James,

Just a heads up: Brown bear hunting by non residents in Alaska requires that the non resident be guided, either by a licensed Alaska guide or by a first order of kin relative (son/daughter, father/mother). Also, be careful to research land ownership on the north slope. Much of it is Native land, and some of the corporations want big $$ to hunt on their lands. Caribou hunting regs can likewise be weird, though not as strict as bear regs.

Just take a close look at the hunting regs for the area you're headed to, as well as land ownership patterns, stick to federal or state lands, and read the regs carefully.

Most of all, have fun--the regs are pretty complex in AK, but it IS still possible to have a good time hunting there....

MTV

Just take a close look at the hunting regs for the area you're headed to, as well as land ownership patterns, stick to federal or state lands, and read the regs carefully.

MTV,
I'm just buying a non-res caribou and wolf tag. Since my friend is an AK resident he has a lot more options. Our plan is to hunt east of the Haul Road either by airplane as far as the Canning River, or by jetboat on the Sag if the weather sucks. I've done my homework. I agree, sometimes it's a full time job just trying to stay out of trouble.

James

Hello Backcountry Pilots,

Flew down to Kooskia for breakfast because the ranch was fogged in. After generous portions of eggs, bacon and hashbrowns we then landed on our neighbors haystrip. We had a Husky, Citabra, Cessna 206 and "the Maule". Good flying, good friends & good fun.

James
Kooskia, Idaho

Did some helicopter checkrides this week in Fairbanks, Alaska. -12 degrees F, but still better than being in the office.

James




Bought this tracked loader today, and will start building my airstrip next week too.

Super-Maule wrote:

James, what were the overnight temps at Big Bar? Runway conditions?

Thinking about heading over there soon-ish

Hello,

The temperatures at Big Bar ranged from mid 50s to 60s in the daytime to the mid 20s with a hard frost at night. Being that Big Bar is located in the deepest canyon in North America it takes a while for the sun to directly hit on the airstrip itself this time of year too. So don't be in a hurry to have the frost melted off your airplane.

On another note, the thing I dislike most about winter or cold weather camping is getting out of a warm sleeping bag to put on cold clothing to start the day. As I get older it seems even worse. This last trip I took a small lightweight propane heater to warm my tent up to about 80 degrees in the morning that makes getting up "more civilized".

Enjoy

James

Has anyone besides me ever had one of these cylinders spring a leak in the air? The smell came on pretty strong in the Mooney prompting an an unplanned stop at Quincy Ca. I have no idea why, it just started leaking. I haven't carried one in an airplane since.

Just some pictures: