August 1, 2024 - Alaska Flight
Day 4B: Whitehorse to Burwash, Yukon
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| SPOT track from Whitehorse to Burwash Lake and airstrip. |
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I hung around the self-service area for a little bit because I had to arrive at Northway Airport in Alaska at 2:15 their time to clear customs. When I was ready to go I called Ground Control and asked to taxi for takeoff. He asked me where I was going. Northway. He said I needed to file a flight plan. Whoops! I was aware a flight plan was needed to cross the border but had forgot all about it. I hadn't filed a flight plan since I was on a Flight Itinerary. So, I shut down the engine, and still in the cockpit, called the Canadian Flight Service number and filed a flight plan. Then called Ground again. He was cool about it, said he saw my flight plane, and then gave me a squawk code, and gave me taxi instructions. After that everything went as usual. In short order I was airborne and back over the Alcan Highway.
Here's a good look at the airport with Whitehorse town at top alongside the Yukon River.
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On the road again!
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| The highway runs north alongside the Yukon River briefly but soon turns west and leaves the river. |
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Now looking north.
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| Looking south at the Takhini River. |
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| More Takhini. |
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| Heading west through a big valley. |
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| Reminds me of Pride Rock from Lion King. |
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A mountain pass to the north.
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| There is a low scattered layer but nothing to be worried about. |
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| Otter Falls Cutoff gas station on the left. |
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| Good thing I like to fly low. |
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| Looking north. |
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Passing Pine Lake.
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| A solar farm out here in the Yukon? |
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P31
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Haines Junction Airstrip on the left.
The Alcan Highway (Highway 1) turns south here to intersect with Highway 3 which continues south to the Gulf of Alaska. But Highway 1 soon resumes its northwesterly heading.
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A closer look at Haines Junction Airstrip. No services.
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| The town of Haines Junction. |
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| Back on the Alcan Highway (Highway 1) headed northwest. |
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| Very pretty area. |
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There's a big snow-covered mountain behind that cloud.
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| Ah, a little better look. The tallest one is Mount Archibald. |
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| Just trees and clouds to the northeast. |
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| Approaching Sulphur Lake on the right. |
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Big Kluane Lake visible in the distance.
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| The southern tip of Kluane Lake. |
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Looking northwest up the lake.
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| Silver City has an Airstrip but there is no city, town or village that I could see. |
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| A close-up of Silver City Airstrip. The Cessna 170 at Whitehorse Airport is based here. No services here though. |
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| Looking southwest. |
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| I flew up this southwest passage a little and then made a U-turn. I did not realize that if I kept going I would have soon encountered a glacier, snow-covered mountains and the big Kluane National Park and Reserve. I really wasn't that far from Yakutat, Alaska which has an airport with services. In other words, a great area to go flightseeing. Next time! |
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Looking back northeast at Kluane Lake with Silver City right of center.
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| A visitor center with great views. Apparently you can see Dall Sheep on the adjacent mountain. |
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| The highway runs up the west side of Kluane Lake. |
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I guess there are Dall Sheep on these mountains but I didn't see any. The RV is too fast for wildlife observation.
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A draw up the mountain range.
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Looking east across Kluan Lake.
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Kluan Lake is huge, and pretty.
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Passing Jacquot Island at the northwestern end of the lake.
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| Approaching the town of Burwash Landing. |
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And there is Burwash Landing which includes a gas station/store/cafe and also a Burwash Museum of History.
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North of town is Burwash Airstrip. No services but a nice place to land if you have to.
Rocking Star Adventures operates out of here and flies to the aforementioned glaciers and snow-covered mountains.
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Looking northwest from Burwash.
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