Well guys, it's coming to a head. I plan on heading North on the 12th. I finish work this week and a few other projects and point the plane to it's new home.
Anyone here cross into Canada lately and is familiar with the current requirements? I stopped into a local Customs office the other day and got the indifferent treatment. I am familiar with the requirement for flight plans and everyone says the Mounties are gentlemen and Pros. That will be a nice change.
I am interested in hearing any info you guys have. The intended route will be to clear customs in Surrey, over Hope and along the Frazier River to Prince George, over the Rockies and into Northway, Fairbanks to Wasilla. Basically the Highway. If I have the weather, I am going to try do it in one day. One long day. Anyway, let's hear what others have experienced.
Kurt

Will you be accepting house guests in your new abode?

Translation: Cheap freeloaders like me?

I've only been as far north as the north end of Vancouver Island.

You'll never see a Mountie, unless you screw up. Canada Customs is great to work with. U.S. Customs is hit and miss. Don't give them ANY openings. You will have to buy a US customs sticker and afix it to the plane. You can do that before the trip, or when you cross.

Northway Customs is seasonal, so make certain they are going to be there when you cross. If you are going to Wasilla, don't fly all the way to Fairbanks. Fly to Tok Junction, and take the Tok Cutoff through to Gakona. Gakona to Glenallen, then take the Glenn Highway across Tahneta and Gunsight Passes, direct into Palmer. The Glenn highway pretty much dumps out right near Wasilla. Going to FAI will add a lot of miles to the trip.

That will be a VERY long trip to do in a day, and I doubt you'll have the daylight to do it in one day, unless it's June.

Call ahead and verify that ORT Customs is up and running. If so, fuel at ORT, there's a restaurant on the field, or fly to Tok, park at 40 MIle Air, and walk across the Alaska Highway to Fast Eddy's for dinner.

Again, weather permitting, the Tok Cutoff will save you a LOT of time.

If you have to go to FAI to clear Customs, you cannot land at ORT for fuel or pit stop, or Tok. I think ORT Customs should be running by now. If not, I believe with prior arrangement, they'll drive in from the border to clear you. If that happens, be squeaky clean. It's a bit of a drive.

MTV

Oh, yeah, take a passport or birth certificate. Whether it's required or not, it makes Customs folks happier. Happy Customs is a good thing, particularly when you are in a hurry. and even when not.

MTV

Hey Kurt

You got Oregon Aero seats in there? Your butt will thank you after a one-day trip like that.

Canada was a lovely flying envirionment. Nice facilities and nice people. We came up the Okanagan valley to Prince George from Penticton. You just file your cross border flight plan, land at your selected canadian airport and taxi to the customs area. In hindsight, try to arrive on or near the time you have in your flight plan. I am never early for anything (just ask the wife), but we got there about 40 minutes early, called customs and had a scolding. Their point was that we could have already unloaded any countraband before an agent could show up. It would have been easy to call and update our arrival time (126.7 I think) and avoid all that. They let us off with a phone slap (chewed me out over the phone) and gave us our clearance number, so no M-16's this time.

You might notice in that part of BC, everything is a Prince, a Lake or a Fort. If you go through Prince George and you can verify that the weather is sparkling all the way, you could go up the trench to to Watson Lake. It's shorter, very spectacular, and you avoid crossing the Rockies twice. Top up the tanks at Watson Lake and every place after that will seem cheap.

Are you going to Fairbanks for a reason? If not, when you clear out of Northway, there is a shorter and just as exciting a route to the Anchorage bowl. Again, wx permitting, you can fly up the Nabesna River which runs very close to Northway. You go through a pass that is wider and straighter than Mentasta or Windy and full of sand and gravel bars if you need one. Turn right at Nabesna and head for Duffy's Tavern, then Gulkana, and through the pass at Sheep Mountain.

Check wx in the passes here: http://akweathercams.faa.gov/
and other AK wx here: http://aawu.arh.noaa.gov/ Canadian wx is available at a kiosk at any of the airports you stop in .

You are one lucky pooch. You are going to have such a FANTASTIC summer! I may be up there later this year so don't disappear.

YB

jmtgt wrote:...Doug I already took what room is available. LOL hahaaaa...

I ain't gonna share a bed with you, John. You're gonna have to sleep on the couch.

Hey, I figure if Kurt will let a rough character like you through the front door I should be a shoe-in.

jmtgt wrote:Hey Kurt call me tomorrow night and I will tell you about my buddy who was arrested by the mounties and held on the ground at M16 point!!!! It is a funny story I tell ya...

HoooYeah, that sounds like a hoot. I've always *wanted* to have an M-16 pointed at my head.

You lucky bastard!
If you have the wx, the trench is shorter and really beautiful. Fuel up at Mackienzie, and enjoy the desolation. There are several strips in the trench, logging camps and villiages mostly, sometimes they will have fuel, sometimes not. At least if the weather is bad you have someplace to go. Watson Lake's FBO has a B&B at their house, it was around $40 a night. They also have a car you can take into town. Nice folks.
When I flew down it took all day to get from Merrill field to Watson Lake. With fuel stops and customs things slow down.
I think you should skip Fairbanks too. The navigation from Northway to Wassilla is pretty easy, and it would be a nice morning flight.

