I assume there is some knowledge here on average weather in the trench early august.

Anyone have some insight?

StillLearning wrote:I assume there is some knowledge here on average weather in the trench early august.

Anyone have some insight?

Farmer's Almanac?

Zzz wrote:

StillLearning wrote:I assume there is some knowledge here on average weather in the trench early august.

Anyone have some insight?

Farmer's Almanac?

In the words of Sparky Imeson - "Weather is where you find it"

We were planning on flying back to the lower 48 through the Trench on Sunday, but elected to fly right over Watson Lake, which was under a 700' overcast layer, to Fort Nelson, then down to Quesnel, BC. It added 50 nm to our route. The Trench is generally a good one, but it's always best to have a plan B and be ready to pull the trigger on B.

Scolopax wrote:

Zzz wrote:

StillLearning wrote:I assume there is some knowledge here on average weather in the trench early august.

Anyone have some insight?

Farmer's Almanac?

In the words of Sparky Imeson - "Weather is where you find it"

We were planning on flying back to the lower 48 through the Trench on Sunday, but elected to fly right over Watson Lake, which was under a 700' overcast layer, to Fort Nelson, then down to Quesnel, BC. It added 50 nm to our route. The Trench is generally a good one, but it's always best to have a plan B and be ready to pull the trigger on B.

Plan on several routes if possible. Fly the best on the day you want to travel, or be prepared to wait for good weather on the route you want.
DENNY

I am well aware of alternate plans, different routes etc...

What I asked was if anyone had knowledge of what the typical weather is at that time of year.

StillLearning wrote:I am well aware of alternate plans, different routes etc...

What I asked was if anyone had knowledge of what the typical weather is at that time of year.

Shy of an exceptional Indian summer, I think early August is as good as you're going to get. The only summer-specific hazard being wildfire smoke.

Wunderground has an almanac historic function. You can see data for MacKenzie, Fort Ware, and Watson Lake, including precip, temperature and dew point.

Here's the link to Fort Ware: https://www.wunderground.com/weather/ca/fort-ware

Edit 7/24/2026: and here's a link to Tsay Keh at the north end of Williston Lake (south of Fort Ware):
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/c ... BRITISH584

That’s a good link for Fort Ware. Thank you!

To do the Trench safely you need the fuel reserves to turn around if needed half way.

Unexpected headwinds can of course be an issue.

Sifton Pass is a choke point. I’ve seen it pouring at McKenzie and clear at Watson Lake. Other than that helpful link for Ft Ware, there are no weather stations for the route. I’ve seen August mostly clear one year and rain almost every day another year.

Just like wherever you live last years weather is not a predictor for this year.

Ted https://fly2ak.com

CAVU wrote:Wunderground has an almanac historic function. You can see data for MacKenzie, Fort Ware, and Watson Lake, including precip, temperature and dew point.

Here's the link to Fort Ware: https://www.wunderground.com/weather/ca/fort-ware

Great info, thank you.

The last time I flew up I had to return to Ft Ware twice. Got a ride to the gas station and topped off my tanks just in case. Didn't need it, but after turning around twice I was glad I had extra fuel. This time my ride has 80 gallon tanks.

The bad news;
Early August will not be far enough past the summer solstice for the convective activities to have mellowed out yet, even though the days are getting shorter. It will rain, there will be scud.

The good news;
That far north most days will present an opportunity for a 180 to shoot the 3.5 hr +/- flight in one go, if you are willing to watch and wait for that window. If you are like me and pack fuel, stop at gravel bars to fish and villages to wander, this is all a moot point.

Qualifications: NONE other than BTDT.....

StillLearning wrote:I am well aware of alternate plans, different routes etc...

What I asked was if anyone had knowledge of what the typical weather is at that time of year.

