All,

I am starting a new thread to document our planned trip from Mooresville, North Carolina to Alaska and back next summer! My wife, 9-year-old son, and I are planning on flying our 1979 Cessna 180K up and spending about 3 weeks exploring. (Technically my son and I will fly the airplane up and my wife is planning on meeting us there) We are going to depart in early July and return in early to mid August 2019.

I have recently started a separate thread to document our aircraft modifications and will keep that updated as we continue improvements in preparation. Our 180 is a great and honest airplane but she’s a fat girl. The paper says 1930lbs but I bet she is closer to 2k when we put her on the scales next month. We will be paying close attention to what we pack and carry but I can’t see us being under 2,750 lbs camping weight. We have the 3,190 lb Kenmore STC so flying up with a full load of fuel will be fine but the airplane performs like a pig in space at that weight so we will have to plan accordingly once we arrive.

In the interest of keeping the airplane as light as possible, I will post a list of equipment (survival, camping, tools, etc.) and ask for comments on how to optimize in order to save weight while remaining safe. I have my own ideas but would welcome the input from others with experience in regards to what’s must have and what could be left behind. It will be interesting to have different points of view.

It goes without saying that Alaska is a big place and we can’t do it all or see it all. I’m doing my research using this website, the Cessna 180/185 website, AOPA resources and many books that are recommended by users here. I’m not too worried about the flight up as there is plenty of information available in regards to the route, weather, and procedures and I’m dedicating time to self-educate on these subjects. What is blowing my mind is the number of things to do and see….and I'm having trouble narrowing it down. We have traveled to Africa, Australia, and the Middle East quite a bit and prefer to avoid large crowds and tourist traps. In Namibia, we planned the trip to follow the general schedule of camping in the bush for a few nights (2-4) then rolling into a lodge for a few nights. I’m thinking the same approach will be good for Alaska but probably substituting Air BnBs for lodges in order to keep the cost manageable. By breaking the trip up into small 3-4 day blocks we can leapfrog events if we get stuck by bad weather, MX, Etc. We are also planning on taking advantage of some of the public use cabins that have wheeled plane access.

A very rough plan (or start point to deviate from) is as follows: Start in Anchorage and end up in Ketchikan 21 days later..ish. Sounds easy:

The following list is in no particular order and in most cases not specific. I request and welcome input from anyone who can add information, offer opinions or suggestions. I’m completely open to adding, removing, and or modifying any of the below “Plan”. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Activities
Beach Landings
Beach Camping
Beachcombing
Catch and eat fresh Salmon!
Clam digging?
Chinitna Bay bear viewing
Gravel bar landing and camping
Hallo Bay bear viewing
Fly Lake Clark Pass
Johnstone Bay beach landing/camping?
Fly Denali
Ten Thousand Smokes?
Guided saltwater fishing ½ day (on a budget)

Public Use Cabins
Hook Point Cabin
Alsik River Cabin **
Italio River Cabin ****
Raven Cabin
Rohn Roadhouse Safety Cabin

Air BnBs (maybe)
Saldovia
Cordova
Sitka
Juneau
Ketchikan

Again, thanks in advance for your comments and input. I’m quite sure that there are spectacular, sights, events, and activities that I haven’t thought of or heard of. I look forward to evolving the trip with Ya’lls help!

Regards,

William

I'm embarrassed to say that I dropped the ball a little on publishing grassstrippilot's guide to flying to Alaska, which has a lot of great guidance culled from the forum.

A little more work and it'll be ready, so look forward to that.

Do either chinitna bay or hallo bay not both, chinitna is a bit busier but an easy beach, or you may consider silver salmon north beach for bears as well.

I would substitute the Wrangells for Southeast AK. Southeast can be tough on wheels. And don’t forget tides, finding a suitable beach for landing is one thing, finding one you can keep the plane on overnight is something else. They’re there, but Southeast is best toured on floats, frankly. Oh, yeah, then there’s the weather.

Several cabins in the Wrangells. Spectacular country and wheel friendly.

Air Camper Park at Fairbanks airport. Bettles for gas, then into the Brooks Range, or down the Kobuk or Noatak. Friendlier country for wheels, and typically better weather.

