I am going to be heading up to AK, leaving tomorrow morning, bound for Fairbanks to visit my son who is in the Army there. I will be flying my 1955 Cessna 180 (pponk'ed) departing from eastern Washington, planning my first landing in Kamloops, BC so I can get customs out of the way. Then trek north to Mackenzie and stop for fuel and likely up the trench. My wagon is the early version with 60 gal (55 useable), I generally plan to burn 15 gallons an hour, but often can lean down to 13-ish. Thinking about carrying 20 gallons of extra fuel (4x5 gallon cans) in the plane just in case, but I would rather not pack the extra weight if I don't need to..

Just looking for advise for those who have made the trip!

If you have time/desire, fly out to Port Alsworth (PAKX) which is where I fly out of all summer. There's a fly-in on saturday the 28th. Food truck, coffee shop, fuel, hiking trails (it's inside Lake Clark National Park), etc. All in a town of 200 people. Would be a few hours from Fairbanks.

Only time I did it that way was in the winter in sorry weather. Followed the highway the entire length in an airplane with intermittent comm. There were lots of places for fuel. Love to have the time to do it in the Spring, and not be needing to get somewhere. Have a great trip!

Done it many, many times, and a bunch in a Plonk'd early 180. I don't, and wouldn't carry fuel in the airplane. I do, and would carry a gas bag or two collapsed in the baggage.

The trench in an early, thirsty 180 is easily doable, but if you get to where the Wx will bottleneck you'll be almost 3/4's of the way through and will not have fuel enough to get back to Makenzie. Nor will you likely have fuel to turn around and land somewhere in between, get gas and head one way or the other when the Wx clears, so plan accordingly. It's not rocket science, you just have to be able to be self sufficient, and personable when you need a hand in someone else's home.

In the Trench there is gas in numerous places in the summer, it might still be a tad early for some of those, but you'll find it. People say don't buy gas from the natives, don't buy it at the logging camps, and don't buy it from outfitters. I've bought gas from virtually every possible spot and some how survived.... amazing what a little common sense will do.

Don't try and count moose in the trench, you will loose count and fall asleep.

It is an amazing time to run it, wish I was heading out now as well.

Take care, Rob

The trench was always at the edge of my fuel supply, mostly made the hop fine, but headwinds caused an extra stop for which i always carried fuel.
i almost always carry fuel with me through Canada, sometimes i have encountered "the fuel truck hasent been here yet" , sometimes i wanted to continue, but it was going to be a pricey call out fee for after hours fuel. In short, i never regretted having extra fuel along if i could carry it.

If you are stopping in Kamloops I would not mess with the trench. It will be a lot easier if you go Prince George, Ft. St. John, Ft. Nelson and Whitehorse. Plenty of gas stops, no need to haul gas cans and land at a questionable strip to add fuel. I have done both routs and it really doesn't add that much more time but it sure does relieve a lot of stress if you don't have a lot of range. Also, it gives you more opportunity to monitor weather and land and wait it out if needed.

Kurt

Rob wrote: The trench in an early, thirsty 180 is easily doable, but if you get to where the Wx will bottleneck you'll be almost 3/4's of the way through and will not have fuel enough to get back to Makenzie. Nor will you likely have fuel to turn around and land somewhere in between, get gas and head one way or the other when the Wx clears, so plan accordingly.

I was in a plane crash as a result of this exact scenario. Long story short. I was a passenger in an early model 182 flying from Anchorage to Seattle. No GPS back in 1992. 3/4 of the way down the Trench from Whitehorse. Snowstorm. Zero viz. IMC. Icing. Lost. Dead reckoning back towards Watson Lake in a NW direction. Hoping not to hit mountains. Day turns to night. Plane runs out of fuel. Crashed into the forest in darkness. So, yeah, plan accordingly....

To expand on routes a touch, if you are just traveling, and not wrenched for time, by all means the highway will not add enough time to avoid. Specially as G44 said, if you are checking in at Kamloops. I prefer Penticton which still may not be checking folks in, I haven't checked. Never the less, I have done, the highway, the Trench, the Cassiar, and the coast, multiple times, and if you ask me which way I'm taking next month my reply would be 'I dunno, ask me when I get back'... picking a single route and not planning a contingency will sooner or later leave you spending a night (or many) in a spot that was not supposed to be part of the deal.

