Sorry guys Ive been out of pocket for a while. I estimate my flying time from Dallas to be arround 40 hours each way with a good bit of flying in AK it will probably end up being a 120 hour trip. I am not decided on weatehr or not to meet up with you other folks who are going. I would love the company. I am seriously considering the trench route because of how much more direct it is but that last couple hundred miles with no road or anything underneath you is a little spooky. Does any one know if thate are any suitable landing places once you get north of the lake in the trench? Good sandbars or reasonably flat areas? I will be heading for Colorado Soon and staying there for a coluple days but once I head north I dont think the huskys nose will point south again untill ive reached the great white north.

Renegade wrote:Sorry guys Ive been out of pocket for a while. I estimate my flying time from Dallas to be arround 40 hours each way with a good bit of flying in AK it will probably end up being a 120 hour trip. I am not decided on weatehr or not to meet up with you other folks who are going. I would love the company. I am seriously considering the trench route because of how much more direct it is but that last couple hundred miles with no road or anything underneath you is a little spooky. Does any one know if thate are any suitable landing places once you get north of the lake in the trench? Good sandbars or reasonably flat areas? I will be heading for Colorado Soon and staying there for a coluple days but once I head north I dont think the huskys nose will point south again untill ive reached the great white north.

40 hours. So, accounting for comfortable bladder time (3 hours or a little more) that would be around a dozen hops. Unless you have an extra water bottle. Just dont forget which bottle you're drinking from!

http://www.1wa6.com/Alaska.html this is great trip log..great photos

At the end of the Williston Lake is Fort Ware airstrip and a couple of logging or work strips, then over the pass there are two more strips at hunting lodges before you get in range of the Alcan and then Watson Lake.
Jeremy

From my old post on the Trench:

If you decide on the trench:
When you get to Prince George, ask one of the briefers for a "Trench Guide". It has a handy little map of the trench and details on the location and services of all the strips along the trench. There's not much north of Fort Ware, but I saw cabins at Terminus Mountain and Scoop Lake.

The west side of Williston Lake has more landing opportunities like logging roads and clearings, but north of Fort Ware, it's about as wild a wilderness as you are likely to find, with scenery to match.

Here's a list of the trench strips (north to south) from the guide. Stick 'em in your GPS so they come up when you press "NEAREST".


1. Watson Lake YQH 600704N 1284919W Listed in CFS. Full services. RCO Whitehorse 126.7. ATF 122.1.
2. Scoop Lake 5901N 12724W Aprx 85NM SE of Watson Lake between Scoop Lake and river. RWY 3000 x 75 ft. dirt. Emergency fuel, B&B accommodations. Radiophone JJ37353 Watson Lake or Terminus channel.
3. Terminus Mountain 584384N 1270800W Aprx 90 NM NW of Fort Ware, 112NM E of Kechika River and south of Terminus Mountain. RWY 3500 x 75 ft. No Facilities.
4. Fort Ware AJ9 572538N 1253901W Listed in CFS. RWY 09/27 4700 x 30 ft. gravel. Communications at camp and radio phone at store. RCO Whitehorse Radio 126.7. ATF 123.2.
5. Finbow BF2 571617N 1252642W RWY 12130 4500 x 1300 ft. gravel ABANDONED
6. Tsay Keh BN9 565422N 1245754W Listed in CFS. North end of Williston Lake at mouth of Finlay River. RWY 12130 4500 x 50 ft. packed gravel/sand. Camp communications. ATF 123.2.
7. Pelly Lake Lodge 5653N 12523W North side of Pelly Lake. RWY 1600 x 50 ft. dirt and grass. Radio telephone 250-997-5928.
8. Ingenika AP6 564726N 1245348W Listed in CFS. Communications summer only through forestry tanker base. RWY 11/29 6000 x 100 ft. gravel. ATF 123.2.
9 Swannell 564330N 1250653W Confluence of Swannell and Ingenika Rivers. RWY 03/21 5000 x 100 ft packed gravel
10. Ft. Graham BW3 563118N 1242806W Listed in CFS. RWY 13/31 5000 x 40 ft. gravel. Ft. Graham Fishing Lodge. ATF 123.2.
11. Osilinka 561063N 1251039W Aprx 30 NW W of Williston Lake on Tenikihi Creek. RWY 13/31 3000 x 50 ft. gravel. Logging camp 5NM S of strip.
12. Ospika BA9 561630N 1240306W listed in CFS. RWY 02/20 5600 x 60 coarse gravel. ATF 123.2.
13. Mesilinka 5606N 12424W RWY 10/28 5000 x 100 ft. dirt/gravel. Abandoned.
14. Bear Valley 5605N 12305W North side of Peace Arm of Williston Lake. RWY 18/36 3500 x 75 ft. gravel. Abandoned
15. Mackenzie CYZY 551816N 1230756w Listed in CFS. Near south end of Williston Lake on the east side. 100LL and JB available. Pacific Radio 126.7 (FISE). ATF 126.7


FOR CURRENT INFORMATION PLEASE CHECK THE CFS AND NOTAMS

It is approximately 435 nautical miles to Watson Lake from Prince George via the "Trench". Other than Mackenzie, there are no reliable weather reporting stations enroute. PIREPS are always appreciated.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A VERY SPARSELY SETTLED AREA, KEEP ALERT AND COMMUNICATE.

