|
I said it before and I say it again… One cannot visit Alaska without taking to the skies! I had been to Alaska once before and had a fantastic time flying around Talkeetna and Valdez. You can read about it here. So, this time, in early May of 2025, I went to Palmer and Seward instead. While I flew both an airplane and a helicopter last time, this time the flying was all by helicopter because the destinations (remote, inaccessible glaciers) required it. After attending and teaching a Rusty Pilots seminar for AOPA at the Great Alaska Gathering in Palmer, I drove to Seward. On the way though, I took a side detour to Whittier via its unique one-way (timed) tunnel to take a cruise and see wildlife (though I actually saw about the same amount of wildlife from the air). The coolest part was getting really close to a couple of glacier walls.   It's no surprise though that flying from Seward Airport (PAWD) and Wolfe Lake Airport (4AK6) topped it all! From Seward, I had my eyes set on Bear Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. While I could not find an outfitter with a helicopter I could fly myself (all Part 135 charters without dual controls required by insurance), I did find a commercial outfitter, Adventure Sixty North, that needed to make a trip to Bear Glacier to get the summer season started! As can be seen in aerial imagery, Bear Glacier is only accessible by helicopter the majority of the year. However, the guides did talk about a time, usually with the snow melt, when the beach that blocks the Glacier’s lagoon gets flooded over and low bottom boats and kayaks can get through.
Source: Google Earth A Robinson 66 took us up and around Resurrection Bay, to the east shore of the glacier. It was a fairly short flight. The “two normal helipads” were flooded since it was still early in the season so we had to set down on the grass.    We were dropped off there for several hours while the tour guides erected a big tent and then we went kayaking on Bear Glacier’s lagoon. My expectations were high going into it, but they were exceeded. The helicopter ride in itself was beautiful, of course, but kayaking between icebergs was a first (and hopefully not a last) for me. Wow! I saw the following two statements/phrases with my own eyes:
    Some icebergs were truly pieces of art: the colors, the textures, the sizes, and the shapes were all unbelievable.     It rained more than half of the day, but the weather was very nice in the afternoon on our return flight. The weather forecast often calls for rain showers and low ceilings this time of the weather but, with a good attitude and good gear, it doesn’t stop anybody or anything!    I learned that Pollux Aviation provides a good number of outfitters across Alaska with both helicopters and pilots. Their main hub is at the 4AK6 airport and they have a flight school as part of it. Finding a Robinson 22 or 44 was easy with them. You’d think they are a Robinson dealer by the look of their hangar :)  I took a R22 since it was only me, we were essentially staying at sea level with no luggage, I was not in a hurry time wise, and it’s significantly cheaper. Great decision!  Source: Google Earth Knik Glacier is the closest glacier to Palmer and I had heard some great things about it. It did not disappoint. The entire flight was beautiful: flew over the lagoon and river that comes down from the glacier, landed on the glacier itself surrounded by ponds, saw Colony Glacier in the distance, and made our way back to Palmer through a canyon. Helicopters really show off in these types of flights. The ability to land almost anywhere is just incredible!     Between both flights, I saw (lots of) mountain goats, a black bear (in the canyon by Knik Glacier), and moose (mostly along Knik River). From the water, I also saw bald eagles, sea otters, and Steller sea lions. Too early for whales and orcas.
Where should I go next time I’m in Alaska? I’m thinking Homer, Katmai, and/or McNeil River. Hit me up with your suggestions! Fly safe and fly often! (Note: These pictures have not been enhanced in any way and were taken with a cell phone. It is really that beautiful!)
0 Comments
I recently traveled to “The Last Frontier” (yes, you guessed it, Alaska!) for work. When I realized I was scheduled to be in Anchorage only a week after the annual Valdez Fly-in and Air Show, I booked an earlier flight and requested Paid Time Off (PTO). I am so glad I did! The main day of the annual Talkeetna Fly-in was the day before my work engagement started as well so I was able to attend both events and, of course, do a bit of flying while in both places. One cannot visit Alaska without taking to the skies.  Lake Hood, the world's busiest seaplane base, in Anchorage Flying means different things to different people. However, aircraft are the lifeblood of Alaska; they are essentially “flying pick-up trucks.” They often rotate between having bush wheels, floats, and skis throughout the year. Bush pilots fly in and around the backcountry, in a mostly roadless state, where only aircraft can provide access and bring supplies. They land on different kinds of airstrips, river gravel bars, roads, lakes, mountain tops, and glaciers among other places.  Can you spot the unusual? I don't even see that in Texas but you just never know what animal you'll encounter in the Alaska bush Attending both fly-ins proved to be completely different experiences. While both offered the fairly typical fly-in events (airshow performances, a poker run, booths, food, etc), the Valdez Short-Field Take-Off and Landing (STOL) competition was the original (almost empty weight with minimum fuel and the pilot) demonstration while the Talkeetna one was a gross-weight STOL competition, which represents more what bush pilots experience (multiple passengers and/or lots of gear). In addition, Valdez offered presentations, a balloon bust, flour bombing, and a “bonfire on the beach” flight run while Talkeetna included a scavenger/treasure hunt and a unicycle race. Ha!   Not many flying C-46s out there... It was cool to see it and hear stories from the Everts Air Cargo pilots (can you spot it doing a low pass in the first picture?)  