Backcountry Pilot

Northway and Skagway will NOT clear aircraft even with 2+ days notice. Only option is Ketchikan, Juneau, Fairbanks, Anchorage. I talked to custom’s agents at both locations, and asked each, “With 2...

Last week (April 2025) I ferried a RANS S-20 Raven from Western Colorado to central Maine. The plan was the new owner would join me near Des Moines. https://backcountrypilot.org/images/photos/5032/7303/bac9a68921b9d0657e1a4e47.jpg Trip...

Folks, HUGE 'Thank you' to Asa D. for today's first update of 2025. Please email me [email protected] and I will post updates to as many appropriate sites as I can. "Update on customs from today (March...

Events around assisting Colorado State Troopers A couple of Saturdays ago, I happened to be out at the fuel pumps when a State Trooper comes up with siren and lights on—unusual of course. He asked...

Folks, Reports today from several sources. Only Western Canada 100LL fuel refinery at Edmonton had a quality issue with new (huge?) 100LL tank. So the refinery scratched (?) the whole batch. Hence,...

Just learned, due to staffing issues, Northway will NOT clear any planes for U.S. Customs thru at least Jun 27! Apparently Fairbanks or Anchorage are your only other options. Suggest doing customs...

Just returned from my 9th trip to Alaska. This year’s trip focus was to packraft and hike in Icy Bay, in SE Alaska (about 60 nm W of Yakata PAYA). https://backcountrypilot.org/images/photos/5032/7104/e0c68b4ffab9486d0075e431.jpg I...

There have been numerous reports of U.S. Customs staffing issues affecting pilots trying to clear into Alaska. Ketchikan customs advised one pilot to file eApis at least 3 days in advance! Northway...

Fires, Smoke and major (multiple) TFR’s are a serious problem for those North bound trying to reach Alaska this week. Over the past two days, I’ve heard from several pilots trying different routes. BEST...

A new series of websites presents a follow up to the Knowledge Base article: https://backcountrypilot.org/knowledge-base/destinations/193-colorado-crossing-continental-divide. While the new series of...

Left W Colorado last Friday on the way to SE Alaska. Spent a night at Johnson Creek—wonderful with only 6 planes there (it seems everyone was at Oshkosh). Cleared Canadian customs at Porthill, Idaho...

Met Paul and Vicki at Meadow Creek, Montana a few days ago. Awesome C-182 and super friendly folks! Meadow Creek is a great camping spot. Runway is in good condition. Excellent hiking trails. River...

Desert Trip April 2022 https://backcountrypilot.org/images/photos/5032/6928/122b5203a86a375cbeacffcf.jpg Given recent seemingly consistent, erratic (high) wind conditions in the desert SW, a planned...

Yesterday Sept 26 at approx. 10 am I was first of 3 Super Cubs inbound to Mineral Canyon (Identifier UT75). I announced our pending arrival on the radio on 122.90 three separate times. Once at 5 miles...

Friend of mine rebuilding his amphib Beaver floats for a bucket list trip around the far North of Canada. He mentioned that he heard folks up North put metal around their rubber float bumpers so the bears...

On-line presentation later today about various routes for flying to/from Alaska. Please watch! Link: https://youtu.be/j_E7fdsKAhI http://eaerofab.com/images/Fly2Alaska.jpg

Hakai Magazine has a great article out today: "Toxic Algae has turned the Alaska shellfish harvest into a high-stakes gamble.' https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/shell-game/?utm_source=Hakai+Magazine+Weekly&utm_campaign=680b0191e0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_09_06_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0fc1967411-680b0191e0-121607449

Combining my Alaska trip experiences, along with helpful input gleaned from countless Internet searches, I have a new “Fly Your Plane To Alaska” website: http://fly2ak.com. This site is a comprehensive,...

Article from 9News Denver Cameras at Colo. weather stations will aid pilots The Colorado Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division and the Federal Aviation Administration built 13 weather...