But, frankly, have at least two options of directions to go at every turn, in the event of weather, fires, etc. be flexible, in other words.

Also research fuel availability. Options.....

MTV

Sounds like an awesome adventure, William!

I'd second the Wrangells. There's also a lot to do and see on the way up through Canada if you have the time.

Since you're flying with your son, you might be interested in the thread on our family trip to Alaska in 2014. We got a ton of great ideas from folks on here and had an amazing time despite the inevitable weather challenges. There are some activity ideas in there that are kid tested/approved: https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/oregon180-and-family-fly-north-to-alaska-15408

You'll have a blast!

Let me know if you plan to make it out to King Salmon. Would be fun to meet up and make a flight somewhere.

I think you will find that when you get here and start dealing with weather, your plan will go out the window pretty fast and you will end up going wherever the sun is shining more.

That said, I wouldn't fly though southeast on wheels.

And out of all of the places I've seen, I'd hit:

McCarthy and Peavine
Lake Clark
Mud Strip between the Knik and Lake George.
Talkeetna/Denali
Lake Hood
Seldovia
Cordova

Zzz wrote:I'm embarrassed to say that I dropped the ball a little on publishing grassstrippilot's guide to flying to Alaska, which has a lot of great guidance culled from the forum.
A little more work and it'll be ready, so look forward to that.

Looking forward to that. Thanks for everything you have done here!

Headoutdaplane wrote:Do either chinitna bay or hallo bay not both, chinitna is a bit busier but an easy beach, or you may consider silver salmon north beach for bears as well.

Copy. I just had a look at Silver Salmon North as well. Looks like there is a lodge there as well that may be an option. Thanks for the idea. There are a few youtube videos of 206s landing at Halo and it does not look too steep or soft but its hard to tell. Any insight or tricks? I have operated Twin Otters on some pretty soft sand in the Middle East but Skywagons on a beach will be new to me. Can't wait!

mtv wrote:I would substitute the Wrangells for Southeast AK. Southeast can be tough on wheels. And don’t forget tides, finding a suitable beach for landing is one thing, finding one you can keep the plane on overnight is something else. They’re there, but Southeast is best toured on floats, frankly. Oh, yeah, then there’s the weather.

OK, that makes 3 suggestions to reconsider SE on wheels. We will take that to heart and look at the Wrangles as an exciting alternative. I was wondering about beach landings, and as you mentioned, keeping the aircraft overnight or for a few nights. Are there any beaches you can recommend that may be suitable or is it seasonal and changing? We were looking at Hook Point cabin but its impossible to tell much from google earth.

Oregon180 wrote:Since you're flying with your son, you might be interested in the thread on our family trip to Alaska in 2014. We got a ton of great ideas from folks on here and had an amazing time despite the inevitable weather challenges. There are some activity ideas in there that are kid tested/approved: https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/oreg ... aska-15408

Thanks for the link! Great thread with tons of information to be gleaned. I'm several pages in and may have follow up questions.

I am just south of you in Greenville, SC and I cannot wait to hear the trip report and see the pics.

I live to the immediate south of you in Davidson, NC. I am building a Bearhawk 4 Place and will be hangaring at 14A. Likewise, I look forward to reading your trip report and seeing the pics!

Big difference between finding a beach to land on and fi,ding one to camp on...staying overnight indicates a fairly extensive knowledge of the tide cycle and weather. There are lots of camping places for flying out our way, but I have not camped on an ocean beach with a plane. Not sure I could sleep if I did.

Hook Point will work, it’s one of the few cabins in PWS that you can pull your plane above the high tide line. You will want to make sure the tides aren’t too extreme though.

Cwillfly wrote:I am just south of you in Greenville, SC and I cannot wait to hear the trip report and see the pics.

What are you flying? If you are ever passing through the Lake Norman area please drop in and say hi. PM me anytime.

baldcaldwell wrote:I live to the immediate south of you in Davidson, NC. I am building a Bearhawk 4 Place and will be hangaring at 14A. Likewise, I look forward to reading your trip report and seeing the pics!

