Supercubs to Alaska for the 2012 Iditarod

[BradleyG]

On February 27, five Supercubs with wheel penetration skis and cargo pods, will depart the lower 48 Northern border for Alaska. We will transit Canada in route to Anchorage. In Anchorage, we will join up with another Supercub pilot and his son. Our mission is to generally follow the route of the 2012 Iditarod Sled Dog Race, hopefully all the way to Nome. This trip's purpose is only for the fun of an Alaskan flying adventure. Needless to say, as most such adventures, this one was reborn again, in a hanger, over adult beverages and cigars. (As it always should be!)

This will be my first time for this trip. I am, however, in very good company. All of the other pilots are seasoned veterans, with the leader having flown it nine times. The last time the other pilots flew this routing was for the race in 2009. We have been doing detailed planning for over seven months and we are all very well equipped with extreme Arctic gear, Spot locators, and satellite telephones. We even manufactured our own Arctic tents and stoves.

Since I had so much fun last year watching Steve Pierce and Tal on their trip to Anchorage, I thought that many of you might enjoy this one. If you would like to flight follow, my shared Spot page is as follows:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0eqvYvxtv5iV3OrdqnEvaJKxFJyENxyQT

It is now active and should start showing tracking reports on either 24 February or 25 February. Wish us fun, luck, and adventurous U.S., Canadian, and Alaska Super Cubbing. I will also post on this thread as computer or Iphone access becomes available along the route.

Jerry

 

[72A]

We have a big Bon fire at Shell Lake on Sunday nite when the dogs come through If you cal Zoe at shell Lake Lodge there might be a cabin available that nite.
Her No. is (907) 733-2817

John Pex
72A

 

[bigrock]

I flew the Iditarod in '08 and it was a great experience. You will have a blast.

 

[ColoZKS6]

Hope the wind dies down enough for you to get out of Colorado, Jerry. Looking forward to following it. Have a great trip, Mike.

 

[Bill Rusk]

Congrats Jerry. Have fun. I'll be watching your spot.

Bill

 

[SteveE]

Dang,, I was in Breckenridge last weekend for a wedding, wish I would have know you were there, I could have dropped by.. I was wasting time throwing bread crumbs to the trout by the Silverthorne Pavilion bridge. Good luck on your adventure.

 

[nanook]

Tough time of year to fly cubs north....good luck on the weather....if you get delayed, just come through Fairbanks and head down the Tanana-Yukon rivers and meet up with the race out west somewhere.

 

[georgecl]

Appears to be something for the more experienced pilot, just getting my PPL I guess the weather could be an issue up there, but thats part of the thrill I guess, I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Superchub]

Jerry had me do all his mods getting his very nice Cub ready for this trip. New Airglas 2500 wheel skis, New Airglas cargo pod, new Atlee 3" ext gear. He has a lot of $$$ wrapped up in this adventure and I for one wish him and fellow travelers a safe Journey. I will get some pics of His machine packed and ready to go posted tomorrow!!

Brandon

 

[gdafoe]

Have a great trip and a safe one. I'll enjoy following along watching your track. Also be looking for you posts.

 

[aktango58]

I will be in Haines through the 9th, when I plan to drive to Tok... I can haul some fuel for you guys if you want fuel in Northway on the 9th...(of march).

Also, if you are looking at a bunch of bad weather, drop down here to Haines and park on the strip... we have rooms for pilots.

Wish I was with you... do you need covers???? I can loan you a set if you need any.

 

[BradleyG]

We all have covers, so thanks for the offer. I will check with the logistics planners and keep you in mind for the fuel. Got the aircraft all packed tonight. The day started out slow. Breckenridge and the mountains was hit with a heavy snow and wind storm last night. The mountain roads were closed early and I got a late start for Denver. I finally finished packing about 7 MST this evening. I will be hooking up with my fellow travelers either tomorrow or Saturday. Weather looks OK for a couple of days to head Northwest.

Jerry

 

[wefly4u]

This sounds like a "LARGE" time, wish I was going with. I made the trip last year in my Super Cub and two years prior in another aircraft I delivered to Fairbanks but those were both in April and May. You'll be impressed on how helpful your network of fellow Cub drivers from this site will be. I also shared my SPOT page on my trip north last year and it was incredible as to the number of people who followed along with the SPOT page as I'll be doing during your journey.

Not sure if I can do anything to help but' if you need anything on your way coming or going, just ask and we'll all be here to help. I asume you'll be following the Highway? I'm interested in details on your homemade arctic oven tents. Maybe when you get back you can post information on them and a full report. You planning to use a wood stove or fuel for heat?

God speed and tailwinds to you all,

Ray

 

[aktango58]

If you do get caught in Haines Junction, call me. I am only about 2.5 hours away, and can haul five in the pickup... and I have some spare parts here


Keep us updated.

 

[wefly4u]

Just checked your spot page......YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!!!

 

[BradleyG]

Yep! I forgot to mention most of our group is meeting in ABQ and starting the trip tomorrow. I just stopped at Raton NM for fuel and will make 1N1 in ABQ in a couple of more hours. With the WX forming in Northwest we figured that we all should start together and not try to hook up along the way north. After today we will be heading the correct direction. Today also gave me a chance to see how the cub was performing fully loaded. All is OK. About 8 to 8.5 gph burn and I am at max weight.


