Maybe even easier than that, Zane. I found a loose crimp at the alternator field connector. Re-crimped it, went up for an hour flight and no issues. That would explain all the symptoms so I’m hoping that fixed it. Will try to launch again tomorrow morning. Weather is actually getting better so no harm no foul.

The complicated part was that my lease ended this morning and I locked the keys to the hangar I was subletting inside the hangar for the owner. So I had to break into the hangar as well as find a couch to sleep on.. in my hometown.

Life is good

Good catch and glad you had a quick fix!

Good luck tomorrow!

Buddy of mine was thinking of driving up from E Washington this week but said the weather outlook is crappy. Hope you get through without too much trouble. Be safe.

The alternator seems fixed, so I left Boulder this morning and made it to Cut Bank MT. Stopped for fuel at 6S8 outside Billings which was a great choice - had everything a transient could ever want, including 2 grass runways.

Tomorrow's plan will be to clear the border at Whetstone, fuel at Edson, and hopefully make it to FSJ for the night.

Got to watch a chinook do 10 laps in the pattern while I was fueling and eating lunch:


Classic Montana...


Tucked in for the night

Hope this helps someone: Whetstone Intl Customs is only open weekdays from 9am-5pm rather than everyday 8am-9pm like usual. The telephone reporting system does not know this.

Thank you for the update on Whetstone Customs. I'll put this information up on my Alaska website in the custom's page.
http://fly2ak.com

Asa, how did you make out today? I' stuck in Whitehorse now bringing a 180 from Haines east. I waited all day in the rain hoping for a window, but finally gave up at about 6:30 and went to the hotel for the 2nd night. If you make it in tonight, DM me. I'm at the Skky across the street from the terminal. Greg-

Bigrenna wrote:Asa, how did you make out today? I' stuck in Whitehorse now bringing a 180 from Haines east. I waited all day in the rain hoping for a window, but finally gave up at about 6:30 and went to the hotel for the 2nd night. If you make it in tonight, DM me. I'm at the Skky across the street from the terminal. Greg-

He was at my place this afternoon. Planned on staying in FSJ tonight.

Bigrenna, wish I would have known you were in Whitehorse. We just got back to the ranch at Carcross. Wife and I just had supper at Tonys restaurant in the Skky hotel.

If you need anything while you are here, let me know.

Rod
UpNorth

Made it to FSJ for the night to stay with Dieter and Karen. Lots of Canadian hospitality this trip, I have nothing to complain about. Hoping for Carcross tomorrow night, then into Los Anchorage Thursday.

Had a day of good weather except pretty constant 20mph headwinds.

Peace River:

asa wrote:Made it to FSJ for the night to stay with Dieter and Karen. Lots of Canadian hospitality this trip, I have nothing to complain about. Hoping for Carcross tomorrow night, then into Los Anchorage Thursday.

Had a day of good weather except pretty constant 20mph headwinds.

Peace River:

Hello to Dieter and Karen!

Hello Troy it was very nice to meet another pilot flying to Alaska had a very nice visit with Asa.

Good morning Dieter & Karen! Thank you for breakfast a number of years ago. Wonderful conversation and special memories. Next time I stop in FSJ breakfast is on me!

Ted

It would be great to see you again Ted,we always enjoy when people stop. I see Asa is back in the US Alaska I hope he has had a wonderful trip.

Made it to Anchorage today. Yesterday I got my fair share of low clouds and rain between Fort St John and Toad River. A nice "welcome back to work" day of flying. Thought about switching over to the Trench route from FSJ because the weather looked better but ended up sticking with the highway. Stopped at Toad River for lunch, a really cool place, with light showers coming through pretty constantly. My plane needed a wash anyway after stopping a Dieter's strip for a mud bath. Fueled in Watson Lake then went straight to Carcross, another awesome place. Rod (UpNorth) put me up for the night and I got to see his badass L19, cool property, and overall had a great stay.

Today I got out of Carcross and beelined for Northway, mostly in rain. Beautiful flight, wish I could see more than a few miles the whole time. Northway customs was a joke. The lady went around with a geiger counter, checked my passport, and said "Alright have a nice day". No mention of covid or the test results I had or anything. No questions about guns, etc. Added a bit of fuel at Tok and headed to Merrill. Now for a night of sleeping in the company hangar and a couple runs to Costco to prep for being out in the hinterlands for 4 months....

BCP really came through on this trip. Never had to pull the tent out due to the hospitality of people I learned about from this website. Thanks to David, Dieter, Karen, and Rod!!!

Stop at Toad River. The lodge is still operating and selling food, but you have to sit outside to eat. Fun stop.


Weather got a lot better after turning the corner at Summit Lake:


Good weather towards Watson Lake:


Rod's badass L19. I should not have accepted the offer to sit in it, it's great for big guys like me.


Canada/Alaska border cut line near Beaver Creek:

Glad you made it, thanks for sharing as well!

It was great to meet you and get to know you a bit Asa. Glad we could help out along the way. Good to hear the rest of the trip was uneventful. Have a great summer. See you on your way south in the fall.

Rod
UpNorth

Glad you made it to Alaska safe!!! See you in the fall and have a great summer of flying.

Going to start for Watson Lake on Monday. Have a couple business stops to make on the way. Should be there Tuesday. Planning at least a week at my cabin near Watson. Maybe a bit of exploring. Possibly Atlin?

Pinecone wrote:Going to start for Watson Lake on Monday. Have a couple business stops to make on the way. Should be there Tuesday. Planning at least a week at my cabin near Watson. Maybe a bit of exploring. Possibly Atlin?

You on floats? Or you going to stop in?