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Dear Friends
James and I arrived home this evening. What an amazing adventure we had. Thanks for following along with us. Let me know if you enjoyed the pictures and if you might plan a trip to Alaska in the future.
Steve


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Location:N Hartmoor St,Wichita,United States

In Seattle. Home Sunday.


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Location:Seattle's Space Needle

We arrived in Ketchikan last night after a long and difficult flight from Anchorage.   We had rain and low clouds all the way.  Not normally a problem but this is Alaska.  The minimum altitude because of high terrane was 7,000.  We encounter moderate icing about 1 hour south of Anchorage but ATC would not let us reduce our altitude because of concerns with ground clearance.  We had to cancel our IFR flight plan and descend over the ocean.  When the ice melted it came off in sheets.  We could hear the sheets hitting the tail of the plane.  I would estimate we were about 10 miles off shore at one point.  Water temps in the 40's.  The airport at Ketchikan sits in a bowl with mountains on both sides of the approach.  So when we arrived at Ketchikan we found a 500 foot ceiling and rain.  Made an ILS approach to rw 11.  Not perfect but it got us down safely.

Ketchikan's weather for the next several days is bad.  Work on Monday.  I am ready.

Some more pics from Glacier Cruise and Bear Watch

08/01/12 Bear Watching at Anchorage Alaska

07/27/12 Halibut Fishing at Homer

I have a new satellite tracking device that allows you to follow our flight across a map.  The website is:

http://share.delorme.com/?MapId=c3915c84efd94b59a9f3709daaf4c735

Weather delays

It's Wednesday morning in Anchorage.  As you may recall, our guide's plane crashed a few days ago so we are "leaderless."

The original itinerary called for leaving Anchorage today for Ketchikan. That's about 6 hours of traveling. Then Friday, it calls for another 6 hours of flying to Olympia, Wash. Then 6 more hours to Rock Springs, Wyo., and on home Sunday.

We woke to terrible weather. Low ceilings and rain. The freezing level is 6,000 feet. We must climb to 10,000 feet to clear the mountain passes, so here we sit likely until Saturday. There is a stalled low pressure area over this region.

Respect the bear

Alaskan female brown bear. Approximately 700 lbs.  We found her about 150 miles north of Anchorage fishing for salmon.  The brown bears are much larger than the Grizzlys and very aggressive. We viewed her from the safety of a boat.

07/26/12 Fairbanks to Homer

Meet up!

Kai arrived last night about 11:30pm in Anchorage. The sun was just setting. We are planning several days of sight seeing including a drive to the Matanuska Glacier about 50 miles away. She will leave for home on United Wednesday night. James and I leave for Ketchikan Wednesday morning.

07/24/12 Whitehorse to Fairbanks

07/27/12 Homer Alaska

At the Salty Dawg Saloon for some hot dogs and beer.



A cool and unique pub.  The interior was covered with dollar bills each with its own story to tell.

Homer's local brewed beer.  Light easy going taste with an extremely hoppie flavor.

Homer Airport, Alaska, July 26, 2012

Denali Mountains

Plane crash!

A near tragedy today when one of the planes in our group crashed on take-off from Fairbanks.  Both escaped serious injury but were hospitalized.  James and I waited in Fairbanks until we were sure everyone was OK then left for Homer on an IFR flight plan.  The flight took us 3 hours.  Good weather until we reached Homer which was under a low cloud cover.  Started an instrument approach but broke out on final.  

Mt. McKinley and IFR flights

Flying by Mt. McKinley today which is the highest Mountain in North America.  It is very unusual for the top to be visible because of clouds.  We were at 11,000 on an IFR flight plan.


IFR, or Instrument Flight Rules (as opposed to Visual Flight Rules, VFR), are rules governing the procedures for conducting instrument flight.  IFR flying governs flights under conditions in which flight by outside visual reference is not safe. We fly by reference to instruments in the flight deck, and navigation is accomplished by reference to electronic signals. It is also a term used by pilots and controllers to indicate the type of flight plan an aircraft is flying, such as an IFR or VFR flight plan.

James after our flight to Homer.  And IFR approach was required.  

Fairbanks

 

07/23/12 Prince George - Whitehorse

One of the planes in our group landing (for fun) on the Alaskan Highway.

Another amazing view south of Fairbanks

Another view along the route to Fairbanks

The Alaskan Highway headed into Fairbanks

Arrived in fairbanks

Arrived in Fairbanks after six days of travel

North of Prince George, BC, to Whitehorse in the Yukon

These pictures are all from our travels today.  About 700 miles north of Prince George, BC to Whitehorse in the Yukon.  We are traveling in a group of 13 airplanes.  Fun people.  It was a beautiful beautiful trip.

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