Folks
I am going to post a little about my trip to Alaska on Amphib floats this summer - 2016
I hope I am able to share some of the planning, gear lists, and lessons learned along the way so that you might find some useful info here and will perhaps be able to save a little time, money, frustration, and work if you make a similar journey yourself. In many ways the genesis for this trip goes way way back. I'm not really sure when, but somewhere in my youth, perhaps 6th or 7th grade, I seem to have developed a fascination with the North Country. Wendy (on the site here) and I were visiting once and she coined the term "Your magnetic compass just points North" I have never really had any desire to go South (for vacation, to live, or anything else), I'm not sure why, but I always seem to want to go North. Years ago we did the Alaska Cruise and that just absolutely cemented my desire to fly a floatplane in Alaska. It has taken a bunch of years and a pretty focused desire, but that dream is finally being realized.
So lets take an EPIC trip to Alaska in a floatplane. Not a week long trip but the better part of three months.
We are going to visit and stay in the Forest Service Dept Cabins. A fellow floatplane pilot, Tom Bass, has put together a fantastic website for these cabins. I'm sure it took a huge amount of work, and it is the "Bible" for flying to these great Cabins. Here is the link http://www.publiclakecabinsak.com
Here is a list of the gear the was packed and the associated weights.............(my notebook arrives tomorrow and I'll update this)
There are a number of categories.
Clothing - 14pds
Personal - 4
Electronics - 5.7
Survival Vest - 3.8
Camping - 26.1
Cooking - 16.6
Fishing - 9.0
Tools - 15.0
Airplane - varies
Medical Kit - 3.2
CLOTHING - (close to 20 pounds with the backpack set up)
Wear - Jeans, boots, ball cap, belt, wallet (put in Survival vest so don't sit on it), notebook and pen/pencil in pocket
Jacket
Rain Jacket, rain pants
Underwear
T-Shirts
Socks
waterproof boots
Tilley Hat (or something like it, you will want a hat with a brim all the way around to keep the bug net off your neck)
gloves, stocking cap (watch cap)
1 pair Jeans (probably wearing), 1 Pair cargo pants like Prana
Long sleeve shirts (recommend for bugs and sun, can always roll selves up)
Thermals (it can be cold even in summer, and it is a wet cold)
Handkerchiefs (Bandanas)
Small backpack for day hikes - I had a dry set of clothes in here in a waterproof bag.
PERSONAL(4 pounds - this is basically your dity kit)
Passport, SWA (United) ID, License, Canpass,
Razor, shave cream
Toothbrush, toothpaste
Floss
Lip balm
Sun Screen
Tweezers, nail clippers,
Shower Bag
Soap (biodegradable)
Towel and wash cloth
Ear Plugs
Prescriptions
Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Antibiotics, pain killer, anti diarrhea, EpiPen, etc
Sunglasses
Pocket Knife
ELECTRONICS(6 pounds - also had a battery we could use to charge other batteries - very handy!!)
Phone with charger, cable to connect to computer
Ipad Mini with charger ( the back seater will use this with foreflight)
Camera, SD cards, case, tripod, foot, with charger
GoPro with two batteries, dual charger, filter, mount, cable to connect to computer, remote, SD cards
Headsets with spare batteries (AA), cord to connect to phone for music
Laptop, charger, passwords
Cords to connect all devices including jumper cables
Handheld Aviation radio, Sat Phone, In Reach
SURVIVAL VEST(3.8 pounds)
Signal Mirror
Compass
Space Blanket (A Contractor heavy duty lawn and leaf bag is better)
Leatherman
Blast Match, Slow Burn items (vaseline cotton balls)
Spare glasses
Toilet Paper
Pen and paper
Delorme InReach (I will have this, but you might consider a PLB)
Headlight flashlight
Headnet
Bug Spray
Water purification Tablets
Small medicine bag (additional stuff in airplane) bandaids, gauze, tape, alcohol wipes, tweezers, some medicines
Lip Balm
Trash Bags
Israeli bandage
Bear spray
CAMPING(26 pounds - this is basically gear for two folks)
Tent (7.45 ads with ground cover, extra stakes, etc)
Ground cover
Tarp 2.75 pds
Chairs 5.0
Sleeping Bag 4.1 w/ pillow
Air Mattress 2.6
Pillow
Ax 1.7
Shotgun, shells, sling 11.2
Trash bags
soft side cooler
Toilet Paper - put in water proof baggie
Parachute cord
COOKING (16.6 pds)
Two Jet boils - with extra fuel canisters
Grill small lightweight
Cups, plates, silverware,
Paper towels, dish towel
Tea, sugar,
Pots, skillet, handle, Utensils, SOS pad
Water purifier
Water bottles
Oatmeal Breakfast packets
Energy Bars
Fish Prep materials, batter, salt, pepper, spices
Tin Foil, baggies,
Mountain House meals (separate 7 pound bag as a wx backup)
FISHING(9.0 pds)
Canada outdoor card, Fishing Licenses (we will get that when you arrive)
Spinning Rod and Reel, 10 pound test
Filet Knife
Stringer
Net
Lures
Fly Rod, reel, flies
Nail clippers, pliers, fish glove,
TOOL KIT(15.0 pds)
Wrenches 1/4 to 9/16
1/4" drive sockets - 1/4 to 9/16
couple of socket extensions
Spark plug socket and 3/8 drive using a 3/8 to 1/2 adapter
3/4 socket (3/8 drive) for prop bolts
Side cutters
Allen wrenches
