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Alaska

2005-07-19 18:34:55.221772+00 by meuon 4 comments

Wow. Alaska's range of incredible landscapes really needs to be seen by air to appreciate it. Nancy's in the plane to the left. In some places, it's like another planet. Friends took us on an amazing expedition, 3 very small planes, several glaciers, a semi-active volcano, river canyons whose angry waters make the Ocoee and Gauley look like placid lakes.

Dan, if you get a chance to do some tree-top flying, whatever the cost. Take it. The smaller and slower the plane, the better.

[ related topics: Interactive Drama Photography Coyote Grits Aviation Space & Astronomy Chattanooga Alaska ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2005-07-19 19:39:55.043918+00 by: Dan Lyke

We're going to be over different terrain than you guys, but, yeah, we're dropping a bunch of bucks on some serious helicopter time.

And that first shot shows you weren't flying with a couple of weekend duffers...

#Comment Re: made: 2005-07-20 17:30:31.57342+00 by: meuon

Funny, I just realized I only saw a couple of helicopters near Anchorage. Probably expensive to operate compared to most of the smaller planes. And no, not weekend duffers, guys who do 2000+ mile trips in small planes over that kind of terrain are serious and talented.

#Comment Re: made: 2005-07-20 17:37:54.198466+00 by: Dan Lyke

Yeah, fixed wing is a lot cheaper to operate. Our helicopter choice is mostly because of where they'll put us down in between flights, but if we can find a way to log some fixed wing time, I'm totally game for that.

Out where we'll be I suspect it'll be floats and not those killer big balloon tires on the plane in your picture, mostly because I think the terrain we'll be around is more mountains and water open year 'round.

#Comment Re: made: 2005-07-21 11:54:17.858314+00 by: jeff

I can wholeheartedly recommend spending money on airtime while up there. My friends and I chartered a small single-engine plane at the tiny airfield near McCarthy. Our Australian woman pilot took us on a fantastic flight through parts of the Wrangell-Elias range. Some of the best money I've ever spent on a trip! Perspectives you just can't find from the ground! -- Jeff