Well, I'm on my way to Nashville from Anchorage - currently in whitehorse after a long rainy night in Beaver Creek left me uninclined to tackle the turbulence and thunderstorms south of here.

When I find internet that's not $2/12 min, I'll update more - probably when I hit Bozeman.

Sorry, no SPOT, no transponder, no working cell phone (stupid thing wouldn't activate for international calls!), only a handheld radio, handheld GPS, and a '41 Taylorcraft. Will update when I can!

Dot_AK wrote:Well, I'm on my way to Nashville from Anchorage - currently in whitehorse after a long rainy night in Beaver Creek left me uninclined to tackle the turbulence and thunderstorms south of here.

When I find internet that's not $2/12 min, I'll update more - probably when I hit Bozeman.

Sorry, no SPOT, no transponder, no working cell phone (stupid thing wouldn't activate for international calls!), only a handheld radio, handheld GPS, and a '41 Taylorcraft. Will update when I can!

Without the Blackberry, 996 GPS, Spot, and all of the other new toys, how will you ever find your way down to the lower 48? ...in an aircraft that's over a half century old???
Please have a safe trip.
HC

Have a safe and a great trip Dot. You will make it . I did it a few years back with out the add of a GPS or cell phone. Just keep on track and have a current map.
Be safe...

Ken in Alaska

Have a safe trip. Glad you're finally getting it done!

Dot,

I did that trip in a '41 BC-12D a couple times myself. Each direction it was 60 hours in the log book, and two weeks total, what with waiting out winds in the prairie provinces. I made my turn-around in New Hampshire, but probably not so different distance-wise from Nashville?? (I had the 65hp in front)

If your pacing allows, I really enjoyed camping at some of the emergency strips on the Alcan. Prophet River in particular. Not much for facilities, but the chance to sleep under the wing was a lot more welcome than a Fort Nelson hotel. It helps to have a sat phone for opening/closing with NavCanada, but you should be able to file accordingly if you don't have one.

Thinking about your trip brings back a lot of wonderful memories for me of my past trips. I hope yours is as much fun and similarly gratifying.

-DP

Awesome Dot! I bet your trip will make for a great trip report. Can't wait to hear the details and hopefully some pictures. Hope you have a safe and worry free trip! Keep us posted

Have fun.

Late start this morning, in the hopes I might catch BCT. Also, found free wifi in the terminal, and an unguarded electrical socket to recharge the GPS and radio. (Transmit power drops before the low battery warning comes on, which led to having another airplane relay my position& altitude yesterday at 12 miles out).

Turns out I needed to reboot my phone, works fine now. Campground in Whitehorse is nice, but I really prefer sleeping under the wing! On the other hand, I'm hopelessly addicted to hot running water, so the long walk back to the airport was more than worth it just for the shower.

Thanks for the well wishes! My first priority is staying safe, and the distant second is getting home to my husband. I'll enjoy the trip as it comes!

Dot, wish you had a spot so we can see where you're at! it was great to see you and the '41 T craft! its a beautiful plane...no doubt... I wonder if you made it to Watson lake...did you pitch your tent in the BC/YUkon hangar? by now you must be close to the Lower 48 marker...did you stop in Toad River?

Update when you can, cheers, BCT

ade it to Watson Lake. Beautiful place, had dinner with folks camped by the gazebo in a nice 182. As it was threatening rain, I took the pilot lounge couch after chatting with the gent who works the radio.

This morning, woke up to a 600 ft overcast over ft st john,and by the time I was ready, showers blocking the Liard River Canyon shortcut to Ft Nelson, as per weather briefing and a Maule that just came from there. Also, sinus headache. High probability I am going to go check out the WWII hangar and not go anywhere for a while.

BCT, it was wonderful to meet up with you and your son. I hope you have many wonderful flying adventures To come!

Dot, if it turns blue outside, the flight down the trench is spectacular. Fort Graham is a nice stop half way and they were going to get some gas in there (don't know if they did). Several other good places to land and put your gas in also.

