Anyone flown through Canada recently to AK

alaskan9974

alaskan9974

Pre-takeoff checklist
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alaskan9974
Wondering if it’s worth it to fly through Canada. I know some of you have made the trip this year. I have always just taken the coast, considering trying something new.

Picking up a plane on the east coast and was planning the coastal route, Bellingham to either Sitka or Yakutat depending on weather then over to Anchorage.

Haven’t been through Canada before is it worth the higher fuel prices and dealing with customs. I know they aren’t very gun friendly so guessing wed have to send them separately before crossing into Canada. Have heard customs in Northway have been hit or miss so that may mean a stop in Fairbanks instead, anything worth seeing in Canada on that route.
 
What's your range? Can you make direct KORS-PAKT? If so, no need to do the Customs with either country.
The scenery around Yakutat is breathtaking.
 
MountainDude said:
What's your range? Can you make direct KORS-PAKT? If so, no need to do the Customs with either country.
The scenery around Yakutat is breathtaking.
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Haven’t been to Orca island, last trip I did was Boeing field to Sitka, that worked out nice and was planning the same except out of Bellingham, I did Ketchikan the trip before and it was pretty busy I wanted to avoid that, Sitka was easier to get into town. About 800 miles with reserve.
 
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alaskan9974 said:
Wondering if it’s worth it to fly through Canada. I know some of you have made the trip this year. I have always just taken the coast, considering trying something new.

Picking up a plane on the east coast and was planning the coastal route, Bellingham to either Sitka or Yakutat depending on weather then over to Anchorage.

Haven’t been through Canada before is it worth the higher fuel prices and dealing with customs. I know they aren’t very gun friendly so guessing wed have to send them separately before crossing into Canada. Have heard customs in Northway have been hit or miss so that may mean a stop in Fairbanks instead, anything worth seeing in Canada on that route.
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I'd do it - But I haven't yet, I've just been looking into it recently.

Conditions seem to be very good for it right now. I was looking at fuel prices and running both the liters->gallons conversion and the CAD->USD conversion, and with the weak dollar, the fuel prices are actually competitive in some instances, which I have not seen before.

Also, I don't think they're unfriendly to guns, they're just differently regulated. I think there are some parts of Canada where it is highly recommended if not outright required that you carry a gun due to wildlife concerns.
 
I just got home a week ago from a 12 day Alaska/Canada adventure in my RV-8; going both north and south I ended up tracking the Cassiar highway route up to Whitehorse, then to Fairbanks... incredible scenery! For heading south from the ANC area I briefly considered the coastal route, but, the weather went crappy and shut that down... so I did Cordova-Yakutat-Skagway, then up to Whitehorse to clear back into CAN, then back down the Cassiar to Vancouver and Seattle area. Vernon, BC has "cheap" gas and friendly peeps. Smithers has friendly peeps and fuel, beautiful scenery headed N from there.

Canadian Customs is no big deal. For firearms, no handguns allowed, but long guns are permitted including stubby-ish shotguns. Just fill out the firearms declaration form RCMP 5589; on your first call to clear into Canada, mention the gun and Form 5589, pay $25. Done.

US Customs at both Northway and Skagway are reportedly sketchy on staffing, so your only reliable US Customs into AK would be Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks. I'm glad my RV has the range and speed to do Whitehorse to Fairbanks nonstop in 2:45...
 
I skipped Canada to avoid the customs and extra fees. As far as guns, I believe you can apply in advance to get approval to bring a handgun, and you need to get a US customs form for exiting the US with your handguns too so that when you re-enter they don’t think you’re an arms dealer.
 
You were right, Fuel prices really aren’t that bad at Whitehorse with the conversion.

How much of a wait time does customs typically add in Whitehorse and Fairbanks? No handgun, I usually fly with a AR or shotgun in the plane bears up here are no joke. I got the feeling a AR was no beuno in Canada though so that might have to get left behind.
 