Renegade,
40 hours? One of is wrong on estimation of flight time. I'm beginning to get a bad feeling it's me. What do you cruise at?

An alternative to the trench is Smithers, Dease Lake, then either Watson Lake or White Horse, known as the Casear highway. Not quite as remote as the trench. Also the cheapest fuel in that end of the world is Dease Lake.. I came down that way last week, beautiful ride.
Jay

a64pilot wrote:Renegade,
40 hours? One of is wrong on estimation of flight time. I'm beginning to get a bad feeling it's me. What do you cruise at?

I have roughly 3200 nautical miles to cover from Dallas, I cruise at arround 100 knots, im shure there will be headwinds or delays along the way so 40 hours is my conservative flying time estimate.

Mucho thanks. That will really come in helpfull. If im ever able to get out of Dallas I will be on my way. It has been raining here for a week and it is supposed to rain for another week.

Yellowbelly wrote:From my old post on the Trench:

If you decide on the trench:
When you get to Prince George, ask one of the briefers for a "Trench Guide". It has a handy little map of the trench and details on the location and services of all the strips along the trench. There's not much north of Fort Ware, but I saw cabins at Terminus Mountain and Scoop Lake.

The west side of Williston Lake has more landing opportunities like logging roads and clearings, but north of Fort Ware, it's about as wild a wilderness as you are likely to find, with scenery to match.

Here's a list of the trench strips (north to south) from the guide. Stick 'em in your GPS so they come up when you press "NEAREST".


1. Watson Lake YQH 600704N 1284919W Listed in CFS. Full services. RCO Whitehorse 126.7. ATF 122.1.
2. Scoop Lake 5901N 12724W Aprx 85NM SE of Watson Lake between Scoop Lake and river. RWY 3000 x 75 ft. dirt. Emergency fuel, B&B accommodations. Radiophone JJ37353 Watson Lake or Terminus channel.
3. Terminus Mountain 584384N 1270800W Aprx 90 NM NW of Fort Ware, 112NM E of Kechika River and south of Terminus Mountain. RWY 3500 x 75 ft. No Facilities.
4. Fort Ware AJ9 572538N 1253901W Listed in CFS. RWY 09/27 4700 x 30 ft. gravel. Communications at camp and radio phone at store. RCO Whitehorse Radio 126.7. ATF 123.2.
5. Finbow BF2 571617N 1252642W RWY 12130 4500 x 1300 ft. gravel ABANDONED
6. Tsay Keh BN9 565422N 1245754W Listed in CFS. North end of Williston Lake at mouth of Finlay River. RWY 12130 4500 x 50 ft. packed gravel/sand. Camp communications. ATF 123.2.
7. Pelly Lake Lodge 5653N 12523W North side of Pelly Lake. RWY 1600 x 50 ft. dirt and grass. Radio telephone 250-997-5928.
8. Ingenika AP6 564726N 1245348W Listed in CFS. Communications summer only through forestry tanker base. RWY 11/29 6000 x 100 ft. gravel. ATF 123.2.
9 Swannell 564330N 1250653W Confluence of Swannell and Ingenika Rivers. RWY 03/21 5000 x 100 ft packed gravel
10. Ft. Graham BW3 563118N 1242806W Listed in CFS. RWY 13/31 5000 x 40 ft. gravel. Ft. Graham Fishing Lodge. ATF 123.2.
11. Osilinka 561063N 1251039W Aprx 30 NW W of Williston Lake on Tenikihi Creek. RWY 13/31 3000 x 50 ft. gravel. Logging camp 5NM S of strip.
12. Ospika BA9 561630N 1240306W listed in CFS. RWY 02/20 5600 x 60 coarse gravel. ATF 123.2.
13. Mesilinka 5606N 12424W RWY 10/28 5000 x 100 ft. dirt/gravel. Abandoned.
14. Bear Valley 5605N 12305W North side of Peace Arm of Williston Lake. RWY 18/36 3500 x 75 ft. gravel. Abandoned
15. Mackenzie CYZY 551816N 1230756w Listed in CFS. Near south end of Williston Lake on the east side. 100LL and JB available. Pacific Radio 126.7 (FISE). ATF 126.7


FOR CURRENT INFORMATION PLEASE CHECK THE CFS AND NOTAMS

It is approximately 435 nautical miles to Watson Lake from Prince George via the "Trench". Other than Mackenzie, there are no reliable weather reporting stations enroute. PIREPS are always appreciated.

REMEMBER, THIS IS A VERY SPARSELY SETTLED AREA, KEEP ALERT AND COMMUNICATE.

Good luck to you guys! Especially with the weather. I'm heading out for Alaska early tomorrow morning, and it looks like we'll finally get a good flying day here on the east coast! I just hope my luck holds the rest of the way too!

Christina,
Good luck on your trip this year and post your impressions and thoughts for us when you can...
Jim

He guys! Just shooting everybody a note from alaska. Made the trip in 6 flying days from texas with pretty good weather the entire way. Flying up the trench was no sweat and I have seen some of the most awesome scenery I have ever seen in my life. Will give yall a detailed write up after I get back down south in another couple weeks.