Patrol guy,
I saw a flyer advertising avgas at Port Graham - is that where you meant? The route I planned is out to Grande Prairie and down from there. When I have a plane with longer range, and better weather than this trip, I'll have to do the trench!

Got a window of good weather, sorta, and dodged showers to Fort Nelson late last evening. I love the folks here, with their comfy couch, shower, and hot dogs... and I haven't even met them beyond seeing one of the line guys as he was on his way home.

Dot
Glad your havin a good time headed down the road!!
Was great to have breakfast with you and Tundra at Gwennies
I think you will find everyone along the trail will be just great!
Have not really had a bad experience in CA on many many trips back and forth.
OH wait a minute I forgot about Prince Rupert!!! But that was not with anyone to do with the airport, it was just the $100 bucks to get to the motel and back??
Let us know what your route headed south is, I'm sure there are lot of BCPers along the way looking to meet you and your bird!
Have fun as I'm sure you are, It's a helluva trip for you, You will have to go a long ways to ever best this trip!!!
Have Funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
YFGT

Stuck in beautiful Fort Nelson today, with ceilings at Fort Saint John starting the day at 600 and visibility at 2-1/2. A helicopter made it south, followed by a 185 when the ceiling got to 900 and vis to 10. The gents in a 182 that shared their dinner and campfire at Watson Lake filed IFR, but came back with a bad mag. So, we pooled our tool kits, and started fixing and checking. Fixed the primer line while we were at it. The capacitor wire was completely off and arcing; after fixing that and reinstalling, we found it still didn't work. The gentleman at Executive Flight Center found a mechanic who wasn't open, but was in the shop doing paperwork at Northern Air Maintenance, who sold a replacement mag.
When the 182 got out, ceilings were up to 1300 broken, but vis was down to 5 mi, light rain and mist. So, another night here!

What spare parts and tools do you keep in your plane?

Yep
Sounds like the fort Nelson I know!! You trying to follow the hwy to ft st john or fly the low lands along the old rail road?
If on your way to Nashville you find yourself in the middle of Kansas and need any think let me know I am at Emporia {EMP}
Doug

Having flown that route before in something a bit mightier than a '41 T-craft, I'd stick to the road not only to Ft St John, but to Prince George as well -- especially with low ceilings. And that canyon between Ft. St. John and Prince George can be really windy.

Safe flying Dot.

Headed to Nashville, I thought she would be staying on the Ft St John/Calgary side of the mountains rather than heading over to Prince George. But it would give her a chance to do a lot more mountain flying...which can be very entertaining and lead to lots of weather days...

Troy Hamon wrote:Headed to Nashville, I thought she would be staying on the Ft St John/Calgary side of the mountains rather than heading over to Prince George. But it would give her a chance to do a lot more mountain flying...which can be very entertaining and lead to lots of weather days...

You are probably right. I always stay on the west side of the mountains. It is certainly prettier over there.

Dot_AK wrote:What spare parts and tools do you keep in your plane?

Flying a much lighter plane now, and a rental at that, my toolkit is a small cordura zip bag that contains a spark plug socket, a 3/4" end wrench(lighter than 1/2" ratchet), assorted small end wrenches (7/16, 3/8, 1/2"), equiv sockets, 1/4" ratchet, multi screwdriver, a CRKT multiool (like leatherman), a hand wrap of .0320 safety wire, a tube patch kit, tire pressure gauge, some assorted small AN hardware, and a very small electrical multimeter. Lots of stuff missing (like a way to inflate a tire) but better than having nothing more than a Swiss Army knife.

Sounds like an epic trip!! Have fun and play it safe.

Flew the railroad from Fort Nelson to Fort St. John. Staying to the east side, which is much less pretty, but I have a '41 plane. Density altitude is not my friend. Intend Lethbridge, Cross at Cut Bank, down to Bozeman... enough mountains for me for a while.