First stop on the Alaska journey, Marquette, Mi. Runway is 12,300' and now 150' wide, narrowed from 300'. Was a B-52 SAC base. This was also where I stopped last on return trip.,
Tallest ski jump, Near Ironwood, Mi.
Entrance to Duluth, Mn. harbor. This is for Nephew Henry. Yes I also have crossed a tiny tip of Wisconsin.
The prarie is flatbut pretty with a little enhancement to eliminate the haze. Some tailwinds!
Windmill farm in North Dakota
A frosty night in Saskatoon, Can. Frost was a problem twice. I cleared customs in Regina.
The Canadian prarie. There is lots and lots of this.
My ramp mate in Whitecout, Alberta. There were three of these Herculese practicing with two CASARA search and rescue units. Fortunately they never had to look for me. Very nice people.
Taking the lower altitude river and RailRoad route from Ft. St. John to Ft. Nelson. The Alaka Highway is to the South and West of this route.
First views of the Rocky Mountaind.
Getting closer
Don't make this wrong turn.
This is close to The Summit Lake area on the highway between Ft. Nelson and Watson Lake. Early AM, Smooth and perfect weathe. I am this close, no Crop.
I am at 7, 200' above sea level, GPS show 86mph, 147 miles to goto Watson lake, straight line, 1:42 to go. But, that is all straight line. Notice the obstacles on the right of the plane in the lower left screen. I am 55 degress left of course to avoid them.
Muncho Lake is not landable today. Too much rotten ICE.
Clouds over the mountains to the West.
The lower route along the Liard River joins the highway. In 1942 the built the road up high to avoid working in the muck.
Watson Lake, my home for 2+1/2 days on the way home.
First gravel landing caused by poor weather at Whitehorse. Strip is 5000' long, but a bit soft this time of year. No fuel was a bit of a problem but very nice folks. Dana, accomodations MODEST. But, Better than Phil's tent.
Pretty morning on the 6th day. I am off to Whitehorse for fuel and then turning south for Skagway via the White Pass and then down the coast to Juneau and the SURPRISE ARRIVAL.
Well I could not get through the White Pass so I turned back to Atlin. From there I tried the Taku river route through the Coast Mountains. Turned back again. Got more local knowledge and tried again. Here I am in Alaska at last.
My nice day has deteriorated. I am down to 1400' Mean Sea Level and Above Ground level for the first time they match. The river is landable and I am OK with this so far. Mountain tops are abscured
Down to 1000' near the Taku glacier. They make their own weather and it is usually not good!!!
The south arm of the Taku
I bliped my SPOT Beacon here so folks would know I was close to Juneau. Yes, I am over the glacier.
Getting kind of low now, under 1000'
The Gastineau channel, Junea is 10 miles.
Downtown Juneau greets me with Rain. Very typical. When I cross the bridge ahead I can raise the tower. I called Mary D. from here so she could scoot the family to the Path at the end of runway 8 so they could see me arrive.
3 Cruise ships in Juneau. I stowed the camera here due to the air traffic and 10 mile to go to the Airport. Alaska Air 737s, helicopter, and float planes working the ship crowds make for very busy airspace.
Plane wash in Juneau, Nice day for there! I flew 6 hours to cover 150 air miles if flown direct from Teslin to Juneau. There is no road to Juneau, so I could not have driven it that fast, BUT kind of a slow segment. Tuesday, May 13th.
Departing Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier. Monday May 19th.
Boy Scout Beach, north of Juneau
“The Road” to Skagway, I can land here if Needed
Closer to Skagway
Nice blues
Haines, 13 miles to Skagway
Notice the avalances/ snow slides
Yukon/White pass RR on right, river, Road to Whitehorse on the left
The dreaded White Pass, I turned around in thisone on the way to Juneau
RR tressels, new and old. Train ride is scarrier
Customs office, back in Canada
If the clouds lower, you turn around
Or you might meet this accidentally
Whitehorse Yukon, Territory for customs
The largest windsock, Yes Dana it still swivels
Signpost forest in Watson Lake, 70,000 signs, Read them all during 2 day Weather delay
1942 Hangar Watson Lake Used for the Lendlease program to send planes to Russia, 8,000 plus planes
220'X160'X35' swallowed DC-4s. Last heated in 1943, 1000 gallons of fuel oil per day!!
400,000 board feet of Fir and lots of wire bracing
Gave up on the Alaska Highway and headed SW to Dease Lake on the Cassaire Hwy, Pretty colors eh?
Bob Quinn strip.B.c., A Beech 1900 landed right after me. You could see wingtip vorticies perfectly.
At last a useable chunk of water if I need to land
Climbing out of Valemont, B. C. Heading across the rockies towards Jasper and Edson, Alberta
First view of the top of Mt Robson, 12,500 plus. I'm going around this one
I started in here at 5500 and turned around. Climbed to 7500 and headed on through.
Robson coming up. Chart say leave it to port
After this shot I put the camera away and concentrated on the flying thing. Mechanical turbulence was not toooo bad since it was 8AM, but it sure get your attention when the rockies are this close. This is not cropped.
Edmonton AB, at last. Low ground form here to Home
Great airport, Nice people. Left my coat, but did not go back. Bumps and headwind almost all the way home and I could not stand retracing 15 miles to pick it up when Tom call me on the radio.
This was an overnight stop. It made the national news the next morning
When this balloon left for a record setting parachute jump, 130,000 feet, without the jumper. Opps
The only night inside a hangar on the whole trip. She will never forgive me!
Freighter loads in Superior Wisconsin
Tailing ponds from an iron ore mine near Republic, Mi. We are in the correct state and are covering 105MPH.Wahoo.
A river near Manistique, Mi that cannot decide where it wants to go
19.8 miles form the turn south to cross the Straits of Mackinac. Engadine is where I told people I was going. Then id I was having fun I'd just point here NW and see how far I ended up. I'm loafing now because I am early for arrival.
Interdunal swales and old beach lines along US 2 in the UP of Mi. 7,500 feet to stay out of the dreaded bumps
Taken from the South side of the Mackinac Bridge, I am really close now
Low pass over the taxiway. Wheels are down and locked
Last landing, Number 38 of the trip
Home and pleased to be there.
Both my girls love being in the hangar. Over 5800 miles, 38 landings, none on water, but I would take the floats if I go again because they add a safety margin. 82 engine hours, no mechanical problems. THAT's ALL FOLKS!!!
The four reasons I flew to Juneau, Ak.