Are you headed north for good, Kurt? If so, I'll miss seeing you & Shell & the kids out & about. Best wishes for you & your family's new life!

Eric

I made the trip from North to South when I first picked up my bird in Fairbanks. AOE was in Beaver, Yukon, I think. The sweet gal at the podunk airstrip let me use her nice new truck to go borrow some gas cans, and drive into town, and get some mogas at the log-cabin service station there. Customs didn't even want to come look at my plane. Received clearance over the telephone! Canadians are very nice folks.
It seems to me there is a requirement that you bring no guns with you into Canada. Also, there are requirements to carry some survival gear - fish hooks, food, shelter, etc. I think enough to survive for 2 weeks, or something. - I still keep the axe in my plane, to this day, and find many uses for it - from knocking screw heads loose, on the cowling, to pounding in tie-downs in tough ground.
You'll be heading out over true wilderness. Happy travels! Berk

Long guns are okay in Canada, as long as the barrel length is greater than 18 inches. They will charge you a fee, and if you have guns, unless you've pre-registered with them, it will take a while to register them, and you can't use Can Pass, I don't believe.

If you're taking guns, though, be prepared to get some scrutiny from US Customs. When I came through US Customs in Dec, it took a good hour and a half for them to get their computer to tell them my guns weren't on some federal list.

Canadians are generally very nice, and good to work with.

Good luck,

MTV

If you decide on the trench:
When you get to Prince George, ask one of the briefers for a "Trench Guide". It has a handy little map of the trench and details on the location and services of all the strips along the trench. There's not much north of Fort Ware, but I saw cabins at Terminus Mountain and Scoop Lake. It might be a bit early in the season...
The west side of Williston Lake has more landing opportunities like logging roads and clearings.
Here's a list of the trench strips (north to south) from the guide. Stick 'em in your GPS so they come up when you press "NEAREST" in desperation.


1. Watson Lake YQH 600704N 1284919W Listed in CFS. Full services. RCO Whitehorse 126.7. ATF 122.1.
2. Scoop Lake 5901N 12724W Aprx 85NM SE of Watson Lake between Scoop Lake and river. RWY 3000 x 75 ft. dirt. Emergency fuel, B&B accommodations. Radiophone JJ37353 Watson Lake or Terminus channel.
3. Terminus Mountain 584384N 1270800W Aprx 90 NM NW of Fort Ware, 112NM E of Kechika River and south of Terminus Mountain. RWY 3500 x 75 ft. No Facilities.
4. Fort Ware AJ9 572538N 1253901W Listed in CFS. RWY 09/27 4700 x 30 ft. gravel. Communications at camp and radio phone at store. RCO Whitehorse Radio 126.7. ATF 123.2.
5. Finbow BF2 571617N 1252642W RWY 12130 4500 x 1300 ft. gravel ABANDONED
6. Tsay Keh BN9 565422N 1245754W Listed in CFS. North end of Williston Lake at mouth of Finlay River. RWY 12130 4500 x 50 ft. packed gravel/sand. Camp communications. ATF 123.2.
7. Pelly Lake Lodge 5653N 12523W North side of Pelly Lake. RWY 1600 x 50 ft. dirt and grass. Radio telephone 250-997-5928.
8. Ingenika AP6 564726N 1245348W Listed in CFS. Communications summer only through forestry tanker base. RWY 11/29 6000 x 100 ft. gravel. ATF 123.2.
9 Swannell 564330N 1250653W Confluence of Swannell and Ingenika Rivers. RWY 03/21 5000 x 100 ft packed gravel
10. Ft. Graham BW3 563118N 1242806W Listed in CFS. RWY 13/31 5000 x 40 ft. gravel. Ft. Graham Fishing Lodge. ATF 123.2.
11. Osilinka 561063N 1251039W Aprx 30 NW W of Williston Lake on Tenikihi Creek. RWY 13/31 3000 x 50 ft. gravel. Logging camp 5NM S of strip.
12. Ospika BA9 561630N 1240306W listed in CFS. RWY 02/20 5600 x 60 coarse gravel. ATF 123.2.
13. Mesilinka 5606N 12424W RWY 10/28 5000 x 100 ft. dirt/gravel. Abandoned.
14. Bear Valley 5605N 12305W North side of Peace Arm of Williston Lake. RWY 18/36 3500 x 75 ft. gravel. Abandoned
15. Mackenzie CYZY 551816N 1230756w Listed in CFS. Near south end of Williston Lake on the east side. 100LL and JB available. Pacific Radio 126.7 (FISE). ATF 126.7


FOR CURRENT INFORMATION PLEASE CHECK THE CFS AND NOTAMS

It is approximately 435 nautical miles to Watson Lake from Prince George via the "Trench". Other than Mackenzie, there are no reliable weather reporting stations enroute. PIREPS are always appreciated.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A VERY SPARSELY SETTLED AREA, KEEP ALERT AND COMMUNICATE.

