To Alaska on Straight Floats

 

The last two summers we have taken our Cessna 180 on EDO 2960s to Alaska. The 2000 trip started in Seattle, to the north end of Vancouver Island, and then up to Skagway and back. The 2001 trip went past Skagway to Northway and back through Watson Lake and Nimpo Lake in the interior of British Columbia. Both trips were in July or August and both were around three weeks. We had planned to go further in 2001 but the weather forced us to stop at Northway.  N888FF Has the Kenmore STC which gives us a useful load of 1075 pound on floats. With the back seat out, 80 gallons of fuel, and two of us, we have 250 pounds left over for luggage, camping and survival equipment. Being able to fly at a gross weight of 3190 is critical to make this trip work. Going with less fuel is possible but increases the risk and complicates the planning.

 

In the last 2 years we have come to the following conclusions on flying to Alaska on floats. Knowing the 180/185 group I am sure that many of you will not agree. Being a 180 pilot, I don’t care. Lessons learned:

 

1.      The first year the plan should be to go from Seattle to Skagway. There are endless places to go in southeast Alaska. The whole trip can be done camping, Forest Service Cabins or Bed and Breakfast. We end up doing a combination of the above. Allow at least three weeks and expect to get weathered in for a few days a couple of times.

2.      The basic route goes from Renton Washington, Campbell River BC, Port Hardy, Bella Bella, Prince Rupert, Ketchikan, Wrangle, Juneau and then Skagway. All of the above, except Skagway, have excellent moorage and fuel. The advantage of this route are as follows:

2.1.     The whole route is at sea level. This is a big deal when the ceiling is at 500 ft a lot the time. Because of the height of the mountains it is almost impossible to file IFR because you will be in an icing condition.

2.2.     There is no problem getting fuel at cost lower than in the US. You could do this trip without long range tanks. Cheap fuel is available in Juneau and Ketchikan which act as hub for day trips or camping re supply points.

2.3.     This part of Alaska is equipped for float planes. There are thousands of them. Get the Alaska airport facility directory, which is called the Supplement and is Orange. The reason for the difference is because they are from Alaska and they do not like rules. Also get the Canada Water Aerodrome Supplement. These books will give you every dock and fuel point you will need.

2.4.     It is by far the safest route.

2.5.     There are 10 times more places to go than you have days to go there.

3.      We take the following equipment:

3.1.     40 pound survival bag.

3.2.     Sleeping bags and air mattress.

3.3.     One suit case each. Has wheels and can be worn as a pack. Temperatures go down to 35 at night and a maximum of 75 during the day. Normally between 45 and 65. These are the temperatures for Southeast Alaska in the summer. Take good rain gear.

3.4.     Food bag

3.5.     Clothes bag, used for dirty clothes.

3.6.     Tent

3.7.     Bag for dishes and stove

3.8.     12 gauge shot gun

3.9.     Fishing equipment.

3.10. Life raft.

3.11. Tie down ropes and rope with block and tackle.

3.12. Flight Bag

4.      If you look at a chart from the end of Vancouver Island to Skagway there are endless islands. At low altitude it is difficult to figure what island is what. We have a moving map on a Garmin 530 and load a Topo map in Garmin 295. The 295 is critical. Most of the trip VOR navigation does not work because you are flying so low. The 295 gives me the confidence to fly up a channel with a 500 foot ceiling. I would not go to Alaska without a 295 or equivalent. The bush pilots do not always use them because they know the area, we do not.

5.      The best part of this area is the Tongass National Forest cabin system. Go to web site www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass to get all the details. The cabins cost 25 to 55 dollars a night and some come with 14 foot aluminum boats. All of the ones we have been to have been in beautiful lakes with no access except by float planes. I could spend the whole summer going from cabin to cabin. Take a good air mattress, some of the cabins have wood bunks. I have a National Forest map (R10-RG-49 1992) This map was purchased in 2001 so I assume it is still current. It gives you all the details of the cabins in one chart. You can also get details at www.reserveusa.com. The great thing about the lake cabins is that the only way you can get there is by seaplane. That insures that you will have privacy. At the reserveusa.com site there is a list of cabins between Southeast Alaska and Anchorage, I have not been to them and they do not seem to be as organized as the ones in Southeast Alaska. Avoid cabins that have access by boat.

6.      The best place to get fuel is at Juneau and the second best is Ketchikan. In 2001 I paid $2.10 a gallon in Juneau and $2.19 in Ketchikan. When I got back to Renton Washington I paid $2.69, go figure. I get my fuel from Aero Services at both locations. If you have to go into town they will lend you a car for free, you replace the gas. This applies to Juneau only. If you arrive late you can usually get the car over night. Their phone number is 1 888 AVN FUEL. You can also get reservations and car rentals.

7.      All the towns that we have landed at in Southeast Alaska have had good moorage with the exception of Skagway. This is a difficult place to land when the wind is blowing and the wind is always blowing. The trick is to land near the big cruise ships tied at the dock. It is usually calm there. The next critical step is take the first right going down the moorage slips. We missed this one and almost ended up on the beach due to inadequate turn around area. Fly over the docks and check it out before you try to land. I would call the Port Manager to make sure you have a spot. The reason to go to Alaska is to avoid the crowds and the tourist traps but this one is exception to this rule. The train from Skagway to the top of the pass and back is important history.  The mining of this area was the dot com bust of the turn of the century. Worth the trip even for the most hardened opinionated Skywagon pilot.

8.      The other tourist place to go is Glacier National park. There is a great National Park Lodge which allows you to tie up but not over night. Go for lunch and fly up to Glacier and land in the icebergs. We have tried to tie to one and put the camera on a tripod and take a picture. After almost losing me and the camera in the water we looked for different photo ops.

9.      The gun question. We are not gun people except when we out in the sticks in Canada or Alaska. Two years ago there were no rules in Canada, last year it was fill out a bunch of forms and pay 75 dollars. This year I think they have made it more strict. Check with Canada before you take a gun in and make sure you understand what type of gun can be used. We have never been bothered by a bear or other wild animal but if we are I want to make sure that the odds are in my favor.

10.  We never make reservations until we know we can get there. The cost of canceling a cabin or a room is not worth the hassle. We have never had a problem getting a cabin on the day of arrival. 90 percent of the time we get our first choice.

11.  We fly in weather conditions that are far worse than conditions in the lower 48. Most of the time we are over water or within eye sight of it. This allows us to drop in on the lea side of the land and wait tell it clears. When flying in conditions like this it is important to have your plane well lit. We have a tail beacon, strobes, and pulsating wingtip landing lights. The first thing you see when a plane comes out of the mist is the pulsating lights. Andrea, my flying partner, will fly in conditions that are worse than I will take my plane. If you fly with a screamer don’t take her to Alaska.

12.  If you are flying from White Horse to Fairbanks you go through customs at Yeager Lake, which is about 10 miles from Northway. For many this is a critical fuel point. The fuel truck at Northway will go out and fuel you for the cost of fuel plus 35 dollars.

13.  Flight plans are required in Canada and are highly recommended in Alaska, we never fly without one. When you fly into a lake that you are going to stay at you can include it in the flight plan that you will be there for X number of days. Normally you can not radio out after you land. Take a cell phone to file flight plans.  Because the Cell towers are on the top of mountains your phone they might work in the sticks.

 

If you have questions send me an email to below address

 
tombass@msn.com
Tom Bass

 

Copyright 2002, by Thomas M Bass, Bellevue Washington.