This is an Ice Field in the Chugach Mts. It is a one way strip because of the steepness of the ice. When my tires hit the ice I am under full power. "Going Around" (pilot-talk for canceling a landing and circling back for another try) is laughable on a spot like this. Notice that while the client climbs into the back seat, the airplane slides sideways down-hill. I know it does not look like much, but when you are standing / parked on a sheet of slanted ice ... it gets your attention. If the plane ever started sliding, and gained any momentum, it would only accelerate as the glacier gets steeper just downhill. The de-celeration would come quickly about 4000' down glacier... in a boulder patch.
When I took this shot I was standing at the base of the Knik Glacier looking to the North. The Knik drainage, just East of Palmer, is a large valley loaded with moose, sheep, bear, mt. goat, and arctic giraffe. OK, just kidding about the giraffes, but I could almost guarantee a sighting of the other four animals in an hour flight. The Knik is a very user friendly valley when the wind is not blowing 100 mph.
I live at Sheep Mt. on the Glenn Hwy. from May to September and that is where I do the majority of my flying. Sheep Mt. is only 100 miles north of Anchorage on the Glenn Hwy (designated scenic byway). The Knik Drainage (pictured above) is nearer Palmer which is only 40 miles North of Anchorage. We fly the Knik on a regular basis. So, if your transportation is limited, the Knik is an option that might be easier for you. My personal preference is Sheep Mt. because of the added remoteness. Plus Sheep Mt. has a couple of the best restaurant/lodges around. For more information on lodging see my wife's backpacking website at backpackak.com
The climber that I was picking up took this shot. It's on the Matanuska Glacier at approximately 5000'. This spot can brew up some nasty, nasty weather. But when it's nice the view is just stunning. The predominate mountain in this image is Denmark peak. Mt. Marcus Baker (the tallest peak in the Chugach Mt. Range @ 13,176 feet) is just a few miles from heret. I have picked clients up from this location that claimed winds near 100 mph. This is an excellent location for skiers in the spring. It is only a 15 minute flight from my house and I would love to show you.
I was working outside today and it was really cold, and I needed a little piece of summer, and I decided to share it with you.
My brother was flying my Super Cub so I was laying in the grass taking pictures. This is the Talkeetna mountain range. This is an awesome place to spend a few days backpacking around. Not far from here (2 hour hike) there is a turquoise mountain lake draining into a steep gorge with several large waterfalls. Caribou are usually running around feeding... and doing the caribou thing, running in no particular direction for no particular reason. There are also lots of sheep in this area so a pair of binoculars and a good camera is a must. I still come here several times each summer just to run around and stretch my legs. It's a spot that I wish I could show everyone. I don't think the mountain in the background has a name, but I have always called it "snaggle tooth". Come check it out.
I was flying transects through the Kashwitna drainage this afternoon and we kept making this turn right over the river. I think it deserved a picture. There was a 40 degree temperature inversion today just 1000 feet off the ground. It was 25 degrees in the air and -15 on the ground. I know it was that cold on the ground because we landed not far from here to stretch our legs.
Temperature inversions often come with winds. Today was no exception, and it made me wish it was smooth like yesterday again. The bumpy days always make you realize just how nice the nice days are. Kind of like life.
The sunrise this morning turned Mt. Mckinley, Foraker, and Hunter bright pink. It was a good way to start a great day.
This is Denali, Foraker, and Hunter after the sun was up.
There was nearly a foot of snow on the ground but very little overflow. All the tracks are mine. I was testing the snow/ice conditions before I commited by coming to a full stop. When ever I land on a lake in the winter I pop the door open before I stop sliding...just incase I happened to find that thin spot in the ice.
That's me.
Heading home it was another awesome sunset. I was thoroughly enjoying it, but I was also ready to get on the ground and stretch after nearly 7.5 hours of being airborne.
Looking up the Kashwitna drainage during sunset. You can see where the frost formed on the trees nearer the moisture.
Home sweet home...ready to stretch my legs. You can see Palmer, and the Butte with Pioneer Peak in the backdrop.
Short video of tonight's sunset taken on the way home from work. Also a short clip from where we landed for lunch, a no-name lake in the Talkeetna Mts. looking out on Denali.
We had been airborne for several hours and needed a bit of a break. It can be challenging to find a spot to land and stretch the legs, especially this time of year. This road (I know not where it came from or where it was going ) was the best thing I saw. One thing I have never liked about roads are the power lines, so I looked this over very well before landing. Another thing that can pose a challenge are street signs and mailboxes. I almost hit a mailbox once and it has made me very cautious.
As soon as we landed I popped the cowling and put last-nights left-over pizza from Evangelos on-top of the cylinders. It's like a microwave, it works great. We chowed lunch and then launched again. It was cold this morning... like -15 F, miserable. This spot was perfect and I thought it was a nice pic. Here is something else I saw today that I thought was interesting.
I could not figure out what it was until.....
The Hercules and the Black Hawk flew right over us. I thought this was pretty sweet. The Black Hawk was refueling, and it looked really weird from a distance. I exited the immediate territory after I took this image because I was not in the mood for wing-tip vortices off a C-130 Hercules.
I Took this shot while hauling moose hunters this past Fall. That is Jim Lake below and the Chugach mountains with Pioneer Peek front and center. It's hard to get away from the beauty when you are surrounded by the Chugach.
My name is Matthew Keller. I am an Alaskan Bush Pilot. I own a small air-taxi in Alaska named Blue Ice Aviation. I transport people into the Alaskan Wilderness.
Get lost for a month, or an afternoon in my backyard of Waterfalls, Granite Peaks, High Meadow Lakes, and Glaciers. Guided, or un-guided it will change your life.