HAVE A GOOD TRIP ....... YXS FSS STAFF

August 6, 2005 "FOR REFERENCE ONLY"


YB

Kurt, how's your planning coming along?

Planning hell, have been packing the 20' container with all of our stuff! Looks like a friend of mine will be coming up with me. He flew in AK for about 15 years for various outfits before going to the commercial airlines. He wants to show me around to his old haunts and see some friends.
I am thinking that the Highway looks the best and will skip Fairbanks. Time does not allow much for recreation for now. Have use of a friend's guest cabin at Big Lake until my house is vacant so I will spend a couple of weeks out that way. Did I mention that they are rabid fishermen types? What will I do without watching the soaps?!
Weather is not looking really good for a Friday departure. The one thing I won't do is push the weather. I know I have a good ELT, don't need to prove it. I will post the trip as best I can. Thanks to all for the advice. My guess is that Thursday night will be a little tough to sleep!
I carry almost 6 hours of fuel including reserve so I have some options. If the weather allows I may try to chase the trench. I do plan on carrying a long gun so will start looking into pre-registering my weapon to simplify things. (12-ga type) And yes Eric, we are going for the long haul and it has been a lot of fun running into you and all the others out and about. We will always make room for our fellow travelers as they come through. And if we let John in, it opens the gate doesn't it Doug!

One long day! WOW!

Anyway, I will be following you by a few days myself. Bringing my 170 from the Bellingham area to Montana for a brief visit, then customs at Springbank Airport (Calgary) then Fort Nelson, then the Highway to Fairbanks then home. Appreciate a trip report if you have a computer when you arrive.

I'll be departing Bellingham around the 16th (May) and Montana around the 19th depending on weather. I'm dedicating around 6 days from Montana to Denali Park and bringing a tent for the trip up, so I don't have to feel rushed about the weather and can do some sight seeing.

Yes, I'm bringin' the rest of the survival gear too

Great resources above, thanks! Here's a great three part story about a flight to Alaska some years ago, before the advent of GPS. Fun read.

http://www.avweb.com/news/places/183162-1.html

He talks about the shortcut from Northway to Duffy's tavern. I looked at it on the charts and also on Google Earth. He also talks about his trip through the trench, wonder if anything has changed since the 80s?

BTW when I was in Fairbanks FSS last week they told me that Northway flight service station and customs are both fully operational as of last week sometime.

YELLOWMAULE wrote:...We will always make room for our fellow travelers as they come through. And if we let John in, it opens the gate doesn't it Doug!

Have a safe trip Kurt, and be careful pulling that 20' container behind your Maule.

If you should happen to get weathered out around Whitehorse consider this and invitation to drop down into Hains via Skagway. I'll put you up for the night and listen to your lies!!!

It is pretty rare that the weather in Whitehose is bad and the coast is good but it does happen once in a while.

Shane

Well, I could lie (again) about the virtues of the Maule and say that we did a test flight this evening and even with a 50% load, the plane got off on 1/2 the runway with the 20' container in tow. Doug would be forced to back me up unless he would call BS and potentially disgrace the Maule!
Shane, thank you for yet another invite on the trail, I may very well take you up on that.
I may have a delay as my right seat was making noises about not being able to go until the 4th of June. He's being sent to Dallas for training for a couple of weeks. I may be doing the trip solo but it is always more fun with someone just in case of a "did you see that?" It may be Chelle and I, that would be pretty fun too. I am fortunate in that I have no exact time frame for when I am due.
Once: If you go first, same holds for you, send a PIREP. I want to make it a point to stop in MacKenzie. I'm kind of obligated to go there someday, that's my Namesake. I would like to see what some relative saw fit to name for the Clan. That being said, I plan on spending as much time as I can exploring over the next however many years up there. I figure we as humans have two obligations: If you have kids, we have to teach them how to learn. Because we don't know everything, we can't teach them everything. The second is that it's a big world and we are here for less than a Geologic flash of time. We have to see as much of this place as we can. With the exception of some details, that sums it up.
Hey Zane, did I mention I love my spell check?

You betcha! If I am running late I may need to fly directly to Anchorage to catch a flight back east for Memorial Day weekend festivities with the fam damily. If so I will likely take the Duffy's Tavern shortcut. I'll let you know.

First one to Duffy's get to leave a tab for the other!
You guys kill me.

yellowmaule,
where will you be living in AK? i just moved to talkeetna as an A&P for K2 aviation. sounds like you will be just down the road in the wassilla area.
i had to leave my maule behind (for now). but if you are ever up in the denali area, stop and say hi.

also, i just carried 2 rifles thru canada and it was not a problem. the only issue they had was that they knew i owned a handgun. and they tore appart my whole truck looking for it. of course i didn't have it with me, but they figured i was hiding it somewhere to sneak it in. other that that- no problems. and the US customs guy just said "welcome to alaska" and waved us thru.

have fun>>>>>>