Backcountry Pilot

[Matt 7GCBC offline]

The wife and kids and I are headed out late May to early July. I have the Alaska Airmen's Logbook. I have read many previous trip reports and requests for information here and on the Supercub site and will be talking further with some pilots who have made the trek. The Canadian and Alaska Supplements as well as all the Sectionals are in the mail.
Don't want to take everyone's time away from discussions of politics and religion, but I just don't think one can have too much local beta on routes and places to stay. What I haven't been able to find in my research is info about available landing "spots" and emergency strips as opposed to designated, maintained fields. I thought I'd give my route ideas thus far and hope for folks to add any helpful insight. I want to have in mind as many potential stops along the route as possible and then could cut corners where stops are close together (not too often) and weather allows. Also short notice places to stay when weather turns sour are nice. One can only take wet kids in a tent so long. Many places also seem to be booked way in advance? Would also be great to hear of any others going at that time.

Getting There!
Southwest Idaho to:
Porthill, Idaho or Laurier, WA for taxi through customs. The info for Avey Field in Laurier says closed until June 1st, but does anyone know if there is just "No winter maintenance" or actually CLOSED. Don't want to start off the trip wrong by landing at a "closed" field. Can also call next week for info.
Nelson
Kamloops
108 Mile House
Williams Lake - Tim and Barb Pennel w/ Bed and Breakfast?
Prince George

Trench Route:
Fort Ware (auto gas available nearby) - Thanks Jerry Gaston for the info!
Watson Lake - Camping
Whitehorse - has pilot rooms
Northway - Customs before heading for ? (will ask some further ?s in another post)

Alt. Divert to Coast Route from Prince George:
Smithers, BC
Prince Rupert
Ketchikan
Appreciate any points of interest between Ketchikan and the Yakutat. (on wheels) Looks beautiful but mainly float access except airports?
North to Yakutat
Will try to reserve some time at Eagle/Raven and Italiano Cabins on the Yakutat.
North along coast (potential beach landings up to Cordova?)
On to the Kenai

Will try to make another post soon about places to go after I get more reading done. Don't want to simply ask "Where's a good spot to go in Alaska?" The Milepost and the Alaska Wilderness Guide (Wilderness book put out by Milepost) are on the way. In the meantime, tho, don't let me keep you from spouting about any gems that come to mind!

[gbflyer offline]

Sounds like a fun trip, good for you.

If you come up the coast and get near PAGS, give me a call.

Also, you might find a copy of the Alaska Gazetteer. It's full of TOPO maps with lots of good stuff on them.

gb

[Matt 7GCBC offline]

Good idea on the Gazetteer. I was looking for an alternate to stopping in Juneau. Does Gustavus or anywhere else nearby have mogas available?
Thanks again,
Matt

[gbflyer offline]

No mogas here, at the airport least ways. I wouldn't recommend using it if you're going to be flying over the water on wheels, but that's just me. Lots of old crappy bulk tanks up here, and they don't filter the car gas very well. Should be OK in the larger towns, if you can find it.

gb

[denalipilot offline]

What I haven't been able to find in my research is info about available landing "spots" and emergency strips

Bruce McAllister's book "Wings Over the Alaska Highway" is interesting reading and has recent photos and info on the WWII emergency strips along the AlCan.

[182 STOL driver offline]

What I haven't been able to find in my research is info about available landing "spots" and emergency strips

Bruce McAllister's book "Wings Over the Alaska Highway" is interesting reading and has recent photos and info on the WWII emergency strips along the AlCan.

Is a 406MHZ ELT required to go thru Canada ?

[mtv offline]

Not yet.

MTV

[piperpainter offline]

If your flying the Alcan you have a long runway haha! I flew up to Dot Lake, AK last summer and went Prince George--->Watson Lake-->White horse--> Northway. It wasn't bad but the weather got crappy so I ended up flying low and following the highway. It was great confort knowing that there was always a place to land below me. The road is really wide and there are alot of straight aways.

Camping at Watson Lake- not bad you can right on the field. There is also a pilots lounge and a courtesy Van. There was a restruant in a hotel that wasn't to bad either, kid approved id say!