We looked at a house in Davidson but ended up in Mooresville when I was working for IOMAX USA. After starting my business we decided to stay in the area. My airplane is the blue and white 180 tied down next to the fuel pump at 14A. I would love to check out the Bearhawk project next time you are around the airport! There is another member with a 180 who lives here in Mooresville as well. We should do some flying sometime.

Prosaira,

Thanks for the info. I just PMd you as well. Cheers

Cwillfly wrote:

Cwillfly wrote:I am just south of you in Greenville, SC and I cannot wait to hear the trip report and see the pics.

What are you flying? If you are ever passing through the Lake Norman area please drop in and say hi. PM me anytime.

I am in a flying club down here with a C172, C182, and Piper PA-28. I am still working on my Private, so I don't get to venture out much by myself yet.

but Southeast is best toured on floats, frankly. Oh, yeah, then there’s the weather.

No idea what you're talking about Mike, just because we haven't have a plane in or out of here all week and it's all rocks and water


I would recommend if you do hit the Wrangells and the weather is looking good, a side trip down the Copper river to Cordova and down to Yakutat. The glacier fields and Yakutat bay are some of my favorite Alaska sightseeing flights. Yakutat has a good airport with a lodge on the field and fuel

Headoutdaplane wrote:Do either chinitna bay or hallo bay not both, chinitna is a bit busier but an easy beach, or you may consider silver salmon north beach for bears as well.

Copy. I just had a look at Silver Salmon North as well. Looks like there is a lodge there as well that may be an option. Thanks for the idea. There are a few youtube videos of 206s landing at Halo and it does not look too steep or soft but its hard to tell. Any insight or tricks? I have operated Twin Otters on some pretty soft sand in the Middle East but Skywagons on a beach will be new to me. Can't wait!.[/quote]

All the beaches are for the most part easy, just land where the other planes are. Hallo Bay is just farther away from Homer and over a lot more water. 122.9 is where you will hear the folks talking about the beach conditions and winds etc.

Plan to be in Homer on a thursday for "pilot night" at the Beluga Lake lodge, you will meet the pilots flying the beaches everyday and they can give you the latest scoop on beach conditions and where the most bears are.

Spend a night in Seldovia, it is just cool.

I have not posted in quite a while so I figured it’s time for an update. Its been a very busy few months between several short notice trips to the Middle East for work, getting the 180 mods done, and life in general.

I was on an airbase in Oman 6 days ago and thought the Alaska trip may be off..... but, luckily everything came together in the final hours!

My 9 year old son and I departed the Charlotte, NC area the day before yesterday in N2732K and I’m drinking a cold beer in Calgary as I type this. We have had good weather and fair winds so far, only having to go IFR a few times. My son logged about 15 minutes of actual today.....said it was easy because “I cant see over the dash, so I always fly the instruments”. Who knew!

When I called Canadian CBP this morning to tell them we were coming the young female officer asked if we had any tobacco, alcohol, firearms, pepper spray, or other weapons on board. I said yes to all so we had no less than 6 officers waiting on us at springbank when we landed:). 15 minutes and 25 Canadian dollars later we were good to go. A decent line of afternoon thunderstorms between here and Fort St John halted or progress for the day.

————

As far as our plan when we arrive in AK, I have taken all of the advice offered previously in this thread (along with many hours of research) and modified or original “itinerary”. As of now we have no hard plans or reservations other than I have to pick the wife up in Anchorage on the 15th and we have a cabin in Seldovia booked for a week at the end of the trip. (We will base here for day trips around the Kenai, weather permitting).

75% of the research I have done pertains to the Wrangell St Elias and south so hopefully we get some good weather. We are all set up for 100LL in Mccarthy.


We somehow managed 25 days worth of food in this


#3,190 lbs





Crossing the Mississippi






Malta Montana


Playing catch on the highway in MT.....because we could

Awesome! I had forgotten about your trip. We sold our 180 and picked up a Husky a few months ago. Can't haul anywhere close as much stuff but fits our mission better so it's good. Hope to hear about your trip over a beer someday.

That is so awesome! Man, I hope for nothing but the best for you and your family as you take on this adventure. Sure hope the fires subside on the Kenai Peninsula before you get here, although the winds have mostly kept the smoke away from Seldovia and surrounding areas.

Looking forward to your reports from the Wrangells. I'll be out there in a few weeks myself.