I’m heading back to Alaska this spring to take in the Alaska Airmen’s Show and Valdez Flyin. Never been to either. Going up commercial and will be staying with my daughter in Palmer. Probably will drive over to Valdez solo (if daughter’s unproven extra car makes it). Thinking of sleeping in the car or possibly set up a tent – is this a reasonable expectation? (Yes, I know about cold.) Any other suggestions??

Mark J

Been to the Airman Show and greatly enjoyed it. Bought two of Clouddancers signed books. Been to Valdez but not the Fly-in. Stop at the Matanuska Glacier and see my buddy Bill. Been a long time since I slept in the car on purpose. Take a tent, thermarest, good sleeping bag and a bottle of whiskey and you'll sleep like a baby. Have fun and go fly around Denali if the skies are clear. If I remember correctly, it likes to rain in Valdez. Have fun and take lots of video and try to keep your squeeling to a minimum.

I'm going to Valdez for the show too. What is the best place to stay? We're thinking about camping too, but open to suggestions from the locals.

Sam

We just got a Bed and Breakfast for up there, looked at the one we reserved with and another one. Neither was all rented out when we made our reservations.

Are most people flying along the roads or over the water? I haven't flown there yet, and I will probably go the route that most other people are going.

I won't make it this year, but based on last year, several people camped under-wing, quite a few couch-crashed on any spare floor in the hangars, some folks drove RV's, a few did the sleeping bag in the back of the pickup, under a camper shell, and most folks stayed in town, in a hotel or the B&B's. (If you make sure to get one still on winter rates, instead of tourist/summer rates, it's not that bad.)

How folks fly there really depends on weather. If Whittier's open, then it's a quick, easy shot across the water to Valdez, so most will go that way (on the other hand, if you're not fond of flying across open water with no alternatives, and no shame in that, then there are always folks taking the highway, too.) If Turnagain Arm looks iffy, sane folks will go up the highway, and some people whose names I won't mention will "just try it see if I can get through." Either way, check the weather cams, and keep a close eye on the weather. For those flying in - unless you plan to be competing in the STOL heats, bring all the extra avgas you can. Year before last, they ran out of Avgas with everyone topping off the tank to fly home. It's not that they can't get extra, it's that there's no place to store the extra. Also, keep a close eye on the weather. The festivities do continue Sunday, but if the clouds start coming down, you wouldn't know it for the sudden rush to the gas pump and off the runway.

My better half and I will be going to Valdez via ferry with a car from Whittier on Friday the 6th.... returning on Monday the 9th. Expect to book a Bed and Breakfast soon but just haven't picked one yet. 907 --- I just sent you a pm.

I am going to try to be there this year, but it looks like I won't get my engine put back together in time to compete again this year. I might drive or jump in with a friend. I am looking forward to going after I had to miss last year (newborn babies are hard to take camping).
If you get a hotel or BnB, there is a shuttle that will take you just about anywhere in town. I also found that it makes me less nervous when the weather comes down if I take Monday off from work. I have had to turn around when the ceiling started dropping at the end of Valdez arm, and I was too close to the water for comfort by the time we got back to VDZ. If you follow the highway, it is worth stopping at Sheep Mountain Lodge (SMU) for pie and coffee. The route is a little longer, and still over pretty rough terrain though, so when the weather permits, I just go over the top through PWS at 6-8000'. If you file a flight plan, make sure you tell the briefer which route so they know where to start looking. Either way, bring a camera because the scenery is amazing and you are guaranteed to see wildlife.

I'm going to the Alaska Airmen's show as a vendor, but other obligations prevent me from staying and setting up a booth at the Valdez competition. Any BCP'ers at the Airmen's show, please come by in the hangar and say hi, I'd be glad to meet any of you in person. OK, well, most of you

If your a Vet, the USCG usually has room available.

I was planning on going again to the show & Valdez this year, spending a couple of days at Alaska Float Ratings in between. Unfortunately, Vern doesn't open until the end of May (weather-related, I'm sure). So here I sit...

Have fun!

ASW.

Thanks for all the responses. As things have developed, our current plan is that I, two of my daughters, and possibly an AK friend or two, will plan to drive over to Valdez and camp somewhere. Daughter has to work Friday in Palmer until 1500h so we will get to Valdez late Friday night.

Mark J

sheephunter wrote: Take a tent, thermarest, good sleeping bag and a bottle of whiskey and you'll sleep like a baby.

And a .44magnum for bears

This is my first fly-in ever, what's the back up plan if the weather continues to be crummy? Everyone drive to the fly in?

Hit town yesterday and looking forward to the trade show this weekend
-DP

Great to meet some of you guys up there. Thanks for stopping by and saying hi. Wish I coulda stayed for Valdez but had to be back here for business.

For the people who were not able to go, it was a great show. Try to make it next year. Great stuff to see. Even outside the show i tself, Lake Hood is one of the seven !($*@#! wonders of the world as far as I'm concerned. Maybe next year my host will be able to give me a ride when his T-craft is back on the floats. But the ice was still on the lake, and for now he bought a set of 26 inch Bushwheels at the show... and he's happier than a pig in shit that he finally did it!