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Route Five: Alaska Highway Route from Whitehorse to Anchorage: 532 nm Non-stop

· When VFR conditions prevail, consider flying visually along the Alaska Highway (rather than IFR) from Whitehorse to Anchorage. The distance is 532 nm, which is only a few miles longer than the IFR route. It affords a birds’ eye view of some of the magnificent valleys, mountain ranges and glaciers that characterize this region. On the first leg of the route (Whitehorse, Yukon to Northway, Alaska), the St. Elias Mountains (18,000 feet) will be visible to the south and the Ruby Mountains will be visible to the north. The second leg of the route (Northway to Anchorage) passes through the Alaska Range, the Copper River Basin, and then the Chugach Mountains into the Anchorage Bowl. Depending on your comfort level, the height of the valley floor at a given point and the weather, you can fly at 2,500 or 4,500 feet for this entire route, or you can go higher and be near or above the tops of the mountains (generally at 6,500 or 8,500 feet) for the entire route.

· The first leg is 254 nm and goes from Whitehorse (CYXY) to Haines Junction (CYHT) to Beaver Creek (CYXQ) to Northway, Alaska (PAOR). Simply follow the Alaska Highway depicted on the Canadian sectional chart for Whitehorse (for some reason the Canadians ran out of blue diamonds at this point): depart Whitehorse (CYXY) at a heading of 246 degrees and follow the Alaska Highway until Haines Junction (CYHT), first along the wide valley of the Takhini River, then parallel the Dezadeash River. In the distance to the south and west are towering 14,000 to 18,000 foot high mountain peaks and the immense ice fields of the Kaskawulsh, Hubbard, Seward, Malaspina, Logan and Columbus Glaciers (part of the Wrangell/Mt. St. Elias National Park). If weather and time permit, it is worth considering a diversion to fly over any portion of these forbidding and breathtaking sights. From Haines Junction (CYHT), follow the highway at a heading of 289 degrees, first along the valley to Kluane Lake (which is the largest in the Yukon and is notorious for high winds, so check the weather first), past Burwash NDB (DB), and then through the wide Shakwak Trench to Beaver Creek (CYXQ). From there follow the highway at a heading of 290 degrees across the broad wetlands of the Chisana and Tanana Rivers. The Yukon/Alaska border is ten miles past Beaver Creek. By following the highway during this segment, a pilot will end up at Northway Junction, so remember to turn left to reach Northway airport (PAOR), or just fly this last segment GPS direct from Beaver Creek. Northway has a 3,300 foot gravel runway, with fuel, food and US customs. The runway was once 5,100 feet long and paved, until a recent earthquake shortened it and left it in a decrepit state.

· If flying this first leg VFR, use the Canadian Whitehorse or Alaska Highway sectional chart (inasmuch as the NACO Whitehorse sectional chart does not show the highway with the same degree of clarity).

• The second leg is 276 nm and is incredibly scenic as it passes through the interior of Alaska, the Copper River Basin and the coastal areas around Anchorage. Two options are available for the first segment of this leg upon leaving Northway (PAOR): either fly direct to Gulkana (PAGK) at 8,500 feet over the Alaska Range and the Copper River Basin (217 degree heading for 110 nm); or follow the highway for 135 nm as it winds through the Alaska Range. This latter option begins by leaving Northway (PAOR) at a heading of 280 degrees and following the highway to Tok Junction (6K8); then fly at a heading of 188 degrees through the 6,000 foot high mountains of the Alaska Range, going through the Mentasta Pass (2,400 feet high), past Duffy’s Tavern (PADT), then through the Copper River Basin to Gulkana (PAGK), which has a 4,200 foot paved runway with fuel and food. Note that upon leaving Tok Junction, a branch of the Alaska Highway continues north to Fairbanks (PAFA); the highway that continues to Anchorage is actually called the Glenn Highway. Also note that the Trans Alaska Pipeline passes north/south just beyond Gulkana airport on its way to the new port town of Valdez (PAVD) (the original town was submerged and destroyed by the 1964 earthquake).

• If flying this second leg VFR, use the NACO Anchorage sectional chart.

• The second segment of the Northway to Anchorage leg (approximately 140 nm) departs Gulkana (PAGK) at a heading of 229 degrees: simply follow the highway westbound to Eureka/Skelton (PAZK), then turn to a heading of 206 degrees through the Tahneta Pass to Sheep Mountain (PASP). Eureka is the highest elevation airport in Alaska (3,289 feet; AWOS available on 134.95). A few miles past Eureka there are two gravel strips on either side of the Tahneta Pass, which is 3,300 feet msl and is surrounded by 6-7,000 foot high mountains. The Tahneta Pass is actually an active fault that separates the Chugach Mountains and its glaciers to the south and the Talkeetna Mountains and its Dall sheep to the north, so be on the lookout for both snow and sheep. Continue following the highway past Sheep Mountain (PASP), at a heading of 229 degrees to Palmer (PAAQ), following the highway over the Matanuska River and its valley, with Cook Inlet in the distance; finally, from Palmer (PAAQ) follow the highway at a heading of 199 degrees into Anchorage.

• If flying the second segment of this second leg VFR, use the NACO Anchorage sectional chart.

• There are two airports in Anchorage: Ted Stevens International (PANC) for pilots who need to check in with US Customs; and Merrill Field (PAMR), which has a 4,000 foot paved runway and a large collection of tail draggers. Across the harbor from Ted Stevens International is Lake Hood float plane facility (PALH), which is reputed to be the largest and busiest float plane facility in the world.

• Listed below are directory information, diagrams and instrument approach procedures for each of the airports mentioned in Route Five (or, in the case of a navigation aid, the associated airport). This information was obtained from either AOPA or NavCanada, is copyrighted, has an expiration date of mid-2004, and is presented for informational purposes only.

Anchorage Lake Hood float plane facility (PALH)

Anchorage Merrill Field (PAMR

Anchorage Ted Stevens International (PANC)

Beaver Creek (CYXQ)

Burwash (CYDB)

Eureka/Skelton (PAZK)

Fairbanks (PAFA)

Gulkana (PAGK)

Northway (PAOR)

Sheep Mountain (PASP)

Tok Junction (6K8)

Valdez (PAVD)

Whitehorse (CYXY)