White Horse- yes they do have a pilots lounge, also if you go into the terminal and go upstairs there is a great place to eat that overlooks the runway...kinda cute waitress too! I spent 5 hours waiting on weather in the Pilots lounge-- TV, Recliner, magazines, shower, bathrooms and you can even rent a room if I remember correctly! All on the field.

Northway- Customs wasn't bad at all of course they need the notice 2 hrs before, since they have to drive up from (i think its..) Beaver creek area. Tok Junction which is just up the road has a good place to eat, so i've heard while northway doesn't really have much at all! Also last I recall gas was cheaper at Tok Junction

Along the ALCAN they have several strips especially after you hit watson lake coming up the Trentch. If you can find the ALCAN HW sectional I would highly recommend it. That is what I used and it shows the best routes through mts and all the stips and other useful info!

I know the Milepost had an article about Coldfoot, AK last year so we flew up there and had lunch. It was good but spendy! There is some awesome scenery up there so that alone was worth it!

[DonC offline]

If this is your first trip I would follow the highway...especially with the family on board.

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

There is a restaurant right on the field at Northway, usual sandwich stuff.

[piperpainter offline]

There is a restaurant right on the field at Northway, usual sandwich stuff.

well i stand corrected! haha Well....maybe the other is better????

[GumpAir offline]

Tok is a whole lot nicer place to eat or stay than Northway.

Gump

[182 STOL driver offline]

Tok is a whole lot nicer place to eat or stay than Northway.

Gump

Took a Cessna 207 to Tok ,Alaska for "40 mile Air " back in early 80's. Remember Charlie Warbelow and his brother ran the place . Tok is a sleepy little wide spot in the road.

[yellowbird offline]

since you mentioned your taking a tent, smithers b.c. has a great campground next to the runway, with bbq, water, and a nice lawn to camp on. landing fees are a different matter, i think i paid about 10 bucks for 2 days. john

[TomD offline]

Is a 406MHZ ELT required to go thru Canada ?

If you stay below 55 Degrees latitude you are generally good.

If you decide to fly to Alaska via the interior route, you will need a 406 MHz ELT

See:
phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3148&highlight=

[moppready offline]

Nothing regulatory has been passed yet making the 406 ELT a requirement. The COPA and Transport Canada are strongly recommending it as the satelites are not tracking 121.5 any more. They are also strongly recommending that anyone flying in Canada monitor 121.5 because this is the only way for the older ELT to be discovered.

Brett

[mtv offline]

Well, having lunched at both the Airport Cafe at Northway, and at Fast Eddie's, across the highway from the Tok airport, I'd say either is good for hamburgers, etc.

No doubt, however, that if you're looking for a place to stay, Tok is the better choice. Northway has gas, customs and burgers, but not much else.

Charlie Warbelow ran 40 Mile Air till his death in a tragic helicopter accident several years ago. Ron, his brother, ran Cassaron Helicopters till his death several years before Charlie's of cancer. Forty Mile Air still sells gas at the Tok airport, and they are still good folks, but no longer run by the Warbelows.

MTV

[TomD offline]

I would not exhale on the Canadian 406 MHz regs. quite yet see the EAA article:

http://www.eaa.org/news/2008/2008-12-18_ca_elt.asp

We should be seeing the Transport Canada requirements published any time now.

I have written to Transport Canada for clarification and hope to have an answer.

TD

[TomD offline]

I have written to Transport Canada for clarification and hope to have an answer.

I just received an email from Transport Canada and the 406 ELT regulations outlined in the first post of the following thread will be instituted mid to late March and after that date the requirements of a 406 MHz ELT for Northern Canada will be in effect.

phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3148&highlight=406

Short version: The 406 ELT requirement will be phased in over the next 24 months in Southern Canada for domestic and foreign light aircraft, except when traveling above 50 degrees N East of lat 80 degrees W and 55 degrees N West of 80 Degrees W.

For those going to Alaska via the interior this will mean a 406 MHz ELT.