from the boarder and it takes them an hour and a half to get there.. If you call 1 hour before you get ther, you will be waiting for them to show up.
- they told me that they would allow you to stop in Tok for fuel and clear in Anchorage instead of Northway.... I have never done this.
- I recommend cutting the corner down to the Nebesna River, then down the Nebesna Road, but this can be tricky if you are clearing customs. Stopping and hiking out to the mine would be a nice break. It is really cool, but it might be sloppy with melting snow and mud.

Good luck.. Have fun! It is an amazing trip. I just did it and I am getting excited to do it again as I type this out.

Scott

I see you are going to bypass the Trench in favor of the longer route through Ft. St John and Ft Nelson. But it sounds like you have plenty of time to make it up here and you will enjoy the stops along the longer route. Hope to see you at the Airmen's show. Make sure and show the BCP colors loud and clear. You will love your trip north.

I see you are going through Gulkana (PAGK) --- just short hop to our place near McCarthy in the Wrangell mountains if you have the time for a visit. Always a cabin available for aviation friends.

Nizina

I've never flown it in a light plane, but that route (more or less) is still the best airliner flight I have ever been on! Maybe they were flying lower then normal that day, or the country is just bigger up there, or both, but it was much more like a "real" (meaning small) airplane ride then the usual boring airline flight.

Zane, try and report back on the mo gas opportunities for refueling at your stops. Imagine you're a cheapskate who also doesn't want to burned leaded gas.

Randy stopped by(Fort St John) with a SQ12 on Thurs stayed due to weather and left Friday afternoon. Some of us should be leaving here the middle of the week for Anchorage. Get in touch if you need to stay or have a break. Dieter Two Five Zero two six one one eight eight three or text or email [email protected] Have a good trip.

Have fun Zane. It's a great trip.

It'll be a great trip Zane!

I did it two years ago this week and my airplane is still in AK. I'll look for you and the other BCP hat wearers at the Airmen's show.

Keith

Very cool! I hope to someday do that trip some day to bring a cub up from the lower 48 if I find a good deal...

Have a good trip Zane, that flight is one of my goals. We all will be waiting for the trip report!

Zane- could there even be a more perfect title for a BCP thread?? You're living it!

Wipaire guys told me they have private customers in Australia who own a Twin Otter with amphibs. They fly to Bali and they surf deserted breaks. That kind of stuck in my mind as being in the top five. They fit a lot of gear in that one. Good for sure to ship an eleven foot nose rider! And a large quiver.

Hopefully I can pull off the Alcan one day in my little bird. That's my goal. I have already cut a pasted parts of this thread into my to do lists.

Definitely joined the Zane fan club. The brass ring has arrived! Ride strong!

Making a run for the border!

Hahahah. The border guys don't need eapis, they just need to get on social media!

They have found peace. I feel the good vibes just from the photograph.