So it looks like i'm headed south down the highway in the next 2-3 weeks. It's been a few years since my last trip and i seem to remember a complaint about Ft St John or Ft Nelson charging an inconvenient landing fee. Any updates from recent travel would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone out there located in Southern Utah, looks like we're headed to Escalante. Haven't had to concern myself density altitude for a while, guess that will change.

You gonna make it as far as the vast desert wastelands of Nevada?

Depends on what the weather looks like. Unfortunately it's going to be an express trip, not the enjoy the experience trip. Need to move the plane, then head back up to pack the rest of the stuff and move the family down. Current job made me an offer i had to refuse.

Lemme know....

Will do, thanks

If I remember right, last time up and down I went the long way around, and Transport Canada sent me a bill for both Ft Nelson and Ft St John. Wasn't a whole lot of money. I also stopped in Prince George and Kamloops, but no $$$ for going in and out of those places.

Gump

Fort St. John - $20.00 landing fee, $2.06 per liter 100LL. Cheaper fuel than Dawson Creek at $2.12, but no landing fee. Fort Nelson has no landing fees, not sure of fuel situation, call Sky North Av Fuels 250-774-2150 to find out.

slowhawk wrote:So it looks like i'm headed south down the highway in the next 2-3 weeks. It's been a few years since my last trip and i seem to remember a complaint about Ft St John or Ft Nelson charging an inconvenient landing fee. Any updates from recent travel would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone out there located in Southern Utah, looks like we're headed to Escalante. Haven't had to concern myself density altitude for a while, guess that will change.

I will be headed down to UT too !
Probably end of the month though. I usually go the coast route if wx permits.
Most of the winter in Green River.

The better half and I left Kenai this morning, tied up some loose ends in Anchorage today, and expect to launch for Tok early tomorrow. Then on to Whitehorse if we get started early enough. On our way to the Southeast (not AK, the other Southeast, down where it's hot).

Last time I did it I got billed for landing in a couple of places... I think it was Ft. St. John and Red Deer, but it wasn't much money.

I'll let you know when I find out but last time it was several weeks after the fact that I got the bills in the mail.

Anybody have a recommendation for where to stay in either Tok or Whitehorse?

Keith

So the 170 isn't going to spend the winter in a snow berm at Kenai airport?

kg wrote:Anybody have a recommendation for where to stay in either Tok or Whitehorse?

Last time at Tok, Young's Motel was a short walk from the airplane for a place to stay, and eat at Fast Eddy's. Both were OK places, and after a long day's flogging down the road, a welcome sight. But that was 7-8 years ago. I'm sure there's a bunch of folks on here who are more current on what's there.

In Whitehorse I walk across the highway from the airport, but I bet there's a whole lot nicer in town. That airport/trucker motel is a bit noisy and rough.

Gump

akgreg wrote:So the 170 isn't going to spend the winter in a snow berm at Kenai airport?

Hi Greg!
No, it looked too sad sitting out there all winter. We'll probably be around some this winter but I will get more use out of the plane down south. Plus it'll be fun to fly it back north in the spring!

See you soon......

GumpAir wrote:

kg wrote:Anybody have a recommendation for where to stay in either Tok or Whitehorse?

Last time at Tok, Young's Motel was a short walk from the airplane for a place to stay, and eat at Fast Eddy's. Both were OK places, and after a long day's flogging down the road, a welcome sight. But that was 7-8 years ago. I'm sure there's a bunch of folks on here who are more current on what's there.

In Whitehorse I walk across the highway from the airport, but I bet there's a whole lot nicer in town. That airport/trucker motel is a bit noisy and rough.

Gump

I south ditto those comments.

But when I'm on a mission to get down the road, convenience and proximity to the airport trumps comfort and luxury.

And Fast Eddies has great burgers. I used to do seven hour flights up the Tanana, Sushana and Nabesna Rivers tracking Sheefish and Tok was always a welcome stop for gas and a burger at Fast Eddies. That is, if we didn't stop at Northway and eat at the lodge there...now closed.

If it happens to be severe clear, and you're not troubled by overflying some rough country, consider direct ANC -Whitehorse if you have the range. Cuts a lot of time off the trip, and spectacular scenery. Not many places to land safely though...

MTV

Thanks for the responses.

Mark- that was the info i was looking for. i can live with 20.00, i just hate to get burned with one of those " you owe us 200.00" after the fact bills, though i think i would have said " come collect it"

KG- i would echo Gump and MTV, The burgers in Tok are great and the hotel in Whitehorse is a little ruff around the edges (and that has been several years ago), but very convenient. there are many places in town that are much nicer and reasonable now that most of the tourists have gone home, but it's a ways into town.

Gump- I have yet to fly the trench, but am considering it this time as it should shave a couple hours off the flight. The flight from Watson-Mackenzie is flirting with the edge my range, is there anywhere to land in between and throw a couple cans in the tank if need be?

I will be headed down to UT too !
Probably end of the month though. I usually go the coast route if wx permits.
Most of the winter in Green River.

TangoFox-From Homer i would head down the coast to if possible. This trip anything is possible depending on what the best weather chances look like. One of my possible routes will take me right past Green River, to bad you won't be there yet, but hopefully we can catch up at some point and you can educate me on Utah flying.

You've got several good strips to land on in the Trench and along Williston Lake. But...

I was in the same boat coming back down late Sept 2006 when I left Bethel in my '56 172TD as you are now. WX was iffy, and downright shitty from Northway to about halfway down the Trench. I had very short tanks, and anything unforseen would have required stopping for go-juice at Fort Ware or one of the lake strips. I decided to go the long way, except for leaving the highway and going direct Watson Lake to Ft Nelson as ceilings were a wee bit higher, just to stay in my fuel range with a good reserve.

I didn't want to stop in Ft Ware because of the locals, and if I screwed the pooch landing along the lake, I didn't feel like sitting in my airplane in the rain for days, waiting for my insurance company to come get THEIR airplane.

So.... Fear and common sense won out, and I spent a couple more hours in Canada, and had a great dinner in Ft Nelson.

Gump

All kinds of places to safely land in the Trench. Jordie will put you up at his place at Ospika or Ft. Graham if the weather becomes a problem (He's usually at Ft. Graham). Ft Ware isn't so bad. Get in touch with Donny Van Sommer (the Chief) and all will be fine. Donny is good people. The RCMP at Tsay Key will help a stranded weather stranded aviator. Good strips at all these locations...been to all of them in a Beech 1900...lots. Fuel is tough to get in the Trench. Jordie has some fuel but he would prefer to keep it for his own use. Further north; Scoop Lake is a good stop. No fuel available but they will accommodate a weather stranded aviator.

Drop me line if ya end up in Prince George.

I hear you. While i have scared the crap out of myself a few time here, at least it was over terrain i have gotten pretty confidant with ( 1 beaver dam, 2 beaver dam old mining camp and turn right ), but i will be looking for the best case chance for the trip down. i know experience says that the highway is the best bet, just looking at all the options just in case. Planning on taking at least 20 gallons with me, which should give me better than 2 more hours of flying.

If wx and fuel permit, by all means fly the Trench. It's a beautiful trip, and sounds like a lot more stuff to stop and see than there used to be. Just figure that in your C172 it's gonna be 3:30 to 3:45 for the trip no wind, and flying laser straight. I'm a chicken shit in mine over 3:30 in the air.


Gump

Passed through Canada a few days ago..... Just a heads up, I didn't stop at Ft. Saint John because there was a notam that said there was no fuel. I did not call the fbo to find out the details but you might want to check before you drop in there.