Summer... and a spate of good weather predicted for both Southcentral and Southeast Alaska. Time to fly! Along the "coastal route" through Yakutat: low-level coastal clouds and fog socked in everything for hundreds of miles, with the clouds going right up to the mountains of the coast, including up the Copper River Basin. I stopped for fuel in Gulkana (instead of Cordova) for that reason, and headed towards Yakutat not knowing what the weather would be like when I got there. Made radio contact with another pilot about 20 minutes ahead of me along the same route, who could scope out the weather and help me design my options: smaller airstrips that were accessible through gaps in the clouds. Fortunately, the clouds cleared over Yakutat (and Malsapina Glacier) by the time I got there... ...and I was able to land, fuel up, have some lunch, and take off again -- for more VFR-on-top all the way past Mount Fairweather: Once I was able to turn inland, the clouds disappeared and all of Southeast opened up under clear skies! Landed at PAJN after 6.9 hours (much of which was VFR-on-top). The main reason I came is to visit my husband who is on a gig here for the week. However, while I'm here, I wouldn't pass up the chance to meet fellow PoA'er @AKBill and go see some of Juneau's tourist attractions. Here's Bill and Monkey, at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center: A few days later, Hubby had a day off and needed to get his airplane fix. So we went on a flightseeing trip around Glacier Bay NP and Taku Glacier. Bluebird day, and too many pictures to post here...
Alaska puts the adventure into flying. Actually, I think Alaska puts the adventure into just about everything. Overjoyed that you're doing so very well. I hope you're also kicking Science's six.
Someday. It's the only State in the US I have yet to set foot it. And the only one I haven't flown to that's reachable without ferry tanks.
Was just up there last week and it still blows me away how grand and beautiful the nature is there! Great pictures!
Cool! Yakutat is where I had most of my Alaska experience. My grandpa bought a place up there after he retired from farming and ended up turning it into a lodge. I spent the summers of ‘81 and ‘82 and Jan-Feb ‘85 working with him. I flew my Maule up there in maybe ‘96 before we sold the place, although I think my cousin and her husband are back up there managing it.
Glad you were able to get here and enjoy some of the great weather we've been having. Glacier Bay is some wonderful flying. If you're still here and have time, Sitka is a great quick destination. Very good airport restaurant and the most beautiful approaches you can imagine. Skagway is fun too.
Tami and I enjoyed visiting with you and Paul. Great pictures and write up. Hope you all have a smooth flight home.
Amazing voyage. I second the request for more photos if you can! The prospect of adventures like this make me want to sell the homestead in boring, flat IL and move to AK!
Amazing pics! Thanks for sharing both pics and write up. Alaska is on my bucket list….someday soon I hope.
Well, there's the little bugger. We visited Juneau on a cruise before covid. Really wish we had the ability to see more than a day, but I liked Juneau and the wife loved Ketchikan, probably because of the seaplane flight where I wasn't the pilot.
