This one is a huge first for me. I've never really been a big XC guy, preferring mostly to take shorter trips, not much further than Idaho from my home base of Portland, OR. However, when my friend Brad (Cub271 on BCP) who happens to be the direct sales manager at CubCrafters in Yakima, WA, asked if I wanted to tag along and swap flying duties on the delivery of a brand new Top Cub, I agreed without much hesitation. Taking a week off of work is a big deal, and this is one of the few reasons I'd abandon the moneymaker. The only condition is that I blog about the journey on BCP and shoot some video. Hello! A vacation of flying north in a brand new 180hp Cub, culminating in the trade show and hanging out with some BCP members. Everybody wins!

We're flying the Alcan highway and aren't really in any kind of hurry other than to make the Alaska airmen's show by friday, so we have 6 days to loaf along the route. I'll be posting a few blog entries along the way and updating the forum. We'll have a SPOT ticking off the miles, in case anyone wants to watch that.

Very excited. Went out this afternoon around the Yakima area and did some familiarization with the Top Cub, which is about as close as you can get to the original PA-18 design these days in a new production aircraft. With two big guys (we're each over 200 lbs) and gear, we'll be right at or close to max gross weight. That takes some getting used to if you've been flying around in an LSA Sport Cub like I have the last few years.

Any suggestions for stuff to check out along the route are welcome. Clearing customs in Kamloops tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Our SPOT page: http://www.backcountrypilot.org/bradspot

Z


Our planned route of flight:

KYKM - YAKIMA AIR TERMINAL/MCALLISTER

KELN - BOWERS FIELD

KEAT - PANGBORN MEMORIAL

KOMK - OMAK

CYYF - PENTICTON

CYKA - KAMLOOPS

CYIN - CLINTON/BLEIBLER RANCH

CYWL - WILLIAMS LAKE

CYQZ - QUESNEL

CYXS - PRINCE GEORGE

CYXJ - FORT.ST.JOHN

CYYE - FORT NELSON

CYQH - WATSON LAKE

CYXY - WHITEHORSE/ERIK NIELSEN INTL

CYHT - HAINES JUNCTION

CYDB - BURWASH

PAOR - NORTHWAY

PFTO - TOK JUNCTION

CZO - CHISTOCHINA

PAGK - GULKANA

69AK - MEMORY LAKE

PALH - LAKE HOOD

I'll be watching the next few days. Have a fun safe trip!

Sounds like a great initiation into true cross country flying.

Please post pictures, videos, and maps of this awesome adventure.

(Post Script: if you are never heard from again, can I have your Bearhawk?)

Sounds like an awesome trip! I'm sure you'll have a blast and I'm looking forward to the updates and pics along the way.

Wow. I wish I could go.

We'll wave as you go by unless you guys man up and cut over to the coast from Prince George.

Have fun, soak it all in. Lots of country to look at.

Edit: can't spell

link for your spot?

You the man Z!!
Have a safe trip.

Awesome!

Have a blast Zane! Take pictures!

Awesome. Enjoy the trip. I won't be able to make it to Alaska this go round. I'm kinda bummed but the reason I can't make it is a good one. I will update y'all later.

On a side note, I did get my BCP hats today. Gotta say, pretty pimp. Nice work Zaner.

Zane,

Enjoy the trip, take your time and don't push weather.

See you at the Airmems show.

MTV

Sounds like an awesome trip! Have fun and be safe!!

Have a fun trip Zane! If you get pushed over to the good side of the big rocks(East), then let me know! Itd be great to meet up with you.

Have a a safe flight Zane! Please post what you learn about the trek to Alaska. I hope to do that with my kids in the future.

That trip is going to be inzane, been wait'in to use that one for a while. If you get stuck in Kamloops, our club has a strip just up the hill from the loops bout 5 min flight.. 2300' long, and we got a club house (atco trailer) with 2 spacious couches and an oil heater, if you need a place to crash. Just pm me for the details and the lock code. Have a safe one.
Here our airstrip Webcam http://www.laclejeune.ca/~tvsac/camera0.jpg
Pay no mind to the date, we just got the camera fixed

Edit : North of YKA the Fraser plateau rises to up to 5K .The weather is often very lousy with lots of rain showers. A better route once leaving yka would be to the West and up the Fraser river canyon. It's dry desert country.and much more scenic There are a couple old ww2 military strips along the way.

Well, you're a couple weeks ahead of me, but I'm driving. Stop by Atlin, BC (CYSQ) on the way (only a little off the Alaska Hwy) - it's a beautiful place and I'd offer you a place to stay but, like I said, you're a couple weeks ahead of me. Typically cheaper fuel than at Whitehorse (almost any place is cheaper than Whitehorse) in spite of the fact that it's off the beaten path.

Greg

very cool Z, good for you, have a safe and fun adventure....kinda scared when i go, as i will have my adv. m/c with me and might just stay...!

Thanks everyone, I'm very excited. I updated my original post with our planned route of flight.

Zzz wrote:Thanks everyone, I'm very excited. I updated my original post with our planned route of flight.

BTW....... Your Avatar picture is kinda creepy