Greetings BCP dudes and dudettes…

I am making my first trip from Utah to Alaska and back over the next 2 1/2 weeks. I plan to post here each day along the way; or at least each day that I have cell service or a wi-fi connection. I hope to be reasonably interesting…

I would like to thank all of the BCP community for the killer information that is imparted on this forum. Cory Wolf’s Alaska trip information has been totally invaluable; also Ted Waltman @ fly2ak.com. There are countless other BCP contributors that I’ve gleaned excellent info from as well. Thanks to all of you. I’ve spent months researching to get ready for this trip and intend to more or less follow the footprints of Cory and his family, at least through Canada, if weather allows.


[imgcaption]Last year’s float training[/imgcaption]

I have my Garmin inReach mini set to throw tracks every 30 mins, so as not to run out the battery too fast. You can follow me here: https://share.garmin.com/followchad

I welcome advice (particularly any weather advice) along the way. I’m flying a 182RG, so I have little bitty wheels, but I’ve been doing a lot of Short/Soft field work, to get ready for this adventure.


[imgcaption]Little bitty wheels… 1981 182RG[/imgcaption]

I’ve got a super loose itinerary, so I can fly around, or sit out any weather. My plan is for wheels up tomorrow morning, Tues the 2nd, at 6:00 am from U42 (Salt Lake Regional) and fly to Dorothy Scott. Hop the border and clear customs at Penticton, then fly up to Quesnel or Mackenzie if the weather looks good. From there, I’ll be deciding ‘on the fly’…. (Pun intended)

I’ll plan to hit Watson lake, then over to Beaver Creek, perhaps with some stops in between if the weather holds. Then clear customs in Northway either Wednesday or Thursday.

My main goals on this trip are (as safely as possible): 1: Fish, 2: Catch Fish, 3: Fish some more; 4: Refresher Float training (Moose pass and Talkeetna); 5: meet some new friends; 6: Fish; 7: Relax and enjoy the ride… 8: See some bears…

I’ll be camping as much as possible, with a few stops for a shower or two. Any suggestions, for where to stop and what to do are welcome and encouraged! I plan to be home around the 15th - 18th…

Dude...You should try fishing a little along the way...

Have fun and be safe - Can't wait to follow, I am going to de the same in the Husky next year!

Totally with you! jaudette
I am hoping to find someplace to fish…

South Fork of the Snake

When you're in the Moose Pass area, it would be worth spending a day on the Upper Kenai and/or Russian Rivers. The sockeye (red) salmon run should be peaking and the rainbow fishing should be solid as well. Definitely worth springing for a guided trip, but can also fish salmon from shore/on foot. Great saltwater options out of Seward as well. Also, the Talkeetna area streams should be getting good for silver salmon.

Looking forward to reading about your adventure. If you make it out to King Salmon, look me up.

Brian M wrote:When you're in the Moose Pass area, it would be worth spending a day on the Upper Kenai and/or Russian Rivers. The sockeye (red) salmon run should be peaking and the rainbow fishing should be solid as well. Definitely worth springing for a guided trip, but can also fish salmon from shore/on foot. Great saltwater options out of Seward as well. Also, the Talkeetna area streams should be getting good for silver salmon.

My exact thoughts! Thanks for validating my fishing senses…

Troy Hamon wrote:Looking forward to reading about your adventure. If you make it out to King Salmon, look me up.

King Salmon is on my list of destinations. I’ll reach out if the weather let’s me reach you!

Looking forward to reading about your adventure. If you end up on the east side of the Rockies for some reason(Alberta), I have cheap fuel and a grass trip and lots of room for camping. CDT8 is my designator.

Better take your bass in case you run into a drummer. There's slapping to be done.

I have a few hours in 47D as well...

Fairbanks has a GREAT “Air Camper Park” on airport with showers tent pads, and right around the corner is a big Fred Meyer store for just about anything you need.

August/September is Silver salmon season, in my opinion the best salmon for sport fishing in many ways.

If you get to Northway when Customs isn’t there, you can request to clear at FAI or ANC, and refuel in Tok.

