A couple of us are making the voyage south to the Lower 48 from AK in mid-august. I need to re-read Grassstrippilot's great Guide to Flying to Alaska and review some of the attractions through Yukon and BC, but thought this could be an opportunity to say hi to some folks along the way, maybe share some poutine and IPA.

I've made the trip before headed north, flew the AlCan. This time I'd like to try the Trench or the Cassiar highway. Anything to know this time of year other than keep fingers crossed for clear skies and no fires?

Shes been a brutal year for rain this year. If the forecast is for 10% chance they missed a zero. Been very wet just on my side and into my side of the rocks. Hopefully it gets better for your guys trip.

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I liked Whitehorse and we walked to the seaplane base and watched a big single Otter land. The pilot fell in the water when he was tying up to the dock. Also, there was a steamboat museum deal that was interesting. Still remember watching a Pacer ground loop at Watson Lake.

A big driver as to which route to fly is the extent of forest fires in the respective areas at the time. Some northern BC airports were effectively shut down last year due to smoke obscuring ones view of the other end of the runway.....

Last year a friend of mine landed at a small northern airport due to smoke, conditions quickly worsened, and he couldn't take off again for a day or two due to the IMC conditions. In hindsight, if he had landed at a larger airport he could have filed for IMC and took off with much less delay on the ground than he experienced.

pilotboy99 wrote:A big driver as to which route to fly is the extent of forest fires in the respective areas at the time. Some northern BC airports were effectively shut down last year due to smoke obscuring ones view of the other end of the runway.....

Last year a friend of mine landed at a small northern airport due to smoke, conditions quickly worsened, and he couldn't take off again for a day or two due to the IMC conditions. In hindsight, if he had landed at a larger airport he could have filed for IMC and took off with much less delay on the ground than he experienced.

We'll be VFR only so IMC is a no-go wherever we're stuck. I suppose in that situation, nearer the pub is better.

Will you have spare time or is this a trip where getting to the destination asap is important?

Dawson City was pretty highly recommended by several members here. I did detour up there on my way north in May and I enjoyed it. I would do it again. Don't plan on an early departure after a night a Gertie's though.

I tried to get up to Dease Lake a few weeks ago but couldn't get past Smithers for crappy wx. I learned that the weather briefing folks in Kamloops don't have great information for predicting weather in that corridor so it is very much a WYSIWIG environment.

You have my contact deets if you end up coming this way. I'm up at the lake a lot if you happen to be on floats I can offer some awesome accommodation.

Zane, what are you flying?

If you get Whitehorse or Carcross way, look me up. I am in Whitehorse mon-thurs during the day. Generally around Carcross area fri-sun.

Place to park, camp, dock at the Carcross airport. Private 900’ strip at the home place, 2 miles north of Emerald lake. Between Carcross and Whitehorse. Lots of room to camp here too. Grass is a bit tall right now. Will get it mowed down if I know you're headed this way. Always a set of wheels around if you need ground transport.

PM me if you don't have contact info already.

Rod

The BC highway webcams can really help. http://images.drivebc.ca/bchighwaycam/p ... thern.html

Briefers are short on METARs and TAFs when talking about WX in the North, but the GFA is a pretty reliable packet. https://flightplanning.navcanada.ca/cgi ... peDoc=html

Gives you a now, 6 hours from now, and 12 hours from now route forecast.

UpNorth wrote:Zane, what are you flying?

If you get Whitehorse or Carcross way, look me up. I am in Whitehorse mon-thurs during the day. Generally around Carcross area fri-sun.

Place to park, camp, dock at the Carcross airport. Private 900’ strip at the home place, 2 miles north of Emerald lake. Between Carcross and Whitehorse. Lots of room to camp here too. Grass is a bit tall right now. Will get it mowed down if I know you're headed this way. Always a set of wheels around if you need ground transport.

PM me if you don't have contact info already.

Rod

Cool! I'll be in a Super Cub. Will PM.

Zzz wrote:A couple of us are making the voyage south to the Lower 48 from AK in mid-august. I need to re-read Grassstrippilot's great Guide to Flying to Alaska and review some of the attractions through Yukon and BC, but thought this could be an opportunity to say hi to some folks along the way, maybe share some poutine and IPA.

I've made the trip before headed north, flew the AlCan. This time I'd like to try the Trench or the Cassiar highway. Anything to know this time of year other than keep fingers crossed for clear skies and no fires?

One of my favorite stops when flying the trench route is Fort Grahame Lodge on Williston Lake. It's an authentic and rustic lodge, where a gentleman named Jordy McAuley runs Findlay River Outfitters.

I have always found warm and welcoming company, good hospitality, a delightful setting, great fishing and fascinating stories from truly adventuresome folks.

http://www.finlayriveroutfitters.com/finaly-gallery/image-gallery/nggallery/photo-gallery/lodge

Scolopax wrote:One of my favorite stops when flying the trench route is Fort Grahame Lodge on Williston Lake. It's an authentic and rustic lodge, where a gentleman named Jordy McAuley runs Findlay River Outfitters.

I have always found warm and welcoming company, good hospitality, a delightful setting, great fishing and fascinating stories from truly adventuresome folks.

http://www.finlayriveroutfitters.com/finaly-gallery/image-gallery/nggallery/photo-gallery/lodge

Thanks Jake, I'll look into it.

If we wanted to camp in the Trench, does anyone have any recommendations? I have the Trench map (and table of strip info). Wondering which strip gets the vote for better camping though.

I know Pelly lake has been cleaned up this spring and camping would be fine there. Can't comment about any of the others on your list though. Sorry.

Don’t know what mid August means specifically, but I plan to land in Watson Lake Sept 17 around supper time. Radio operators there know me and if I’m in town or at my cabin. I’ll be there about two weeks. It would be a nice coincidence to meet you there.

Pinecone wrote:Don’t know what mid August means specifically, but I plan to land in Watson Lake Sept 17 around supper time. Radio operators there know me and if I’m in town or at my cabin. I’ll be there about two weeks. It would be a nice coincidence to meet you there.

It means on or around August 22nd...ish.

At our cabin in Atlin until early September if you come this way. Pretty easy hop over to Dease Lake from here if you choose to go the Cassiar. FYI, no longer any fuel here at Atlin.

Greg

Thanks all. Headed up to ANC today on Alaska 131 and will be compiling some options for the trip home over the next week.

Would be great to see some BC folks.

I’ll wave at you from the window. Heading home in the aluminum tube from Fairbanks tomorrow.

Have a good flight!

Well, I couldn't grapple with all the elements of a fly-in moose hunt this year so I'm heading north to Fort Nelson by truck on the 22nd for a week so I'll miss your southbound trip. Bummer.

You'd be very welcome on Texada if your on the coast. Sending this from a windy Alvord. Home on Sunday.