I put my trip north in another thread:
https://backcountrypilot.org/community/ ... 2020-24225


Took the scout out to play at sea level for the first time since I've owned it and didn't have 3 months worth of gear loaded up and at gross. Holy crap, the performance is pretty incredible. Went and played on a sand blow, basically just a gravel bar in the middle of the tundra. If you've flown around Lake Iliamna much, you probably know where this particular large one is. Saw my first moose (plural), caribou (plural), and bears for the season.

The tundra smell in this particular spot was overwhelming, I may take clients back there to experience it. Many people coming to Alaska ask what Tundra actually is, what it feels like, etc while we are flying over. We take people to Katmai to see bears, volcano tours, and various other things but sometimes they seem to appreciate the small things we take for granted the most.

asa wrote:The tundra smell in this particular spot was overwhelming

Been to AK a few times, and I'm not sure what tundra smell is. I don't recall anything distinct. Is it earthy? Swampy? Minty?

For some reason I associate "tundra" smell with big black rubber donuts.

The aroma of it may change as the seasons progress? I know sagebrush gets more aromatic when in bloom in the spring.

Almost the opposite Zane - sharp, sweet, fresh, etc etc. Many good memories of adventuring in Alaska (before I was a pilot) are tied to the smell. Maybe it's not the tundra, but a certain plant. Not sure. But I know it when I smell it.

Come to PTA and I'll go show you.

asa wrote:Almost the opposite Zane - sharp, sweet, fresh, etc etc. Many good memories of adventuring in Alaska (before I was a pilot) are tied to the smell. Maybe it's not the tundra, but a certain plant. Not sure. But I know it when I smell it.

Come to PTA and I'll go show you.

The combination of all the plants I believe. One of my favorite smells for sure, nothing like laying out on a sunny fall day glassing for game and enjoying that aforementioned aroma.

asa wrote:Almost the opposite Zane - sharp, sweet, fresh, etc etc. Many good memories of adventuring in Alaska (before I was a pilot) are tied to the smell. Maybe it's not the tundra, but a certain plant. Not sure. But I know it when I smell it.

Come to PTA and I'll go show you.

Nothing I'd rather do...but this is a wacky year for leaving the family behind or taking them on a trip.

Great thread. Cool airplane!

Thumbs up on the rudder.

Thanks aqua, I like the checker rudder.

Today I took the airplane out to one of my favorite spots to take clients fishing. Just me today. And of course the remnants of the airplane formerly known as Bushwhacker. It's cool seeing all the fuselage mods in person, but I still think people should clean up their trash after they wreck their airplanes.

ASA, I like your checker rudder too!

asa wrote:... the remnants of the airplane formerly known as Bushwhacker...

Oh no, I missed something

Tadpole wrote:

asa wrote:... the remnants of the airplane formerly known as Bushwhacker...

Oh no, I missed something

Well, in all fairness, his company is called Bent Prop Productions.

asa wrote:
Today I took the airplane out to one of my favorite spots to take clients fishing. Just me today. And of course the remnants of the airplane formerly known as Bushwhacker. It's cool seeing all the fuselage mods in person, but I still think people should clean up their trash after they wreck their airplanes.

Love that spot but I’ve only been later in the season. How’s the fishing this time of year?

Prosaria wrote:Love that spot but I’ve only been later in the season. How’s the fishing this time of year?

I didn't fish yesterday, just had lunch and hiked around a bit. An amateur fisherman at best, it hasn't became a real passion yet. I carry along a guide when we take people there and little do they know, I'm usually learning more than the tourists.

Today's fun. The pacific is about a mile behind the airplane, Augustine volcano in the background is an island.


Saw 20+ bears at Chinitna Bay along with 1 wolf and 1 moose. The wolves being the rarity, I can generally find bears and moose if I'm looking.

Small things happening. Removed panel mounted clock and turn coordinator. Installed EI fuel totalizer to help knowing how much of the 70gal usable I actually have. As anticipated, I’ve had to fly with more fuel than I need because it’s hard to tell what I’ve got left. I was going to wait until I could afford a CGR30 but that would be too long. Going with EI will let the CGR be an easy upgrade in the future however (if I decide to go that route) since I already have EI CHT/EGT and FF.


In the turn coordinator spot I’m putting a blank piece with a simple slip/skid ball. Removing the TC allowed me to use the CB and wiring for the totalizer. Was able to sell the TC and clock.

No work flights this morning so I went out bar hopping. Perfect weather.

Another excellent morning in the Scout checking out some glaciers and new (to me) gravel bars close to home.

Had some fun in the scout the past week. My sister was visiting from New Mexico and likes to fly fish so I took her out a few days. I'm not the best fisherman (angler sounds too upscale), but I'm fairly good at mimicking what I see our guides do when I take them out with clients, so I can find fish. My casting is getting fairly decent too. Took her out on floats and caught Arctic Char and Rainbows, then one day we took the Scout to a nearby creek and caught a ton of grayling and a couple sockeye. Were hoping for Dolly Varden here but they aren't there yet, or at least we couldn't find them.




A couple days ago some friends asked if I could drop them off to hunt caribou. I hadn't been to the area before so I thought it'd be fun. Vast rolling tundra and hills, caribou everywhere. Dropped them off on a little mesa surrounded by caribou. The next morning when they could hunt, they said they couldn't find a bull though so I went back to pick them up last night. Was probably more fun for me then them, they said they hiked miles and miles and could've shot 30 cows but no bulls. Was impressed with my performance out there. Was about 1000ft MSL, I was able to takeoff in about 300ft with a 10kt headwind at gross. There were some sharp rocks in the tundra so on landing I let it roll out about that same distance so avoid hard braking on the rocks. Turns out that owning a capable airplane during hunting season brings friends out of the woodwork that you never knew you had.

Great pics!

Now that you have a fuel monitor how many gallons are you burning at your cruise? Rpms? And speed with those tires? Your plane looks great-it belongs in that environment.