Flashlight
File
Tire Pressure gauge
Small wire brush
vice grips
hammer (Part of the Claw tie down kit - weighs 9 pounds)
screwdrivers (2 straight, 2 philips, 1 really small for "D" connectors)
crescent wrench
hacksaw (small size)
water pump pliers
Have Leatherman in Survival vest
Safety wire
Spark plug
Spare Gas Cap
Duct Tape
Rescue tape
Zip ties
electrical wire, connectors,
Spare fuses
two large hose clamps
Scotchbrite and sandpaper
Single edge razor blades
coat hangar
spare float plugs
baggie w/ JB weld, locktight, grease, WD40, sealant, hand cleaner (all small sizes))
Baggie w/ misc hardware - bolts, nuts, washers, cotterpins, screws, etc
Surgical gloves
Duct Tape
Gloves
AIRPLANE GENERAL
Tool Kit - 15
Bucket (cleaning stuff for Trade Show Prep) w/ rags, comet, acetone, alcohol, pledge, toothbrush, acid brushes, 6.4
Sand Spikes - one large, one small, 3 float bumpers, 4.4
Ropes (2 100' lengths), 2 x 50' length, and two 15'
Claw Tie Down kit 9.0
Engine and wing Covers (did not take 18.0)
Dryer hose for preheater (did not take)
Oil = Philips 20W-50, 3 quarts, filters, drain hose 8.3
5606 Hyd Fluid
Silicon spray - nose gear
Grease gun (included in tool kit)
Waders 3.5 x 2
Sealant 3M 5200
Float Pump
Spare Key in Inspection cover
Door Allen Wrench
Magnet to retrieve dropped tools out of water
Charts, Canada Supplement,
Anchor bag (Basketball net)
Life Jackets
MEDICAL KIT
(I can't find my list - I will try to get it and update this in the future)
Ibuprofen
Tylenol
Bandaids
ACE bandage
Epi pen
NyQuil
Israeli bandage
I had/have a waterproof food bag just in case we got weathered in a cabin for several days - Mountain House, Oatmeal etc - 7 pounds
There is more to add to this post, and I will,as soon as I retrieve my notes. So be sure to come back to this entry as it will change and be improved upon.
PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
Get a CANPASS
Sign up for EAPIS
Get your DTOPS sticker
Take your Passport - check expiration date
(be sure you have all your passwords and log in info for these accounts)
Plan Customs Crossing (they are not all 24 hour operations). If you show up at 1800 hrs they may not be there, even though you are thinking there is 4 more hours of daylight and you plan to keep going. The guys at Northway work 8 to 5, but they have to drive an hour to meet you there so they will only clear you from 9 to 4.
When does you medical expire?
When does your CFI expire (bummer to be in Alaska and realize it is going to expire)
You must have a permanent Acft Registration to cross into Canada - (Temp will not work without special procedures paperwork etc)
Get sectionals
Stop mail, forward, and/or have someone pay your bills
Soak clothes, tent, tarps, in Permethrin. This is a common technique in the Canoeing community. It helps keep bugs off, kinda like buying the bug proof shirts and stuff at Cabelas. No known side effects. Will last through several machine washings.
Check your insurance is up to date. Life, acft (put a copy in the airplane), health, etc
Make sure you have all your passwords. You have no idea what will crop up in a two or three month trip. Trust me......it will.
Spray waterproofer on boots
Update "foreflight" and make sure you have all the appropriate charts
Make sure you have an appropriate weight and balance in the airplane (i.e. if on floats - make sure it includes floats)
Update your GPS (both the unit itself, and also the download database)
Make sure your annual on the plane will not expire
Load music on phone, iPad, iPod or whatever. It is nice to listen to on a long trip/leg.
Take a spare set of glasses
Refill and take your prescription medications
Download all the manuals for your plane, camera, iPad, GoPro, Radio, etc into iBooks on your iPad. I had my Pmag manuals, headset manuals, GRT flight manuals, float parts manual, etc. Very handy!!!
Be sure you have contact info for folks you want to meet or see on the way
Be sure you add Canada to your Foreflight account and download the charts
Get Sat phone, Spot, Delorme, Spidertracks. Set up the accounts. Get all your emergency contacts set up, list of folks in your tracker, run a test or two to get the bugs worked out, Keep up with passwords. This one is a big, time consuming project.
Check mode c currency
Make sure ELT is registered and info current - keep password and log in info
Get your GoPro mounted, set up, figured out, tested, etc etc - another big project. Make sure you have extra batteries, charger, ND8 filter, SD cards, and know how to use it all. Download the manual onto your iPad.
Give a list of emergency contacts to the person at home that will be tracking and looking after you. Make sure they have all maps, route, and personal info. May want to give power of attorney as well.
Update avionics. Things like these new radios can have software updates, GRT, Transponder, ELT, 796 etc
Get a cell phone plan that includes Canada and Alaska
Again this is just to get this thread started. I will update this post with a LOT more info.
Hope this helps
Bill
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