Squash wrote:Manley Hot Springs. Not sure if Gladys is still alive, but she is a hoot and will allow you a trip to the hot springs on her property.

Word I've gotten recently is that Gladys is still kicking, but not able to manage the place on a regular basis, and it is not operating at present. With any luck one of her sons could keep it going, but that doesn't appear to be happening as of now. I'll post the phone number if I can find it- I should have it around here someplace.

With all of these comments, it makes me wish this year was the year. Maybe next.

I learned to fly in Alaska, in the Anchorage area, Kenai Peninsula, etc., so that makes it even more enticing--love to see the changes, maybe experience again some of the area in which I learned.

Since it's been some 41 years since I left AK, the only advice I can give is that ALASKA IS HUGE! The problem with understanding its size is that the Mercator Projection maps we all grew up with often show AK as a separate map out in the Pacific somewhere, and no one notices that its scale doesn't match the rest of the map. So for some perspective (some details courtesy Wikipedia):

>It's more than twice the size of Texas, in area.
>From the tip of the Aleutians to its eastern border with Canada is farther than from San Francisco to Jacksonville, Florida.
>It as 3.5 million lakes of 20 acres or larger--match that one, Minnesota!
>It's almost 1300 miles from Anchorage to the tip of the Aleutians.
>It has 16,000 square miles of glaciers (even with all the receding we've discussed in another thread)--half the size of Maine, Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky, or South Carolina.

So plan accordingly--even at 150 mph in your 180, it's huge, huge, huge. Have lots of fun, and then tell us all about it, and make me wish even moreso that this year was the year!

Cary

Cary's got a great point. I put a flight plan together once for a trip to Barrow that never materialized. From Fairbanks it was going to be a loooong flight in a 206. That was my "holy crap this place is huge" moment.

I second Bettles if you're in the interior. Also, I'd look into Chena Marina (ak28) if you hit Fairbanks. There's a campground right across the float pond from the dirt strip and the airfield manager is a cool guy and probably knows a homeowner on the strip that would let you tie down in their yard.

CamTom12 wrote:Cary's got a great point. I put a flight plan together once for a trip to Barrow that never materialized. From Fairbanks it was going to be a loooong flight in a 206. That was my "holy crap this place is huge"

Shit. Try it in a 108 hp PA-18 with a whiskey compass and no radios pre-GPS days.

Gump

Yeah, you old guys did some pretty amazing stuff!

Cary wrote:the only advice I can give is that ALASKA IS HUGE!

Yeah, allow some time. There's over a million acres for every day of the year.
-DP

Awesome! Take detailed notes, especially in regards to having the kids along as we will be doing this soon. Fly safe and enjoy! Can't wait for the TR!

We're in Atlin, BC, southeast of Whitehorse. If you come up the Cassiar route, it's an easy jump from Dease Lake over to Atlin (less than an hour). Fuel generally cheaper here than Whitehorse (they know all the tourists stop at Whitehorse and price accordingly) and much better scenery (we're just NE of the Juneau Icefield). Send me a PM if you are passing this way coming or going and we can coordinate something. No phone but internet here.

Another alternative route that isn't much talked about (and you probably don't want to try it on your first trip) is up the old BC rail bed from Ft. St. James to Dease Lake. Just east of the Cassiar. Several old construction strips along the route that aren't in very good shape but better than the rocks or river if you have to make an emergency landing. Spectacular scenery but pretty remote and not well-traveled.

Man, the generosity and hospitality of this community is just amazing. Thank you!

Cub180, I'll get in touch with you about staying at your strip, if that's OK. Goes without saying that it would be way more fun than camping at Hudson's Hope and it would be great to meet you and check out your sweet 180! A1Skinner, if it's possible to coordinate, it would be awesome to meet up!

GregA, Atlin is definitely on our radar now. We just looked at some pictures from your area. Looks beautiful! I'll get in touch as we get closer. It's not that big of a detour from our route and it would be great to meet up if possible.

Thanks also for the info on Bettles. It looks like a great spot, but its definitely off of our current plan. We'll keep it in mind though if the weather favors staying farther North. The more awesome alternatives the better!

Thanks again, everyone!

Plenty of room for you and your family here as well. Expensive avgas or we can haul mogas from the gas station. Camping at the national park or at our place. We have a 7 year old kid to provide distraction too.

This thread is already hall of fame material. It begs an Alaska options KB article. Good stuff, everyone.

Oregon180 wrote:Thanks also for the info on Bettles. It looks like a great spot, but its definitely off of our current plan. We'll keep it in mind though if the weather favors staying farther North. The more awesome alternatives the better!

If you do get detoured north because of wx, I can't recommend enough a trip from Fairbanks to Bettles, and then up to Anaktuvuk Pass. Some of the most breathtaking scenery in Alaska.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/PAKP



Gump

A1Skinner wrote:I'd take Dieter up. Hes got fuel and it would be great camping at his grass strip....

Agreed, excellent opportunity!

A1Skinner wrote: I really want to see the paint on Dieter's 180 in person!

It is exquisite... The crumby cell phone pic doesn't do it justice. This pic is at Atlin, which another poster recommended, and I would second as an alternative route for the way up or back....


Another good camp spot for wife and kids is Watson lake. You can pull your airplane up to the big Gazeebo on the west end of the field and camp right next to it. There is a nice wood burning stove in the Gazeebo, and porta potties next to it. Although the facilities in the terminal are clean and close enough


Take care, Rob

Rob wrote: It is exquisite... The crumby cell phone pic doesn't do it justice. This pic is at Atlin, which another poster recommended, and I would second as an alternative route for the way up or back....

It is a sweet bird! He came down to visit this morning and braved my work in progress strip. Had a great visit. He and Karen and very nice and would be more then happy to have you stop in.
David

I regret not meeting them on my trip north. I didn't realize they had contacted me until we were at Fort Nelson. If I ever do the trip again, I'm going to forget about getting anywhere and enjoy where I am. It's all about the journey.

Wow! That thing is gorgeous! The red and white one looks awesome as well. Is that one yours, Rob?

Dang, I'll have to park my old jalopy far away from you guys. Can't wait to get up there and meet you and see some of that country.

As Kevin would say: I'm fired up!

You can park your jalopy next to mine. Haha. We'll park at the other end of the runway so noone looks closely!

Wow! Who painted "BRJ"?

G44

BRJ was painted at Upper Valley Aviation in Chilliwak BC I have a soft spot for Chevy Camaro's it is painted the new colours of the new Camaros green and silver. It is very enjoyable to have people stop by, some have been for a break as they head north or south, some we have met by chatting on the radio when in the plane, some have been at the main airport stranded by weather. Whatever it is it has been nice. It was a nice early morning flight over to see David and his wife, hope to go flying with them sometime.

Oh, if the weather is good, consider a flight through Lake Clark pass. Land at Port Alsworth. Consider a trip up to Dick Proenneke's historic cabin. Lots of stuff to do out of Port Alsworth, weather permitting.