First part of AK summer flying

[zkelley2]

Figure I'd make a post with some of the flying I've done with my 4 place so far this summer around Alaska, mostly south central. Going back to early May.

First up is one of my favorite little strips in the vicinity of the Knik Glacier. The Knik valley gets a dumb amount of traffic on a weekend, but this one usually remains quiet, and just a 20-25min flight from home. I also drew a Moose tag for this area for this fall, so this'll be base camp. It's roughly 900ft long, so plenty to get a mgtow bearhawk out of.

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[zkelley2]

Here's a couple from a day I took a friend out to the Mud strip and then up to Talkeetna for lunch.

20200512_151942.jpgKnik Glacier in the background

20200512_161510.jpg Above the clouds, Foraker and Denali poking out.

[zkelley2]

Found a new spot near the entrance to Lake Clark Pass, new strip for me. Nice and long at about 1000ft, at little soft, but nothing the 8.00x6 can't handle.

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Stopped on the way back for a 5 gallon bucket of hooligan, which takes all of 30 seconds to catch on the banks of the big su.

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Fresh alaskan fish sticks.
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[Bcone1381]

When I first saw the fish I thought it looked like Bacon!!! Bacon with a net!!!!

[zkelley2]

Next we put 3 people, everything we could think of and fuel for a 500nm round trip to Tolovana Hot Springs(83AK). Bad weather just south of Windy Pass held us up most of the first day and we didn't land until 10pm. No issue with the midnight sun. A nice soak and all the beer we brought kept us up until nobody knows since you can't tell time this time of year.

This is when we finally made it through. It was -1C and snowing a bit, but nothing was sticking and there's a lot of airports along this route to divert to. I was happy I remembered to RainX my windshield before we left.

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Made it and my buddy with his Citabria showed up to make 4.
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There was no stale coffee, popcorn or cookies at this FBO.

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One of the Tubs. There's hot water coming out of the side of the hill and they pipe it into these tubs along with cold water from the creek. You mix them to the desired temperature.

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This is packed to leave. All the stuff, trash plus 3 adults. Fits fine. Was much lighter going out, having left many gallons of used beer behind.

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[zkelley2]

The following trip was out to Bear Glacier, near Seward for some paddle boarding and kayaking. I had a beautiful evening to head down. Clear enough to get above all the terrain, was rocking 135ktas at about 11GPH at 8.5k. Very happy with that.

Kenai Mountains, Harding Ice field in the distance.
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I hand delivered a Mooses tooth pizza to everyone. Bunch of friends, 3 airplanes(C185, PA18 and me) for this outing.

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Some seals watching us eat breakfast the next morning.

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A great drone shot of some kayaking around the glacial lake by one of the drone pilot's that came with. The glacier just had a major calving event before we got there.

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Weather always likes to turn at some point. In this case on the way home, above Kenai Lake.

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[zkelley2]

Next was a trip to Flat(FLT), a Gold Mining Ghost town with a very large BLM maintained runway. There's still active claims in the area.

First a stop at Tatina(8KA) and a night at the Rohn cabin on our way. We even have a dog along this time.
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On the banks of the Kuskokwim river, at the beginning of the airstrip. Good place to eat dinner.

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Rohn cabin. A stop on the Iditarod.

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Next is a bunch of photos from the ghost town.

3 Airplanes again, a cub, a C180 and the Bearhawk. The 207 was parked the whole time we were there.
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Wiley Post memorial. He crashed here, fixed the plane and continued on his round the world flight.
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[zkelley2]

Route structure when this place had scheduled service.

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Above the Alaska Range on the way home, getting that free speed.

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[John Bickham]

Thanks. Appreciate

[robcaldwell]

Inspiring!

[Nev]

Outstanding !

[johnb]

Thanks for the write-up!

[Pbruce]

Fantastic pictures, Z! Thanks for sharing. You must be having a blast. Boy does that ever make you want to get moving and get’er done!

[svyolo]

Hopefully I will see you up there next year. I will be in a yellow one. Thanks for the pics

[jetdriver]

Great pictures and story, thanks for sharing! Been to Anchorage a few times, looking forward to hitting the back country soon.

[jaredyates]

Love the posts, thank you!

[nborer]

Awesome! Alaska is definitely on my list of places to fly in my Bearhawk someday...