Alaska Trip - First week in September

AV8ER · #1 08-21-2022, 04:31 AM

We are planning a trip to Alaska and looking or any local knowledge flying the the Pacific Northwest through the Aleutian chain of islands. Safety, weather patterns, must see airports (no gravel or grass), that sort of thing. Some type of local event is also on our the list so if you have any of those please include.

Myself and another instrument rated pilot (who loves flying for flying's sake) will make the trek in my 60 gallon RV-10.

n816kc · #2 08-21-2022, 05:09 AM

https://fly2ak.com/

plehrke · #3 08-21-2022, 06:36 AM

Not going to deviate a bit north to fly past/around Denali? I did not fly my RV past it but did take a tour plane up to Denali and it was definitely a highlight. Just RV note is the pilot who took us in the charter twin had his RV-6 parked right by the FBO office.

Marc Bourget · #4 08-21-2022, 08:37 AM

Went to the fly AK link but didn't dig into the details.

Friend lives North of your route PADQ to PADC.

I recall he stated the weather seems to take a sudden change last week of August-First of September. Consider that contingency.

Norman CYYJ · #5 08-21-2022, 10:02 AM

Personally I would fly up the trench. That stretch from Vancouver to AL is extremely rugged and absolutely no where to land safely but it is very scenic. Enjoy your flight which ever way you go.

AV8ER · #6 08-21-2022, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Bourget

Went to the fly AK link but didn't dig into the details.

Friend lives North of your route PADQ to PADC.

I recall he stated the weather seems to take a sudden change last week of August-First of September. Consider that contingency.

Thanks Marc.

Since this thread started I was warned of this elsewhere. I was told that June/July are the months that this trip is best to plan and the first week in September is a bit late in the season as the weather takes wide swings. Its looking more like a re-boot of the plan for June of next year.

larrynew · #7 08-22-2022, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AV8ER

…the plan for June of next year.

Four of us with RV-10s are planning an Alaska trip next June also. The website https://fly2ak.com/ is what we’re using as our primary guide. We also learned of the new Transport Canada website at an OSH forum: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/gen...-know-tp-15048.

Any other resources to recommend? This will be the first time flying through Canada and in Alaska in GA for all of us. Some of us have 121 experience flying in Canada but that doesn’t really translate.

keitht · #8 08-23-2022, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman CYYJ

Personally I would fly up the trench. That stretch from Vancouver to AL is extremely rugged and absolutely no where to land safely but it is very scenic. Enjoy your flight which ever way you go.

And at least one hungry bear every square mile looking for a meal. If you havent flown in the north cascade mountains and in the lower trench area of BC this year might be a good warm up for next years trip to AK. A friend who has flown regularly to Alaska from WA recommends a group aircraft trip with someone leading who has flown the route and knows the go-no go limits for each leg of the trip. The cascades are estimated to have in excess of 20,000 bears including a few grizzlies just as a data point.

KT

Mousse · #9 08-23-2022, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman CYYJ

Personally I would fly up the trench. That stretch from Vancouver to AL is extremely rugged and absolutely no where to land safely but it is very scenic. Enjoy your flight which ever way you go.

+1. The trench gives you options if things don't go as planned.

Michel

keitht · #10 08-23-2022, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norman CYYJ

Personally I would fly up the trench. That stretch from Vancouver to AL is extremely rugged and absolutely no where to land safely but it is very scenic. Enjoy your flight which ever way you go.

And at least one hungry bear every square mile looking for a meal. If you havent flown in the north cascade mountains and in the lower trench area of BC this year might be a good warm up for next years trip to AK. A friend who has flown regularly to Alaska from WA recommends a group aircraft trip with someone leading who has flown the route and knows the go-no go limits for each leg of the trip.

KT