Creating a website is one of the best ways Ted could think of to share this experience with the broadest possible audience. Goals prior to the trip are to create a site that provides our website readers with as much useful information as possible.

Trip Planning

In planning this trip, we quickly found ourselves searching far and wide for helpful information. A few books had some tips (more on this later). We ordered a number of videos purporting to cover flying tips for Alaska—and found them to be sorely lacking. Searches on the Internet were helpful. However, even information on the Internet proved elusive, time-consuming and, sometimes, frustrating for their lack of comprehensive information.

Website Updates

We’ll do our best to update the website during the trip itself. However, since we’re trying to go places that one can’t [easily] get to by car—if at all by auto—there might not be readily accessible Internet access. Plus, we want to experience as much as possible—saving the updates for after our return.

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Route Information

Look for information on helpful books under the “Info” link above. As you move your mouse over the red dots on our planned route, you’ll see the names of the cities/airports pop up. Clicking on these names will bring up a more detailed map page for that section of the route. On these more detailed pages, again moving your mouse over the city/airport name will pop-up a small window where we’ve tried to highlight interesting facts about our planned stop. You can view our proposed route here.

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Articles

We’re going to write a series of short articles about each stop, event and interesting experience that we encounter. These will be published in an Adobe PDF format on the site for you to read at your leisure. Check the "Article" page here.

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Pictures

As our adventure unfolds, we will try to post interesting pictures. Shortly after our return, we’ll begin posting a set of edited pictures that highlight interesting scenery, people, places and events. Link to our pictures...

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Links

As indicated above, the “Links” section is designed to save you the time an angst we experienced in trying to find relevant information to support our trip. We’ll share the collection of links we ultimately found useful, interesting and well worth your time to visit. Here is our "Link" page.

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Detailed Planning Information

Fuel, distance between stops and related data is available off of the Route Detail menu item off of the “Info” link above. Though this route is planned in great detail, we’re realistic in noting that weather, recommendations from local pilots and our own changing desires will undoubtedly influence where we stop, how long we fly between stops and time spent at each location. See our proposed itinerary.

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Maps and Navigation Logs

Jeppesen has been gracious in allowing us to post maps and navigation logs corresponding to our planned route. These maps and logs are prepared using the AOPA Flight Planner software. See chart and navigation information here.

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Camping Equipment

We’re often asked, “What do you bring along to camp with?” This section shares, in list format, the items we wanted to bring—and those items that ultimately fit into our planes. Links to relevant vendor sites are included. Link to our camping equipment list.

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Safety Items

Another oft asked question—What safety items are wise to bring?” Again, we share our planned items in list format. Links to relevant vendor sites are included. Link to safety items.

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Misc Stuff

Here we share tips that just don’t anywhere else. For instance, one long-time Alaskan bush pilot told us, “Make sure you keep your tailwheel inflated at maximum pressure. This will markedly reduce the chance of you having a flat.” As we’re not sure where to put such helpful information, it ended up in this category. Link to Misc items and information.

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