More later, getting back into the AC.

Thanks for checking.....Jerry

 

[Superchub]

A few pics of Jerry just before he left this morning on his 3+ week adventure...

 

[Superchub]

Just checked your spot page......YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY!!!

Jerry flew for Southwest Airlines! ;-( He is "NOW FREE TO MOVE ABOUT THE COUNTRY"

 

[BradleyG]

Bedded down for the evening. Sorry about today not getting the spot in tracking mode.

Someone asked about our stoves. The are based on the Korean war design. "Yukon1950" the burn Avgas. Gas is fed thru a gravity feed line and drips on a simple burner. Sounds like a small APU.
The unit generates a lot of heat.
More later....

 

[Outlaw]

I'm making the trip from boise, the last week of may...curious about fuel stops in Canada. Keep me posted!

 

[Steve Pierce]

Have fun Jerry.

 

[flymore]

What an adventure! Have a blast Jerry :lol:








David Childs

 

[djmcfall]

I am looking at the weather here in Idaho and getting butterflys in my stomach. Wish I was going, scarey but fun. Make sure your Saint Christopher is hanging in the airplane.

Doug McFall

 

[John-CFI]

Haver fun and be safe. Sounds like a great adventure John

 

[BradleyG]

In Utah

Interesting day Supercubbers. We took off this morning from 1N1 after a slow morning breakfast. We launched and even had a chase photo plane, a Mooney, fly wing on us for a while. If the pictures make it in an email I will try to post one. Good thing that we had breakfast, since there was no food again until 1600 in Price Utah. (Carbon County Airport) We were headed from Monticello Utah to Heber Utah but changed our mines after looking at the cold front approaching and watching 40kt plus winds in SLC. We are all heavy, with some of us heavier than others. (Me) We did not think that looking into the afternoon sun and crossing 11K mountains with frontal winds and turbulence, with min fuel at destination was the best idea for having fun.

We also made an intermediate stop today on our way to Monticello at Dove Creek Colorado. It had snow on the runway, so we played around for a while, took a much needed break, and then left for Monticello for fuel. We were all burning about 7.3 gph when leaned out. I got mine back to 6.5 gph for a few minutes, but fell behind. I might add the other cubs are 100lbs lighter and are all 160 HP. I am at max 2000lbs and 150hp, with uncovered gear. 10,000 feet in the cub reminds me of being at 41,000 in a Boeing, 1500 feet above optimum, and no where to go with in the highspeed buffet and low speed stall range. When you are heavy, it does not matter whether you are in a jet or cub. Heavy is heavy.

It was windy at both Monticello and Carbon County(KPUC). Monticello had snow on the infield, so lead landed on the snow. I landed in his tracks. The other two cubs used the runway.

The flight across the canyon lands, was absolutly stunning today. I must make a trip back with big wheels.

Here is a picture from Dove Creek CO.

Our other wingman that will join us in WA is still stuck on the west side of the Cascades. He plans another attempt at making it out tomorrow.

We are bedded down for the evening and plan an early launch, after breafast tomorrow. We will head north toward Burley ID, and If the WX permits, maybe Spokane.

At some point we will start playing the eapis game to transit the Border.

If I get emails of the air to air photos tonight, I will try and post them. Thanks to all who are following our gaggle.

Jerry

 

[Bob Breeden]

Suggest you carry several days food to make for flexibility in your schedule. This post suggests you are dependent on restaurants.

Be comfortable at all times where you are. Weather may pin you. It is easier to make a good decision on weather when you have all you need with you.

It is the journey, not the destination.

Forgive the lecture. Have a great trip.

 

[BradleyG]

Thanks Bob,

We are taking advantge of resturants and motels, while they are still available. My fellow wingmen are very experienced, the leader has been on this trip nine times. All the others at least once. I am the new guy. We are very well equipted and are prepared to spend multiple days without support, other than what we have planned for ourselves. We have the food and the gear. That is one of the reasons why I am so heavy. The pilot we are hooking up with in Anchorage, lives there, and is a professional. He works in the bush the year around. We know what we are getting into.

In the past, I have travelled 1100 miles and 16 days with two of these men down the Yukon river from Circle to Emmonak on the Bering Sea. All with no support, other than buying kicker fuel from the indian villages. I have bear hunted with them also, unguided. We have flown a career together. I feel honored that they let an old Air Force type hang out with them. They are Marines.

We have been planning this for over nine months. Having said all of this, thanks for the concerns. One can never be too safe, we appreciate you advice.

Jerry

 

[BradleyG]

Air to Air Photos

 

[narrow deck]

Jerry,

Wish you the best on your trip. Tough time of year up here in the north country for winter flying. Our weather this winter has been challenging to say the least.
Sounds like your well equipped and in no hurry. That's good, no pressure.
After you fuel in Gulkana watch the winds in Palmer as they can blow 70-80 mph out of the NE (Matanuska Wind) this time of year. You'll start picking up mod to svr turb. right after your pass Sheep Mountain near Tahneta pass. Be careful as this wind/turb will EAT your lunch. I lived in Palmer for 48 yrs. and had to deal with this local wind situation often.
Good luck, have fun and be safe.
Mike

 

[haphogan]

check out the reliability of the spot in the norther latitudes. spider tracks are reliable to 90 deg N & 90 deg S.