Since you asked for a very specific answer that's the best I have to offer (although I still strayed from your parameters ) you can call the rest of this word salad a day, or put it on ignore. But you've got a few really good BTDT individuals replying here. Indulge their sideline stuff

Something here reminds me of a long gone flagger I once had. She was probably 4' tall and 4' 2" around, and packed that dry, 'matter of fact' sense of humor common in Native American's of the Desert Southwest. I can remember early on asking for wind checks in the unsettled spring nights, and frequently getting something like... " Uhh Mr. Rob, the wind is southwest 3-5, sometimes sweetching to northwest 2-4, with a little east " . Needless to say (well if you knew me anyways) I'd follow up with some off color comment, and then I'd hear a barely audible 'stupid pilot' followed by a click... which was my indicator that Norma's radio mysteriously 'quit working' and I was now on my own for the balance of the night. Most pilots that experienced 'Norma' thought that was unacceptable, and just flat wouldn't work with her. For me it was a life lesson in communication. We spoke the same language, and she knew her job far better than most flaggers I have worked with before or since, I just needed to realize that to get the information I needed, I just needed to hear her words like she did, and occasionally entertain the advice she'd offer. I sure do miss that one.

FWIW, I come from a location and go to an area, that favors the trench route. I plan on it every time, been skunked once or twice to WX and once or twice to other forms of Tom Foolery like fly-ins etc. That includes anytime from the end of May through the end of September. But I also know many people that might not elect to do the same, even on the best of days.

Scolopax wrote:In the words of Sparky Imeson - "Weather is where you find it"

We were planning on flying back to the lower 48 through the Trench on Sunday, but elected to fly right over Watson Lake, which was under a 700' overcast layer, to Fort Nelson, then down to Quesnel, BC. It added 50 nm to our route. The Trench is generally a good one, but it's always best to have a plan B and be ready to pull the trigger on B.

Dude, sorry I couldn't link up with you this year... We are already scheming hard on next year's foolery though

Has it really been since '19 when we last crossed paths? (at the mouth of the trench).

Take care, Rob

Zzz wrote:Shy of an exceptional Indian summer, I think early August is as good as you're going to get. The only summer-specific hazard being wildfire smoke.

^^^ This. And in recent years the smoke is usually less along the trench than the Alaska Highway route.

Usually the further south you go the greater the convective weather risk. If you follow the west slope of the Rockies as far south as the East Kootenay area near Cranbrook on a hot August day you’ll enter one of the highest lightning strike areas in Canada.

Thanks for all the responses.

Rob, I'm picking up what you are putting down, sometimes forums have a way of going off the rails. On a gun forum talking about a certain round for an elk hunt turns into a debate about the truck you are driving to the hunt. Thanks for the info and humorous story.

Great information on the east side of the divide being worse for smoke.

This trip is a paid ferry, I've never seen the plane. Its a 77 185, been wrecked a few times. Can see structural repairs in the photos, its suppose to weigh 1900, has 8:00x 6 on it and an obsolete panel, but looks well loved. It hasn't seen much flight time in the last couple years, I'll stay over land, and mostly over roads. 600hours on 20+ year overhaul. Monarch caps, 80 gallon tanks.

Rob wrote:

Scolopax wrote:In the words of Sparky Imeson - "Weather is where you find it"

We were planning on flying back to the lower 48 through the Trench on Sunday, but elected to fly right over Watson Lake, which was under a 700' overcast layer, to Fort Nelson, then down to Quesnel, BC. It added 50 nm to our route. The Trench is generally a good one, but it's always best to have a plan B and be ready to pull the trigger on B.

Dude, sorry I couldn't link up with you this year... We are already scheming hard on next year's foolery though

Has it really been since '19 when we last crossed paths? (at the mouth of the trench).

Rob- I love the Norma Anecdote, and directly relate to it, as it feels about two years ago that I was to cool for school with the highly experienced graciously offering free advice.

I was up at Tebay thinking about hanging out with you guys up there.

That was fun, and what a remarkable place to spend some time!

Keep me posted as next year’s plans develop. I’ll be up for it!

