Rusk in Alaska on Floats

[Bill Rusk]

Folks

I am back in Alaska bumming around the SE on floats for the 8th year in a row. (Well, sorta but not really, I spent a year working Wrangell St Elias) and I just wanted to encourage all you cub types to hand in there if building, or keep it up if already flying. It is worth all the effort. It can take you places no one else can, or will, go.

Stayed a couple of nights at the Turner Lake West Cabin. This is probably the coolest cabin in the system.



My friend from old Air Force days and also Southwest Airlines days came up to experience Alaska.



Look who we bumped into in Ketchikan. L-R Bob Breeden flying on floats from Florida. Jay. Brian and Dan DuFault flying on floats up from Maine.
We had a gaggle of 4 Supercub.org guys in Cubs on floats in Alaska. That was pretty cool.



Mt cousin from Texas came up and spent a week with me. He caught dinner. Note the airplane and cabin in the background.




Yours truly. I have been Blessed indeed. I LOVE this Cub. Off the water on a glassy surface (not max gross but pretty heavy) in 15 seconds. The Wip floats on a Supercub is just the best thing EVER.



At the Hasselborg Lake, Big Shaheen Cabin.

Keep building guys. It is worth it.


Bill

[The Kid]

Bill,

What was the DA when you had your 15 second run do you think about?

[tedwaltman1]

We need to do a trip on wheels together up there Bill ��������. Headed up in a few weeks…

[hotrod180]

Calendar-worthy pic if ever I've seen one.

[Bill Rusk]

Dave - probably about zero. Lake at 600’ msl and 55 degrees OAT.

Doug - yes, I would like that. Maybe next summer. I need a wheel trip.


maintenance day in Juneau.



Jim’s lake cabin view

[Bill Rusk]

We had a little float plane fly in but weather kept a lot of folks away. Oh well....it was fun for all who made it.



At the Alexander Lake Cabin



The Red Bay Lake cabin on Prince of Wales Island

Bill

[Colorguns]

We need to do a trip on wheels together up there Bill ��������. Headed up in a few weeks…

Ted

I'm heading up August 3rd till end of September, I'll be in the Iliamna area.

Doug

[Bill Rusk]

My friend Barrie from Australia on a hike near Swan Lake Cabin. A huge downfall prevented us from getting to the Shelter which was the goal of the hike. Still.....it was worth it just to see the scenery.




This waterfall is right behind the Manzanita Cabin.




The view from the front door of the Salmon Bay Lake Cabin




Jay DeRosier and me living the dream



Heading up the Canyon in "Fords Terror Wilderness"




In Misty Fiords National Monument.



A playful waitress in the Skagway Saloon.



The Baranof Lake Cabin. And yes, the water really is that color

[acroeric]

Bill- you need to write a book. A chapter for each year. Thank you so much for posting the pictures!

[Bill Rusk]

The Forest Service chartered a Beaver to work on the Swan Lake Cabin and we had a little crossover time. My little toy next to the classic Beaver.






Mark built a Javron Cub and flew it to Alaska last summer. This year he and his friend June came up and spent a week with me. It took a few ferry flights to make it work but it worked well and we all had a great time. This was Junes first experience on floats and in the SE part of Alaska.










Its all about the people. I have been so Blessed to have great friends and family to share my life with.






Just a great picture of Alaska. I still want to encourage you guys to come to Alaska and see this incredible place the Lord made.

June has a great eye for photography. I am saving the best shots to submit for the calendar.





This monolith is in Misty Fiords. Edystone rock. It is quite unique and a big visitor attraction. There are a couple of eagle nests in there. Photo by June






Another part of Misty Fiords. "The Wall" and "Punchbowl Lake"





A unique way to build a wall, in Petersburg. Photo by June





June working on the fishing.

I will be heading back to the lower 48 tomorrow, Lord willing, but will do a few more photos when I have time. Keep the faith. Keep building, or rebuilding, as the case may be. It is worth it when you get to take adventures like this.

Bill

[Cardiff Kook]

Love your trips.

What is the empty on your cub? What engine? Fixed pitch or constant speed? Just curious.

[The Kid]

As I remember Bill's cub is around 1060 on wheels and has the 0360 and fixed pitch Catto. But I don't always "member" too well so you'll want it from Bill who is probably in transit and out of contact.

[Bill Rusk]

Just got back from Alaska. Trip home was a bit challenging but it all worked out.
Empty on 31" bush wheels = 1052, Empty on Wip amphibious floats = 1325, Gross is 2300. Basically stock 0-360, fixed pitch prop, Catto 84-43

I am very pleased with the performance.

Hope this helps

Bill

[55-PA18A]

Bill. Do the folks in SE Alaska pay you to come up and bring such good weather? Spectacular photos. Most of my years in SE was pretty much in the rain. Day after day after day of rain.

