Valdez & Anchorage

Daughter of a Beautiful NYC Family We Met in McCarthy

Yesterday was a different day. The clear skies and good weather and smooth sailing we had experienced so far changed a bit. We departed the beautiful Kennicott Glacier Lodge and the extraordinary Wrangle Mountains - St. Elias Park and headed south for Cordova keeping in mind our fuel state and options for refueling, weather and other pilot type considerations.

Departure Day Breakfast at Kennicott Glacier Lodge

The extremely rugged, remote terrain of the lower Copper River basin along with weather we perceived was deteriorating caused us to change our plan and head for Valdez instead. The terrain was still rugged and remote and the weather wasn’t improving as forecast, but we made it through the Thompson Pass and swooped down between towering mountains and patchy clouds into the most peaceful, still, surreal, other-earthly coastal village I’ve ever seen -- Valdez.

Drive to the McCarthy Airport . For Jeep Lovers :)

You will know it by reputation as the southern terminus of the Alaska pipeline, and the port that filled the giant oil tanker the Exxon Valdez which ran around nearby and spoiled the pristine Prince William Sound, as well as the port of Valdez in 1989. Or perhaps if you’re a back country pilot, you will know it as the site of the world competition for STOL (short take off and landing) airplanes?

Valdez Refueling after Landing

But today the peaceful, serene, beautiful harbor is home to 4000 residents, and for a few short hours and lunch, to us. :) We hail a cab into the harbor and enjoy a seafood lunch before departing back north to fuel and head for Talkeetna, but that’s where things took a sudden change.

Valdez Harbor

At our fueling stop I noticed that my prop had sustained some damage after picking up a rock or some gravel, probably in McCarthy. This type of damage is a known hazard for gravel or dirt strips, yet isn’t that common. But there it was, the worse nick any of us had ever seen, so Doug went to look for a mechanic. The threat is that the nick will lead to a crack inflight with the tip of the prop breaking off followed by violent shaking, quickly shutting down the engine and a forced landing, nothing we wanted to chance without seeking a professional opinion. Thankfully a kind flight instructor, called an off duty aircraft mechanic who came and evaluated the situation for us. :) The decision was made to fly straight to Anchorage, a one hour flight, where we could get the damage further evaluated and properly repaired.

The fight was beautiful beyond description as we followed the Glen Highway to Palmer and descended toward the Cook Inlet and Merrill Field. I can’t say the four of us weren’t a bit anxious while at the same time trusting our sturdy steed. :) The beauty all around us was a bit of a pleasant distraction, as was studying charts and preparing ourselves to fly from some of the most remote airspace in the world into some of the busiest. 

Today one good lead led to another; and helpful, friendly Alaskans helped us get the prop evaluated and repaired. What could have been a week or two delay turned into one peaceful, fun, relaxing day.  And Anchorage has become a memorable anchorage for two Maules and four friends. 

Tomorrow we fly out to the Kenai Peninsula for a few days. The journey continues….

FedEx Pilot Thad Meets Dad Jim at Anchorage Hotel :)

   “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber... The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.” (Psalm 121)