Plan a route, or three, and let the Wx tell you which way to go.... or be prepared to have to be self sufficient and uncomfortable.

Having said all that I almost always manage to shoot the trench. It's faster, it's infinitely prettier than a highway, and although some seem to think it's more dangerous, I happen to be of the mindset that it is merely less forgiving. I have absolutely no problem landing at the villages and camps and often do without 'needing' to...

Take care, Rob

Just came back from Palmer Alaska to ft St. John bc wx was bad from galkana to burwash.stayed in Whitehorse with Kyle . Yesterday to ft St. John direct good day just head winds.wx bad today ft St. John .wx looks good tomorrow.done this trip many times know all the alternet airstrip coming ft St. John to Whitehorse. Lots of snow most strips bare.if you want any info and place to stay in ft St. John email at [email protected] I also fly 520 180k

Feel free to stop in at our place if you need a place either way. 9 miles north of Carcross. 1000’ marked out. 1500 usable if its dry. Place to camp, dry cabin if you prefer.

Rod
UpNorth

Cub180, I’d have stopped in and said hello had I known you were visiting Kyle. Stop by this way next time.

Thanks for offer try next time if u head my way stop in have lots of room had many stay here .going to Kamloops today.

Are they selling fuel again in McKinsey?

Lots of info on my website http://fly2ak.com

Yes, there is 100LL at Mackenzie now.

Squash wrote:

Rob wrote: The trench in an early, thirsty 180 is easily doable, but if you get to where the Wx will bottleneck you'll be almost 3/4's of the way through and will not have fuel enough to get back to Makenzie. Nor will you likely have fuel to turn around and land somewhere in between, get gas and head one way or the other when the Wx clears, so plan accordingly.

I was in a plane crash as a result of this exact scenario. Long story short. I was a passenger in an early model 182 flying from Anchorage to Seattle. No GPS back in 1992. 3/4 of the way down the Trench from Whitehorse. Snowstorm. Zero viz. IMC. Icing. Lost. Dead reckoning back towards Watson Lake in a NW direction. Hoping not to hit mountains. Day turns to night. Plane runs out of fuel. Crashed into the forest in darkness. So, yeah, plan accordingly....

I would love to hear the long story... how many beers/coffees/logs on the fire would it take?

Flew my “53 180 up a few years ago, 54 usable. Cassiar route, dease lake to atlin to Whitehorse. Highly recommended. In the end, the weather may dictate your route. Have fun man!

I can vouch for the accommodations provided by Dieter (cub180) in FSJ and Rod (UpNorth) in Carcross. Both of them offer amazing hospitality, great conversation, and unique airplanes to investigate.

Thanks again Rod and Dieter

Thanks Asa, Hope to see you again soon.

Rod
UpNorth

asa wrote:I can vouch for the accommodations provided by Dieter (cub180) in FSJ and Rod (UpNorth) in Carcross. Both of them offer amazing hospitality, great conversation, and unique airplanes to investigate.

Thanks again Rod and Dieter

Probably best not to stop in Eaglesham again though... haha.

A1Skinner wrote:

asa wrote:I can vouch for the accommodations provided by Dieter (cub180) in FSJ and Rod (UpNorth) in Carcross. Both of them offer amazing hospitality, great conversation, and unique airplanes to investigate.

Thanks again Rod and Dieter

Probably best not to stop in Eaglesham again though... haha.

Hahaha oops I blanked on you david. Pretty cool that all 3 of you all have private strips. Flying the highway isn't all bad!

Squash wrote:

Rob wrote: The trench in an early, thirsty 180 is easily doable, but if you get to where the Wx will bottleneck you'll be almost 3/4's of the way through and will not have fuel enough to get back to Makenzie. Nor will you likely have fuel to turn around and land somewhere in between, get gas and head one way or the other when the Wx clears, so plan accordingly.

I was in a plane crash as a result of this exact scenario. Long story short. I was a passenger in an early model 182 flying from Anchorage to Seattle. No GPS back in 1992. 3/4 of the way down the Trench from Whitehorse. Snowstorm. Zero viz. IMC. Icing. Lost. Dead reckoning back towards Watson Lake in a NW direction. Hoping not to hit mountains. Day turns to night. Plane runs out of fuel. Crashed into the forest in darkness. So, yeah, plan accordingly....

I've had nightmares about this story since you told it a few years back. glad you are still with us my friend...