alaska gang flying the iditerod to skwentna

[matsuthunder200]

Hey everyone its been awhile.. Thinking of flying up the yetna to watch the dog sledders go by..Its a yearly thing i land on the river theres usualy about 15 planes there.. Take some pics. Then fly to skwentna to have a berger. Anyone int???????? leaving willow airport sat at noon......

[Forrest Barber]

THAT would be another of my dreams come true , actually being near the Iditerod. We have some folks here in Ohio near me that train their sled dogs for that race.... maybe some year ; that is the Ultimate burger....... keep us posted down in the 48

[Steve Long]

What's your N number Lance? Also what color is your plane? I'm hoping to fly up that way Sunday also. Do you usually stop at that lodge north of the big bend on the Yentna? I'll be flying my red T-Craft and probably will be with my son-in-law flying a Maule. My N # is 2005E. Let's hope the weather stays this nice! Steve.

[matsuthunder200]

my n# is 43873 yellow with black trim I stop northeast of the big bend where they have the steak bar b Q hope to be there suday

[Dick Smith]

Yentna/Skwentna/Iditarod route

Lance and Steve and rest of Ak Tribe,
I'm planning to head for Yentna about noon also.. (Sat.) Should take about an hour and a quarter...bit of a headwind. Will look for you up there. Dick N5207M (Yellow Tcraft with black leading edge)(straight skis)

[Jim Hartley]

What was I thinking?

I have a job that requires that I work weekends. What a raft of crap! Everything happens on weekends. Whine,whine,whine!

Well? Can You blame me?

Hey Dick! Looks like temperatures and snow were not far off from you wished for huh?

Well I guess I better plan better for time off from here on.

[Dick Smith]

Had to Fly...!

AK Tribe...flew up to the Yentna, hit the river about Jewell strip; only saw one plane there, so wandered up to Skwentna strip. Landed and walked down toward the river until I started "punching through" snow up to my crotch. Walked back to the strip and snagged a ride down to the river on a passing snowmachine. Just scoping out the Skwentna checkpoint. The snow machiner said the mushers would probably be in there around 6:30 or 7:00 Sun. evening. It would be a good spot to get some pictures I'm sure. Was the first time I've been into Skwentna. Usually go toward Lake Clark Pass. This state is so big...a person could spend a lifetime seeing it.
The snow on the lake here at the house is just about perfect. The drifts are gone and the overflow has setup pretty good. Well, you guys figure out the time(s) that will work for you for a get together. This is Day 5 of Retirement...now if I can figure out how to afford gas to keep this bird flying...! Dick

[Dick Smith]

Sleeping Lady

A good look at Mt. Susitna from the West side. Looks like she's sleeping on a bed. Dick

[Forrest Barber]

ALASKA

AWESOME you made my day! Patty & Kelli-Belle are impressed too, I wonder if a team of Bassets would do good in the race?
Please send more as it happens, thanks Dick

[Steve Long]

Dick and Lance,

Sorry I missed you guys yesterday on the Iditarod. We landed at Yentna Station and saw several mushers come through about 1:30. Many of them stayed to rest there awhile as they had straw available and a place away from the crowd. What a crowd it was too. The snow was good and not too cold for my wife - but a good thing they had hot chocolate at the lodge! Great photos Dick. I took my camera but left the disc home in my computer. I guess I need a longer checklist. We should set a date for Vogel Lake! I have off on Monday, the 29th (Sewards Day) and maybe Jim could make that too? Steve

[harbinak]

Foam head bumpers

Dick,
Great picture of yourself and the interior of your T-Craft. Congrats on the retire. I only have 20 years to go I had to laugh, becuase I used some pipe foam to cushion the tubes above the cockpit also.

Wade Harbison
N3KL Tok

[Dick Smith]

pipe foam "devices"

Wade, maybe we should apply for an STC for "Vertical Cranial impact- resistant, tubular enclosing, foam material devices"!
Dick

[Dick Smith]

Iditarod link

Anyone on the list who is interested in the Iditarod Race and airplanes...would enjoy this link. Dick

http://www.iditarodairforce.com/

[Robert Lees]

Further to Dick's posting, there is a nice article in the March issue of EAA "Experimenter" magazine about a young lady flying the Iditarod

Rob

[Dick Smith]

Iditarod Tcraft

Here's a picture I pulled from the Iditarod Airforce's site:
Somebody was getting right in there with the 185's!