I am a “Lurker” I will admit it. Last summer I made an amazing trip with some good friends. We took two 180’s loaded to the roof. I built this 180 with this trip in mind. May there be many more in the future.
My 10-year-old son and I were in our 180. On the way up we stopped in Wyoming near Guernsey for a friend’s wedding. They stopped a center pivot irrigation for us to land in the alpha filed.
We meet up with our friends at Ryan Field in MT a RAF strip. What a cool Spot.
Then it was off to Canada we flew the trench up to Watson Lake.
Then turned west to Whitehorse then cleared customs at Northway, AK. They was a short fuel stop at Tok Junction. While there I was on a mission for a few things. One more Mountain House Beef Stroganoff. It seems my son and I am ate them all fast. The next things a mouse trap. I knocked my beer over (on the ground while unloading NOT FLYING) In Wyoming a mouse followed the trail up the tail wheel cables I am guessing. Beer was dripping out of the back. I hitched a ride a few miles down the road. Score! The store sold everything. The FU**ing mouse was having a great time the last 3 days. His ashes are in the fire ring by the old cabin at May Creek.
We explored McCarthy and the mines, Enjoyed Bourbon on Glacier Ice that night that was saved in our water bottles after a long hike past the Kennecott Mine. There was Halibut fishing in Seldovia, camping at random spots we found, Glacier Creek was a cool spot.
Ofcorse Mom said get your summer reading done.
I can't tell you how much wildlife he missed reading that book. I was a joke between the two planes.
The trip was broken into two parts because of work. The Wagon’s were left in transient parking at Hood. We took all our stuff to a storage unit that was rented. My son made the comment someone from a storage auction would score if we didn’t return. That’s no joke two planes worth of stuff.
The second half was a great time also. The 180/185 club had a fly-in at Bettles. The guys made us feel very welcome. One of the pilots we knew from Texas. One of the days a Bettles we flew up to Anaktuvuk Pass. The Brooks Range is amazing!!!
Water was high down south so, it was nice to find some bars.
The way back was the coastline to the south, weather was amazing. We flew down the Bearing Glacier to the coast.
Camped at Harlequin Lake cabin that night. Cool trail and walk to Harlequin Lake. There is a bridge to nowhere over the Dangerous River.
Then is was Jueau, Ketchikan and back to Canada we entered at Woodcock also Customs. Onward south to Prince George a few other stops and camping.
We entered the US at Glacier. The next stop was Polson where a bucket and soap waited for two dirty planes. After all we had to clean the dirty girls for our next stop in two days.
We finished and celebrated the trip with more good friends at KOSH Air-Venture!!
After KOSH we returned home to our sleepy one plane strip in Louisiana.
The flight time was around 106 hours for me. It seems a day doesn’t go by with out my son of myself talking about the trip. I will call out my friend that went as well. He is a Lurker also.
As I sat at my desk missing Alaska last week. I book a trip around the Great Alaskan Aviation Gathering. I am hoping to see some of our friends from last summer and meet new ones.
Sorry if the post dragged on. I have a ton of photos and had as many memories.
. This trip was possible with the help of my good friend "Lurker EM", Thanks!
John
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. I also had a 182 and a pa-18. A flood took the 182 and pa-18. So I replaced them with the 180..