It seems the last time was back in 2016

Scolopax wrote:Rob- I love the Norma Anecdote, and directly relate to it, as it feels about two years ago that I was to cool for school with the highly experienced graciously offering free advice.

I was up at Tebay thinking about hanging out with you guys up there.

That was fun, and what a remarkable place to spend some time!

Keep me posted as next year’s plans develop. I’ll be up for it!

It seems the last time was back in 2016

Shizzzz.....

Ya know, I used to cringe when people put up the name of that spot on the http://www.... It's one I'd call Church for sure but then I came to realize not many people have the wherewithal to end up there, and those that do, tend to be like minded, and fun to meet.

I'll keep you posted on '27 for sure.

'16 ... man I'm getting old. Ya know... at first I thought no... not Tebay, Watson Lake when you were #2 behind the Bearhawk... but alas, that was '16 as well.

I guess I was thinking of RB (Glidergeek) .... Funny story:

Outbound from Fast Edies for Whitehorse fat dumb and apple pie happy, I spied a 180 slipping under us. Wife calls out traffic, to which I respond RB... Wife calls BS, so I hit the mic, and call in the blind 'Hey RB, you headed to Tok for a burger?'
RB clearly dumbfounded that anyone several thousand miles from home even knew he existed, pipes up 'Rob? WTF are you doing in my headsets? '

Small world, this aviation gig is... enjoy it while we can

Take care, Rob


And yes, wife was absolutely dumbfounded as well...
Me? I'll take lucky over good any day

Halve good with a bit of luck is a good mixture.

I guess I was thinking of RB (Glidergeek) .... Funny story:

Outbound from Fast Edies for Whitehorse fat dumb and apple pie happy, I spied a 180 slipping under us. Wife calls out traffic, to which I respond RB... Wife calls BS, so I hit the mic, and call in the blind 'Hey RB, you headed to Tok for a burger?'
RB clearly dumbfounded that anyone several thousand miles from home even knew he existed, pipes up 'Rob? WTF are you doing in my headsets? '

Wish I could have seen the look on my face Wish we could have hooked up, the best 2 1/2 weeks of my life was exploring Alaska, Fuck that was 7 years ago Don't blink boys and girls

Looked good today

I am just starting to learn about how to get to alaska and back. I appreciate Ted’s website and will keep reading. I often cruise the west above 11k msl because the rocks are big and it is cooler. Do people fly the trench and cruise up high? Any reason to not plan a higher altitude cruising altitude other than missing some of the unique terrain? This also helps my mpg as I burn about 25% less fuel up high.

silflexer wrote:I am just starting to learn about how to get to alaska and back. I appreciate Ted’s website and will keep reading. I often cruise the west above 11k msl because the rocks are big and it is cooler. Do people fly the trench and cruise up high? Any reason to not plan a higher altitude cruising altitude other than missing some of the unique terrain? This also helps my mpg as I burn about 25% less fuel up high.

It'll depend on conditions, of course. I can't claim any but the most limited experience with the route. So, FWIW, here was what we experienced. Northbound, the sky was clear but there was a strong quartering headwind from the NW, increasing with altitude. There was some turbulence, but not real bad, so I stayed below "ridge" top level (which is pretty high in that neighborhood!) and surfed along the east wall of the trench, pretty close to the tree tops, trying to capture some lift from the wind rising up against mountains. I don't think we got much benefit out of it, but it was better than getting beaten up a higher altitude with more headwind. Returning, there was a deck of clouds around 5,000', so we stayed low until it shut down to the ground, then bailed out to the west.

We were lucky on the way up to have clear skies. Most of the time, I suspect the answer to the best altitude is "whatever will work."

Terry/CAVU

I agree about higher altitudes for possibly better fuel burn or when there is a nice tailwind up there.

But I am flying to enjoy the scenery. If things work, fuel & wind, I enjoy 500’ to 1,000’ above the terrain. See bears and Moose. Appreciate details in the terrain. For me, usually that is, it’s all about the journey not the destination.