One of the presentations in Valdez by a couple of celebrated local bush pilots The weather forecast for Valdez was calling for a 90-100% chance of snow showers but I'm glad I did not listen to it and went anyway. It did not snow once and the ceilings were pretty good from early Saturday afternoon. I later learned from the locals that weather forecasts in Alaska are normally wrong and are not to be trusted. Yup, it proved that way throughout my time there.    The weather kept some people away but there was still a good turnout of both participants and attendees Per STOL competition rules, takeoffs begin from the drawn starting line and judges measure where the main wheels leave the ground and, on landings, mains cannot touch down before the drawn line and distance is measured to where the mains stop. Both distances are combined to add up to a total score. Two runs are scored and the best of the two is entered. The lower, the better! All participants were very impressive to watch; however, only a few can win and set new records. A beautiful Cons-Vult L-13 flown by Chuck Miller had a 238 score with a 101 ft take-off and a 137 ft landing in Valdez. A Maule 235 flown by Isaac Bedingfield won the Light Touring Class with a 183 score, composed of an 85 ft take-off and a 98 ft landing. The Light Sport Class achieved two new records: an 11 ft take-off and a 9.5 ft landing by Frank Knapp (who ultimately won the class and seen on takeoff and landing below) and Dan Reynolds respectively. Yes, those are not typos. My favorite, the Alternate Bush Class, was spearheaded by Toby Ashley with a Carbon Cub. His best run had a 29 ft take-off and a 76 ft landing. Jacob Williams won the Bushg Class (with nothing but Piper PA-18s) performing a 58 ft takeoff and a 78 ft landing. All classes were won by Alaskans but, believe it or not, Florida was well represented as well.  Courtesy of www.arturopoloena.com   Courtesy of www.arturopoloena.com  A view of the Valdez Airport and its surrounding  Valdez was not only about the fly-in... the town has beauty of its own The phrase “there are old pilots and there are bold pilots but there are no old, bold pilots” very much applies in Alaska, too. Bush pilots are the rare breed I thought they were but not the “cowboy pilots” I thought they would be. Total command of the aircraft is an absolute must and risk mitigation, weighing situations carefully and making smart decisions, is a way of life. While I did attempt to fly with all “landing gear modes” (big tires, skis, floats, and skids), I was not successful in achieving the skis one because it is too late in the season and the weather did not allow a lot of higher elevation flying. That’s ok; that gives me an excuse to come back at a better time (I hear March is pretty good). As always, all aircraft provided different missions, experiences, vistas, adrenaline, etc and each requires different skills. And I did get to land on a glacier – with the helicopter (again)! This page's top picture shows this. That’s always a highlight for me. Landing on a glacier is just a special treat most places cannot offer. And the views from the helicopter are just like no other... Do I sound bias?  If you have read some of my other blogs, you may know I like to see things from both the ground and the air. Here's Valdez Glacier Lake from both angles. The 3D one takes the cake here (and normally)   A different view of the glacier and its amazing "terrain"  The beautiful, turquoise glacier peaking through the rocks And from Valdez to Talkeetna (which took some practice to say it correctly)...   I had a first in this trip – flying a floatplane! I have a Single-Engine Sea (SES) rating; however, I have always flown flying boats, never a floatplane. It was different and, I'll say it, not as much fun. There’s just something about being “in” the water versus “on” the water. Taxiing on the step just was not the same… If I wasn't biased before, I definitely am now, haha  Known worldwide as "flower power" (from Alaska Floats and Skis)   In addition to splashing at a couple of lakes, we also flew down two different river sections And then there was the big, Alaska tires. I’ve had the privilege of flying in other bush planes in the past but never in the “home state.” Flying through Denali National Park with one provided fantastic views (although not of Mount Denali itself due to weather). I have lots and lots of pictures from this flight but here is a sampling.   A cool representation of the route of flight from Talkeetna
Better to be in the bush plane than the float plane for this flight, huh? Fog and frozen lakes...
Beginning a trip up Ruth Glacier  This is about when yours truly was making the decision that, not knowing the area, it was time to turn around    Leaving the mountains via the Tokositna ("Tok" for friends) Glacier At the Talkeetna Fly-in… Kevin Doyle with a 1,695-lbs PA-18 Super Cub won, by far, the Certified Bush class with a 124 ft take-off and a 105 ft landing. Tom Hudzinski won the Experimental Bush class with a 1,833-lbs Backcountry Cub and an 86 ft take-off and 59 ft landing. Shawn Holly took the Certified Mid Class with a 2,132-lbs Cessna 170B and a 248 ft takeoff and a 147 ft landing. And, last but not least, the Certified Heavy class was championed by Chad Sutdtell and his 2,511-lbs Cessna 180. His best run showcased a 312 ft take-off and a 251 ft landing.   One of the competitors getting his airplane weighed for the STOL competition  Can you believe Talkeetna still has a Flight Service Station (FSS)? Good old times!  The Talkeetna Airport is the hub for the majority of flights to/from Denali National Park's base camp. You can see most of them on the ground because the weather up in the mountains was not conducive. So, when are you planning your trip to Alaska – not the birthplace of aviation but certainly the one that has perfected it!? If you are particularly looking for STOL events, the Lower 48 also has some good STOL demonstrations/competitions as well. You may consider attending the one AOPA is hosting at the Missoula, MT Fly-in June 15-16, the ones at EAA’s Air Venture in Oshkosh, WI, or the 5th Annual Texas STOL Roundup in Hondo on September 28-30. Some of these showcase obstacle in addition to traditional STOLs. (This only shows a portion of all the fun had in Alaska... and lots of friends were seen and new ones made! Such a good time!) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A summary of this blog appeared in the Aug/Sept 2018 edition of Midwest Flyer Magazine: 
|
|||||||||
RSS Feed
