Now that we have so much room to explore, how about a topic devoted to great flights you'd recommend others try?

I had two great experiences in Merrill Pass and Lake Clark Pass, both to the west of Anchorage across Cook Inlet. I'd recommend these flights to anyone wanting to try flying down low through mountain passes. Here are the routes to fly, if you'd like to try them:

 

 

Recommended climate is Spring, so you've still got some snow but it's not all boring solid white.

I am only about half way through this flight myself, but so far it has been quite a challenge.

I decided to recreate the 1925 serum run to Nome. I took off from Nenana at 04:00 on January 28, 1925 (the serum actually arrived at 21:00 on the 27th, but I didn’t want to fly the whole trip at night). From there, follow the Tanana river until it merges with the Yukon, then follow the Yukon all the way down to Kaltag. Then fly SW through the Mountains until you hit the coast near the town of Unalakleet, turn north and follow the cost up to Norton bay. Cut across the bay and then follow the cost to Nome. Total trip should be something like 550nm.

I am doing all this in stormy weather in the Stearman, so I have to follow the terrain closely or I will get lost very easily.

I am only about half way through this flight myself, but so far it has been quite a challenge.

I decided to recreate the 1925 serum run to Nome. I took off from Nenana at 04:00 on January 28, 1925 (the serum actually arrived at 21:00 on the 27th, but I didn’t want to fly the whole trip at night). From there, follow the Tanana river until it merges with the Yukon, then follow the Yukon all the way down to Kaltag. Then fly SW through the Mountains until you hit the coast near the town of Unalakleet, turn north and follow the cost up to Norton bay. Cut across the bay and then follow the cost to Nome. Total trip should be something like 550nm.

I am doing all this in stormy weather in the Stearman, so I have to follow the terrain closely or I will get lost very easily.

 

Didn't they use dog sled's in the serum run to Nome? Never heard about planes in the serum run.

They did use dog sleds. There were plans to try and use a plane, but it was decided to go with the dogs for the first batch of serum. For the second batch they tried to use a plane, but they couldn't get it to start.

Ok, just hadn't heard about the planes before. Fascinating part of Alaskan history. Do you know what plane they tried too use? Haven't had time to read the wiki article yet.

 

Sorry if its a bit OT

That would be the following:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_J

 

Hook

I had two great experiences in Merrill Pass and Lake Clark Pass, both to the west of Anchorage across Cook Inlet. I'd recommend these flights to anyone wanting to try flying down low through mountain passes.

 

Recommended climate is Spring, so you've still got some snow but it's not all boring solid white.

 

I just did a flight from Nikolai Creek to Port Alsworth, following the Lake Clark Pass. Awesome flight!!! The tip about spring was a good one: I didn't really fly during spring yet but from now on it will be my default season because you get the 'best of both worlds' that way! While I was flying I actually thought that this pass alone is worth the 15 dollars spend on Alaska!

 

I've posted some screenshots here:

 

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/378381-flight-alaska-lake-clark-pass/

Thanks for the Merrill and Lake Clark Pass, did this flights with 6 other guys in a Cub. Awesome.

 

Thereafter we did this Trip:

You just need to follow the Denali Highway.

 

 

I consulted the Juneau sectional at Skyvector.com and planned a VFR flight to Sitka (PASI), with low and threatening weather. I think the map should be studied before takeoff and kept handy. This is about an 80-90nm flight and while two VORs are in the area, I tried only to use visual references.

 

After takeoff, fly SE down Favorite Channel to Young Bay, then SW across Hawk Inlet.

 

Into Chatham Straight, turn south but hug the western coastline. I had to carefully study the map to choose a route through rather than over the tops of the mountains, although a climb to about 3000ft is still needed for a short time.

 

After passing Catherine Island, it's time to locate Warm Spring Bay (BNF) seaplane base. Enter this inlet and continue on heading 240. Some miles ahead is an obvious mountain col (a dip in the ridge line). 3000ft will get you safely over the top. From there you can descend at your discretion and exit the hills into Silver Bay. Sitka is a few miles to NW. I tried my best to only use the sectional, but must confess I was confused a couple times and resorted to the M key.

 

Well, I had some fun, hope you do too.

 

Now to get back...but a different route beckons.

You just need to follow the Denali Highway.

 

Yes, that's a nice one too: you can also simply pick a road or river and follow it from one airport to another (providing they are along the same road or river). In that case you won't need GMap or whatever at ALL!

 

This afternoon I did two more flights following valleys with a river. It's great flying on visual references only! I do keep GMap running in the background though, just in case I'm not sure with 'way' to take where there are more options. This 'saved my life' twice already today.

Here is another nice one. In general all mountain passes are very nice. This is a nice pearl.

 

Ptarmigan Pass

 

From McGrath via Tatitna to Rainy Pass Lodge

 

 

Great flights! Keep them coming! I randomly picked an airport this morning (Valdez, PAVD) and flew a job to Anchorage in spring. I was really impressed with the photoreal mountain textures. Valdez is a stunning setting in a valley with the ocean nearby.

I did a VFR flight just using the sectional as a map in the Maule from PABI Ft. Greely to PATK Talkeetna. I was trying to stay under 3,000. I failed at that as I hit 3,100 a few times when I got lost. I flew in the middle of winter with clear skies starting in the morning.

 

The yellow line is the planned course. The red circle is where I got lost and went the wrong way. When I got to the pass that the red line starts in the red circle I reestablished my position. There is a runway in that pass that I was able to match up on the sectional. I turned around and flew south west along the red line until I was back on course.

 

 

<p>Loving this thread.

 

Heimi, how'd you get the Skyvector map in the page like that? I tried with the link they supply, buit when I previewed the page aftr writing a post it had four placeholder squares at each corner but no chart..

 

Do i have to choose a special kind of code with the code button?

 

Keep 'em coming!

 

Try Tok Junction (PFTO) to Tyonek via Gulkana and the Tahneta pass..Awesome contryside..jeez Alaska is empty LOL

 

I'll try again:

 

[url="http://skyvector.com/"]Flight Planner[/url] at SkyVector.com

 

LOL - ok, see what I mean?

 

I posted this:

<div id="sv_1123" style="width: 200px; height: 200px;"><a href="

 

EDIT: it's not even posting what I posted now

 

 

And again...

 

http://skyvector.com/?ll=61.81042330040674,-147.9289498510824&chart=39&zoom=2&plan=A.PF.PFTO:G.63.191435165596076,-143.06902240012766:G.63.129394201621125,-143.25448506870398:G.63.07788145024047,-143.407995182525:G.63.11203985987338,-143.5832039699986:G.63.11870792368149,-143.63540882068955:G.62.9926562017297,-143.84707368762355:G.62.97512261503182,-143.9561387006462:G.63.0337093866856,-144.28998265182142:G.62.881041381240074,-144.63454281678165:A.PA.PAGK:G.61.935145590348206,-147.02645751461196:G.61.916446708125626,-147.29907641040634:G.61.820973337380295,-147.42380308295634:G.61.79347001848404,-147.8127805793156:G.61.80540770624311,-148.15290439381704:G.61.78008827202271,-148.56297102201827:G.61.32914316483942,-150.68727480774956:A.PA.TYE