Backcountry Pilot • On the way to SE Alaska

On the way to SE Alaska

Did you fly somewhere cool, take photos, and feel like telling the tale to make us drool from the confines of our offices? Post them up!
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

SkyVan, so the story goes, flew in late spring (deliver goods and back haul Cub out) when the runway still had some amount of snow cover. Tore the nosewheel off.

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tedwaltman offline
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Sheep Mtn strip not too far from Gulkana. One of the coolest, shortest, roughest, places I’ve landed on this trip.

A friend’s Super Cub on the strip.

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Strip is in the shadows, top right in front of far edge of wing.

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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

tedwaltman wrote:Sheep Mtn strip not too far from Gulkana. One of the coolest, shortest, roughest, places I’ve landed on this trip.

A friend’s Super Cub on the strip.

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Strip is in the shadows, top right in front of far edge of wing.

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Cool looking stip. Which river/creek is it on?
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Just below the Sheep Glacier, which is on the NE corner of Mt Sanford.
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Did a flight around the mtns S of McCarthy the other day. Visited the historic Bremner mining district (hard rock gold mining 1930’s to 1942). Then over to Iceberg Lake, a very popular backcountry hiking and camp drop off point. It felt like an iceberg!

Bremner airstrip. We helped Park Service staff ferry cabin maintenance supplies a mile+ to the old mining camp.
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If you look closely, you can see the faint lines of the glacial lateral moraines at several points above the current moraine.

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Super Cub in this picture on the gravel bar.

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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Flew N out of Gulkana today. Landed at Chelle Lake strip. Hiked to cabin, which required wading across the still high lake path. Saw a number of Moose and one huge black bear.

Chelle Lake cabin
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Windy Ridge strip

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Planes on the Chelle Lake strip

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Mt Drum 12,010’ trying to show itself…

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Chelle Lake strip

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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Did a round-robin tour around the Copper River drainage, over to Tonsina Lodge for lunch (excellent!!!), down to the Tiekel Valley (shortcut to the Copper River), landed at Chitina, up considering landing at Wrangell Plateau (too windy)…

Typical weather…sigh. Not even thru August and already Anchorage set a record for most rain ever in an August.
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Tonsina Lodge
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It’s a verdant jungle!
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Mt Drum “volcano”…one of several fumeroles in the region

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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Wow looks like I really amazing experience! Thanks for sharing.
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Beautiful pictures Ted. Looks like you're having quite a trip.
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Finally, a mostly nice day!

Headwaters of the Copper River. Gravel bar landing. Then a high tundra spot. Beautiful scenery.

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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Killer pics, Ted! Love it. keep ‘em coming….
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

The Wrangells were always one of my favorite areas of Alaska....That and the lower Alaska Peninsula are to me, the "Real Alaska".

So, thanks for the pictures and the memories, Ted!

And, yes, tis the monsoon season after all. Good news is, many afternoons are flyable, and it sure damps down those pesky wildfires.

Safe flights, Ted!

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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Starting back South today. Carcross, Dawson Creek, a few days at a friend’s private strip (CBR9), Cut Bank, Columbus MT then home @ KAJZ
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Ted, I enjoy your posts and photos. Especially the Zoom/YouTube you did with SC.org. I love trying to follow along on ForeFlight to check out where you are traveling and landing. I would assume at some point in your Alaska travels you have stopped at Duffy’s Tavern, what is it like?
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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

My sincere “Thank you!” To everyone for viewing and for comments.

Nope, haven’t been to Duffy’s Tavern (next year!).

Wonderful scenery out of McCarthy to Whitehorse (customs)…followed the White River.

The last pic is a 1950 wrecked C-47 N of Haines Junction. Everyone survived. Wind “gust” forced it down.

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Re: On the way to SE Alaska

Awesome trip report and amazing country to explore. Thanks for sharing.
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