Have fun!

MTV

A1Skinner wrote:Looking forward to reading about your adventure. If you end up on the east side of the Rockies for some reason(Alberta), I have cheap fuel and a grass trip and lots of room for camping. CDT8 is my designator.

Maybe I'll come looking for you. Thanks for the offer...

Zzz wrote:Better take your bass in case you run into a drummer. There's slapping to be done.

I have a few hours in 47D as well...

Bass always goes with me. My wife bought me a killer travel bass. Never leave home without it.
I feel like I've come home everytime I get to fly 47D or her sisters...

mtv wrote:Fairbanks has a GREAT “Air Camper Park” on airport with showers tent pads, and right around the corner is a big Fred Meyer store for just about anything you need.

August/September is Silver salmon season, in my opinion the best salmon for sport fishing in many ways.

If you get to Northway when Customs isn’t there, you can request to clear at FAI or ANC, and refuel in Tok.

Have fun!

MTV

Thanks MTV! I've only visited Fairbanks in winter, so this will be a treat for me...

Wish I had seen your post earlier. Son just departed this morning for alaska. Landed in Juneau a little bit ago. Next he's headed to Fairbanks and the Dead horse, supposed to be there tomorrow.

If you need anything in the Carcross / Whitehorse area, look us up.

Rod
UpNorth

I'm so jealous! The one time I got to fish there was one year ago (it was a "multiple use" family trip). I did great just with a 6 weight travel rod casting comically huge Adams dries on the Kenai from the shore down near Cooper landing, catching rainbows from 12-18". I don't doubt that a float trip would have gotten into bigger fish, but I was short on time and like having my feet on the ground/river bed. That was some really fun trout fishing. If you want bass up there, you'll definitely have to take your own with you.

WWhunter wrote:Wish I had seen your post earlier. Son just departed this morning for alaska. Landed in Juneau a little bit ago. Next he's headed to Fairbanks and the Dead horse, supposed to be there tomorrow.

Too bad, he could have dragged me along his route. Maybe next time!

UpNorth wrote:If you need anything in the Carcross / Whitehorse area, look us up.

Rod
UpNorth

I’ll reach out Rod, thanks!

CAVU wrote:I'm so jealous! The one time I got to fish there was one year ago (it was a "multiple use" family trip). I did great just with a 6 weight travel rod casting comically huge Adams dries on the Kenai from the shore down near Cooper landing, catching rainbows from 12-18". I don't doubt that a float trip would have gotten into bigger fish, but I was short on time and like having my feet on the ground/river bed. That was some really fun trout fishing. If you want bass up there, you'll definitely have to take your own with you.

There is nothing like fishing in Alaska, for sure. Never really got into fishing for bass. Just jammin’ on basses

First day was a mild success! I stayed up late last night and couldn’t drag myself out of bed this morning, so I got started later than I wanted. I flew from SLC to Oroville (Dorothy Scott) and had to dodge some minor weather just outside of Salt Lake and then again around the Boise area. Somewhere in northern Idaho, two old boys were talking on the radio and the one asked how the other’s flight had been. He said that the road really needed to be graded out of that place. That’s how I felt between Coeur D’Alene and Oroville…. I wish a road grader had smoothed the way; It was tough going, but somebody has to do it.


There are some benefits when all your buddies flake out on you. You can fill the plane with a boat and a bike and a nice camping cot. Among other things…

Met Matt at Dorothy Scott. He purchased the ‘FBO’ hangar there and has plans to put some bedrooms in it and have a place for people passing through to stay. He got the airport to put in a grass section with picnic tables for transient campers, as well. I have his number if anyone is interested in reaching out to him. Nice guy. Oroville looks like a great place to visit for awhile.


No expense is spared for us pilots!

