As I noted in another thread, for my upcoming trip from TN to Kenai, I might choose the option of diverting over to Haines and flying the northern part of the coastal route.

I have no interest in scud running along a rocky shoreline so I'll only go this way if the weather is good. I'm on wheels with 29" Goodyears so could land on a beach if I need to. But I don't want to need to.

I've never been to Haines or flown the coastal route. I have flown between Valdez and Kenai / Anchorage so I am familiar with the landing options for that area (haha.... landing options.... I crack myself up )

Any info on flying into Haines, clearing customs, where to stay, and the route to the Kenai Peninsula from there would be appreciated.

Up the highway from Haines to Tatshenshini River to Alsek River which will dump you out on the coast. Awesome ride. The other option is up the highway all the way. Stay at shorton’s place in Haines, Eagles Nest.

Sounds like an awesome trip!

I agree with what he said... I dont know much about clearing at Haines, but have flown the coast several times. The place I have felt the most exposed has been around Cape Spencer. The landing options following the coast down and around from Haines will be like the landing options in PWS or worse.. I think following the Chilkat up and out the Tatshenshini / Alsek would be a much more casual route.. then from the Alsek to Cordova you have about 200 miles of beach to land on.

I’ve stopped at Carcross, filed customs for Skagway, then Haines or Gustavus, Yakutat, Cordova...done that trip 3 times. I’ve written this up on BCP previously.

As mentioned above, once past Cape Spencer, plenty of beach landing options.

Awesome scenery. Far superior scenery to the highway route.

Pm or email me if you have questions or want more pictures.

[email protected]

Made the trip several times since i have lived in Skagway. When the weather is good, by far my favorite Alaska flights.Yakutat has fuel and the family that bought the WW2 era Hanger is in the process of restoring it and are hoping to create a museum, i enjoy looking at the progress each trip.
Love flying over the glacier fields.

On customs, the only thing to keep in mind is that most of the airfields in SE AK are considered "at will" (including Haines and Skagway), meaning since they are not manned, customs requires advance notice and if they are understaffed, they may not allow you to land there as they may not have someone available to run down to the field to clear you. Doesn't happen often, but as we head into the tourist season, they get busy and some are getting pulled for assignment down south, they run short. Kind of like i was saying about calling to confirm fuel, way better to know in advance.

Hope it works out for you, it is a flight you won't forget. Sometimes i will take the longer route, fly up the coast after exiting the Tatshenshini River and Alsek Rivers, as gbflyer said, stop in Yakutat for fuel, (You can never have to much fuel out here), look over the hanger progress, maybe eat lunch at the lodge on the field, fly over the glacier fields ( with a quick tour of Yakutat Bay) to just south of Cordova then follow the Copper river up to Gulkana.

If you end up in Skagway, let me know

Chris

Thanks for the advice! In a month or so it will be decision time. It's probably going to come down to the weather sending me one way or the other. I'll keep you posted.

It's probably going to come down to the weather sending me one way or the other.

It always does. In all the trips i have made AK /lower 48, only one worked out the way i originally planned it

Plenty of room at PAGS if you end up coming down the canal. Right turn at Pt Couverden. Can get out around Cape Spencer and up, I prefer to pass slightly above though. Spencer is one nasty rockpile.

Good news is that there are webcams everywhere, much nicer now than it was even 10 years ago. Thanks again Uncle Ted, RIP.

Thanks!

gbflyer wrote:Plenty of room at PAGS if you end up coming down the canal. Right turn at Pt Couverden. Can get out around Cape Spencer and up, I prefer to pass slightly above though. Spencer is one nasty rockpile.

Good news is that there are webcams everywhere, much nicer now than it was even 10 years ago. Thanks again Uncle Ted, RIP.

We all should thank a gent named Jim Buckingham.....he’s the one who came up with the concept and built and ran the prototypes.