Wait times for Canadian Customs is virtually nil; I've cleared 3 times at Whitehorse YXY, twice was just via phone to CANPASS, while my last stop I actually had two agents come out to meet me. Very fast and friendly.

Fairbanks will have agents meet you, park near the airline terminal gate 6. No real wait time since you set an arrival appointment time and they're expecting you... should take no more than 5-10 minutes.
 
When I planned the trip (didn't finish it), Canada had zero issue with shotguns. Just an extra form to fill out. I had a 12 gauge with bird/buck/slugs. I didn't bother with bringing anything semi-auto.
 
My experience going into Canada vs. back into US:

Entering Canada: lengthy personal interview, what are we doing, inspection of our vehicle, inspection of our guns, paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, finally convince officers we are, truly, in fact, headed to Alaska.

Entering back into US:
officer: “do you have any oranges”
Me: “oops, sorry yes”
Officer: “well, dig ‘em out.”
[dig out oranges and throw away]
Officer: “you’re good to go”
Me: “We have guns?”
Officer: “all good, move along”

God bless the USA
 
AA5Bman said:
My experience going into Canada vs. back into US:

Entering Canada: lengthy personal interview, what are we doing, inspection of our vehicle, inspection of our guns, paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, finally convince officers we are, truly, in fact, headed to Alaska.

Entering back into US:
officer: “do you have any oranges”
Me: “oops, sorry yes”
Officer: “well, dig ‘em out.”
[dig out oranges and throw away]
Officer: “you’re good to go”
Me: “We have guns?”
Officer: “all good, move along”

God bless the USA
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That’s possible for any county if you are not a citizen. My coworker who’s European has been in US immigration extended questioning so often he should have some sort of loyalty reward or something.

Also you know we have to keep up stuff to try and avoid the idiotic fentanyl tariffs. Not that it is working cause it’s never logical anyways.

We have a handgun (and I think bans on various types of guns that aren’t hunting related) ban. Best to check if you are allowed to carry one in.

Import and export a firearm or weapon into Canada.

List of prohibited weapons, firearms classification and information to import and export weapons.
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

See above especially for prohibited firearms.

List of said firearms:

Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted

Federal laws of Canada
laws-lois.justice.gc.ca laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
 
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AA5Bman said:
My experience going into Canada vs. back into US:

Entering Canada: lengthy personal interview, what are we doing, inspection of our vehicle, inspection of our guns, paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, finally convince officers we are, truly, in fact, headed to Alaska.

Entering back into US:
officer: “do you have any oranges”
Me: “oops, sorry yes”
Officer: “well, dig ‘em out.”
[dig out oranges and throw away]
Officer: “you’re good to go”
Me: “We have guns?”
Officer: “all good, move along”

God bless the USA
Click to expand...
Interesting. Ever since 9/11 it's gotten worse on both sides, but IME far worse on the US side.

Before 9/11, Canada was always the same four questions: Where ya from, where ya goin', what are ya doin', do you have any firearms, have a nice trip. And coming back to the US from Canada was sometimes as simple as "welcome home."

Coming back into the US now, though, can really be a pain.
 
I've done both the US and Canada a few times; Canada is easier and more welcoming by far, but I've never had a terrible US experience either. I'm a citizen of neither.
 
Katamarino said:
I've done both the US and Canada a few times; Canada is easier and more welcoming by far, but I've never had a terrible US experience either. I'm a citizen of neither.
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Well my coworker is white with an African wife from Ivory Coast and mixed kids who aren’t his. I haven’t asked but I suspect the surnames are all different. They are all on Belgium passports so you’d think that shouldn’t raise suspicion. For whatever reasons a trip via land crossing for them is always hours of waiting and questioning when they cross over to the states.

In contrast I have never been troubled by US customs. And EU has been pretty easy as well. Although some EU countries connecting and re-clearing security is annoying. Everyone gets a dose of radiation from the body scanners at the UK for example.
 
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