Jim

[The Kid]

Bill is the "man". I'll be reweighing my rebuilt 180 certified cub soon and will be real, real lucky if it's ONLY 120 LBS HEAVIER than Bill's. And it's gotta a lot of "light" parts on it but it's not in the class with Bill's. A 100-120 lbs lighter is night and day difference in performance. I'm envious. Go Bill! When I grow up I gotta be more like Bill.....

[hotrod180]

A unique way to build a wall, in Petersburg. Photo by June

Got a kick out of this one.
Reminds me of a fence in a local, "non-affluent" neighborhood,
made of shipping pallets similarly lined up.
I have to say that this one is more photogenic.

[Bill Rusk]

Thanks for the kind words. We were Blessed with a lot of good weather this year. But I have had many days that looked like this......

I just hope to encourage folks to go to the SE and stay in these cabins. It is an awesome experience. It is wonderful to go to a place where there are no jet skis, barking dogs, crowds, folks trying to get you violated, where all the lakes are open to floatplanes, etc. It is like going back in time.



It is really not quite as bad as it looks.......



My good friends, Mark and June. Note the glassy water at the Swan Lake cabin. This is one of the top cabins in the SE. And it has a fun entry through a canyon.



Porch time with Mark at the SE Heckman cabin




Ketch is a unique town. Yes, it is touristy but still pretty cool.



Taxi in to the Jims lake cabin beach. This is a great cabin with a nice soft beach to park and almost always facing in to the wind so it is near perfect. It can get "too windy" here in the late fall but summers are great. One year in October, it was so windy I thought I was going to have to flood the floats. Had to wear earplugs to sleep. But summers.....May, June, July, August and even in to the first part of Sept is is awesome.



Mark doing a little fly fishing. Wooly Buggers drifting work pretty well on trout.

Thanks for following along.

Bill

[Firepilot]

Bill, I want to be like you when I grow up.

Very impressive...the entire journey from building, onward...

[BC12D-4-85]

Rain-X or silicone based windshield cleaners work in rain

Gary

[tedwaltman1]

Thank you for sharing your adventures with all of us through such vibrant photographs.

The cabins are neat! As you say, getting “out there” away from everything is truly special.

Let’s go on wheels together. Then we can get even further “away!” Headed for Icy Bay next week…

[85Mike]

I worked at Icy Bay in '92. One of the most scenic places in the state on a clear day!!! Kept my 185 at the camp strip and explored a lot of S Central. Met the Clause family at Ultima Thule when Paul's dad was still there. Awesome country.

[Bill Rusk]

Folks


After a great trip to Alaska, I did a little motorcycle riding. I know we have a lot of bike guys on the site so I thought you might enjoy looking.

First a solo ride from Nashville TN to Idaho. About 2500 miles. Great ride. Then about a week later Jay DeRosier and I rode a 3100 mile trip through British Columbia and into Skagway Alaska. We rode to Banff, Jasper on the Icefield Parkway (Awesome), then to Williams Lake, Bella Coola, back to Williams Lake, Then up to Kitwanga where we picked up and rode the Cassiar Highway to Watson Lake, Then to Skagway. We then took the ferry to Bellingham WA and rode highway 20 (very scenic) back to Sandpoint. Here are a few pictures and there is a video link at the bottom of the post.




I found this (through a friend) an old 1992 BMW R100GS in Nashville TN and rode it to Sandpoint after I got back from Alaska. It took 6 days of pretty hard riding, though I did manage to stop and visit a few friends along the way. Then I rode the R100RT on the trip to British Columbia and Alaska.



I rode the "Going to the Sun Road" in Glacier National Park. Folks I can't tell you how cool that was. I HIGHLY recommend you put this on your bucket list. Stunning Stunning Stunning scenery



Jay and I camping in Banff Tunnel Mountain Campground. Banff and Lake Louise are incredible. You definitely want to see this sometime in your life.



We rode the "Icefield Parkway" Another bucket list road you should go on some day.





When we got to Skagway we took the Alaska Marine Ferry "Columbia" from Skagway to Bellingham Washington. Great time and fun to see the SE of Alaska and British Columbia from the bottom looking up rather than down. Photos are a little out of order.



Off the Cassiar Highway



We stayed at the Ripley Creek in in Stewart Canada (next to Hyder Alaska). Cool Place.



On the road from Whitehorse to Skagway. Jay rode a Yamaha Tenere motorcycle with Mosco Moto Bags



Back home in Sandpoint. 3132 Miles. Average 284 per day of riding. Awesome trip.


Here is a video of the trip if interested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3zyYjxR6_Y&t=2s


Bill

[Paul Heinrich]

You must be a lifelong bachelor.

[Idaho180]

We see you Jay…………….