SE Alaska Trip/Cabins

[Bill Rusk]

Thanks!!

I remember the Buddy part now, but don't remember Ferguson. Perhaps he just introduced himself as Buddy. At any rate, he did a great job, and we all had a wonderful experience. For me, enough so to cement a desire to return and see more.

Bill

[WardAir]

180 at the dock at west turner end of August 2015
And a few more of the lake, don't go taking my favorite fishing hole tho Bill...

[Bill Rusk]

Dez and Klaus

Thanks for posting pictures. Makes it come alive. According to the historical weather data (if I am reading it correctly, and thats a big IF) it seems like the best wx, i.e. most days of partly cloudy skies, is in May and it gets progressively worse from there. True? Or is Sept and Oct the best wx.?

I promise not to share best fishing spots......feel free to PM me.......

If I bring a small outboard.......do I need a short shaft (15") or long shaft (20")?

For others......here is a map of the Southeast and all the cabins. Great tool for dreaming.......http://www.nationalforestmapstore.com/p ... p/ak-1.htm

Currently working on the floats - lots of moveable parts with 4 retract mechanisms - to get everything up to the best possible condition.

Bill

[Bill Rusk]

Folks


I did a little homework and, as best I can tell, all of the boats provided by the Forest Service, will have a 15" transom. Thus if you bring a motor, or rent one locally (some of the flight services rent them), you will want a short shaft (15") motor. I have not made a decision at this point to purchase a motor but if I do, my internet research says the Suzuki 2.5hp DF is the way to go. One of the lightest at 29 pounds, 4 stroke = quiet, and it has a gear Vs the Honda which has a centrifugal clutch and is air cooled = LOUD.
Link here....http://www.suzukimarine.com/~/media/Mar ... -15-25.pdf

Just food for thought.


Bill

[cubdriver2]

https://www.google.com/search?sourceid= ... oard+motor

Glenn

[Bill Rusk]

Glenn

Thanks, that is pretty clever.

Bill

[Henny]

Bill-

Early May might be iffy for open water, but there is a beautiful cabin and scenery at Coghill Lake on the way to Yakutat. You can go through Portage Pass and head North, but the most scenic route is up the Knik River Valley and over the Knik Glacier. It will kick you out into College Fiord and Coghill is just east of there. If you go, be sure to read up about it on Tom's website as there are some shallow spots you'll want to avoid. Summertime photo below:

Henny

[cubdriver2]

Bill, something I started doing. When I drag a landing spot and find some hidden hazards I take a few photos with my phone/pad looking down at the surface while I can see them. After you land and are there for awhile it's sometimes hard to visualize exactly where they are. Whip out your photo and refresh your memory before taking off

Glenn

[cubdriver2]

Some Bozo forgot to give us a delete button

Glenn

[Henny]

And here's a couple videos showing Coghill Lake and the flight over and back via Knik Glacier...

[KlausNW]

Thank You for the ride.

[Bill Rusk]

Thank you Henny.

Folks

Sorry I have not posted much. Super busy right now. I will try to catch up when I get my head above water. Still working, and planning on the trip.
Thanks for your inputs.

Bill

[cubdriver2]

Bill, if you make it down to Seldovia my buddy Stu ( reliableflier on sc.org ) has got a warm bed and a hot shower if you need one, and a bunch of great stories from 27 years flying AK bush

Glenn

[cubdriver2]

Yay, Bill left on his epic seaplane trip yesterday. Go Bill go, we look forward to sharing your trip. You earned this and I hope you have a blast

Glenn

[cubdriver2]

Bill has already made it to Wasilla and Anchorage

Glenn

[cubdriver2]

Bill is having a blast


http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthrea ... Javron-Cub

[Bill Rusk]

Folks

I'm sorry I've not posted more. It is strictly a matter of time and the lack there of. I still love you and I'm still here, just been busy. I was originally only going to do trip reports for my family and a small circle of friends, but after the flip I was talked into doing a thread over at SC.org. Then there was just no way to keep three groups updated. It takes a LOT of time to upload photos, then do a post, write up, etc.

So......I will do a little here, and more when I have time..........


I will say, and maybe this group will "get" it.......this is truly the trip of a lifetime and if you are a seaplane pilot you really should do the SE of Alaska and stay in some of the Cabins before they go away. The Forest Service Dept is closing them at a pretty good clip. Don't wait too long or it may be something you wished you would have done.




Flying through the mountains going to Anchorage, around the 25th of April.



My Cub on display at the Alaska Airmans Trade Show.



On Situk lake at the Cabin, near Yukatat



Not the best photo, but it shows the Cub and Cabin At Turner Lake West.



At the dock at Turner Lake West Cabin



This photo was taken at the other end of the Turner Lake, at the Turner Lake East Cabin. Incredible scenery.



This was from the Cabin at Salmon Lake Thorn Bay



This is the Cabin at Baranof Lake on Baranof island (where Sitka is located)



Bill

[Bill Rusk]

This is the Le Conte Glacier near Wrangel Alaska



Some of the cabins have pretty nice docks, others beaches where you can tail it in.
This is at the Kah Sheets Cabin



You can't go to Alaska without doing a little fishing



There are some great trails that will take you to places of wondrous beauty



Taken at the Big Shaheen Cabin
Again, here is a great link to the Alaska Cabins http://www.publiclakecabinsak.com


Here are a couple of videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl5RDzw4C2o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6zLSYDmai4




I appreciate your interest and support




Hope this is worth your time




Bill

[Stevesbrother]

Thanks Bill...... Beautiful! Thanks also for the urgency prod.... Didn't know they were eliminating the cabins.

[TriPacer]

Those are simply amazing photos! I'm headed to Alaska this August for the first time (not flying my plane, unfortunately) and can't wait.

[Bill Rusk]

Hi Folks


Folks

Sorry I have not posted much. Since getting back from AK I've been pretty busy with mundane stuff like finding a place to live, health and junk like that. Life sure gets in the way of my hobbies sometimes. I have not posted much on the Supercub site either. I do hope to go back to AK on floats again this summer so perhaps I can just extend this thread........
Add a few more pictures etc.

Bill