Flying my Cessna 185 back to Alaska

May 2022 – Together with best friend Frode Kjems Uhre I flew my Cessna 185 back to Alaska along Vancouver Island, the western fjords of Canada and southern Alaska. Back in Talkeetna we stayed with nine friends from Denmark and did a few tours with overnight camping.

Fly and dive. First two days on our trip from Seattle (Paine Field) to Alaska (Talkeetna). First day was spent flying from Paine Field (KPAE) to Orcas Island (KORS) where we did all the flight planning for leaving US airspace and continuing into Canada. Once filed, we flew into Campbell River, Vancouver Island (CYBL) where second day was spent diving two famous cold water dive sites – Steep Island and Grouse Island.

Finally, back in Alaska after three years. We flew from Campbell River (CYBL) to Alert Bay (CYAL), a tiny island between mainland Canada and northern tip of Vancouver Island for lunch and flight planning for reentering into US airspace. We flew to Ketchikan (PAKT), first stop in Alaska and also stop for the night. Next morning, we flew to Sitka (PASI), probably the most beautiful approach in the world, and on the way, we circled Mount Edgecumbe a couple of times, a stunning volcano due west of Sitka. From Sitka on to a beach landing in Taylor Bay below Brady Glacier and then onto Dry Bay (3AK), a lonely strip in the bush where we camped for the night in nothing less than stunning weather.

And now, finally back in Talkeetna. After flying close by Mt. Logan, highest mountain in Canada and down the 200 km. Columbus and Bering Glacier. And camping for yet another night, this time on a beach south of Cordova (we also did some running and a quick swim in the ocean). And after flying into Lake Hood just for fun (and fuel) and without knowing they were exactly there, meeting nine friends from Denmark.

A few pictures from a trip from Talkeetna to the mouth of Yukon River via Rainy Pass. And back between Mt. Denali and Mt. Foraker at 15.000 feet…With landings at Tatiana (8KA), Mc Grath (PAMC), Kotlik (PFKO), Emmonak (PAEM), Alakanuk (PAUK), Nunam Iqua (SXP), St. Mary’s (PASM), Marshall Don Hunter (PADM), Russian Mission (PARM), Holy Cross (PAHC), Anvik (PANV) and Grayling (PAGX).

Alaska volcanoes… Pictures from a trip from Talkeetna to Kodiak Island over the volcanoes along western side of Cook Inlet. And back to Talkeetna via Homer where we stayed for one night. With landings on Port Lions (ORI), Kodiak (PADQ), Kodiak Municipal (PAKD), Homer (PAHO) and Wolf Lake (4AK6).