I flew to Penticton and got royally chewed out by a customs officer over the phone. Honestly, I am not sure what exactly went wrong. I’ve got to go back and look at my notes (I took a lot of serious notes and did a lot of research and yet, according to Officer May, I was on the verge of getting my plane confiscated.) Of course, he was too busy ripping on people over the phone to actually show up and do anything…. So, I got a stern lecture and was warned that I had been ‘flagged’… then I was sent on my way. I’m not looking forward to my return trip. Maybe it’s time for a Canada ‘overfly’ from Ketchikan…

Penticton is in this gorgeous valley and I didn’t get any pics. I was basically traumatized from my bad customs experience. I skee-daddled as soon as I could and never looked back.

Canada is beautiful. From this angle it looks like someone manicures the landscape.

I planned to fly to Mackenzie, but got tired and decided to land at Quesnel {for you unwashed masses, it is pronounced {kwe NAIL} ). I was basically setting up on long final when I finally got a hold of the local ATC person and he informed me that I could not stop there because it was under construction. There was nothing in the Supplement and also nothing on the AWOS; Imagine what fun Officer May would have had calling me up for another stern lecture for landing at a restricted airport…

So I flew on to Prince George Airport. Here they graciously informed me that if I were landing for fuel that I might as well keep moving. Luckily, I have plenty to make it to Mackenzie or somewhere else tomorrow. I asked them if they ran out of fuel regularly and he said that they basically run out all the time…. When they tell you to call ahead about fuel, they aren’t kidding…


Prince George - Killer sunset

I am currently charging all my electronics in the BC Flight Club’s trailer. They have a pretty decent setup here for transients. They have honor system beers, pop, juices, waters and microwave dinners. They also have free coffee and tea and a decent area to tie down and camp with some picnic tables. The trailer is really dated, but it is clean and comfortable. Looks like this club has been here for a looong time.

No fishing today. I rode my bike into town for a Big Mac hoping to score some free wi-fi. Apparently that isn’t a Canada thing…. I did get a Big Mac and a really great triple chocolate shake…

FYI - Check with your phone carrier (and your iPad carrier) before you fly into Canada, or another country. I wasn’t across the border for more than 15 minutes (using ForeFlight) when my text and email started blowing up that I had exceed $100 in international data usage. Luckily, when I called, they ‘back dated’ an international plan and I basically have to pay an extra 10 bucks per day while I’m in Canada…

More adventures tomorrow. My plan is to get to Beaver Creek and do some fishing! Then clear customs in Northway on Thursday morning. Hopefully, Officer May has called ahead and they’ll be ready to impound me and my plane.

Great TR! Good job keeping a positive outlook. First time flying in Canada can be a little weird. I was chewed out by ATC landing at Kamloops because I treated it like an untowered field by overflying and entering on a 45 to the downwind. Well, it's not untowered. The tower is just a few provinces away. In my defense they never gave me instructions on pattern entry.

Thanks for the updates. We'd better see that bass soon.

Thank you for the great updates and pictures!

I’d be thankful (please post, PM, call or email me) what the issues were with Canadian customs. I try to keep the info/procedures updated on the “Customs” page of http://fly2ak.com. Perhaps there are some steps and reminders I could add?

I’ve cleared Canadian customs twice in last 30 days by private aircraft. 5 min first time and maybe 10 minutes three days ago. No issues whatsoever. Totally pleasant experience.

Stuck in Mackenzie today waiting on weather in the Trench to clear.

Ted [email protected] or 303-378-4987

I have waited 25 mins and 35 mins recently to speak with a Canada Customs officer. So factor in a little time for your two hour arrival notice.

You might want to make a stop in Kenai.

Kenai has the absolute best airport cafe. Not kidding. It's waaaay above average. On wheels you can park at transient parking and be just steps away from the best breakfast or lunch you've ever had at an airport. Brother's Cafe, in the terminal.

From the airport it's a short walk to grocery stores, hotels, restaurants, and Home Depot. If I'm not tied up I can give you a ride if needed.

Camping is allowed on the airport but... the camping area is over at the float pond. No easy way to get there with an airplane on wheels.

Lots of fishing here but not by me so I can't help you much there.

I'm nearby. Look me up if you decide to stop in Kenai. I'll pm you my contact info.

Happy Flying,
Keith