Alaska Kenai Peninsula 11-24-2017 Flight

[mbauer]

Yesterday was clear and cold. Temp was +15 deg F, skies were clear, what a great day for flying.

My RV-6 is parked outside at PAEN (Kenai Alaska Airport). I made some covers for it, including an engine cover.

Arriving in the morning I spent 1.5 hours preheating and pre-flighting before a 11am take-off. Flew for 1.3 hours and decided to head back and get my camera (forgot my still photo camera-did have my Canon video recorder).

After a quick lunch and checking that the engine was still warm, took off and headed back to the Kenai Mountains to the East of Kenai.
Here are some of the photos I took with a close to setting sun, most photos were taken from 5500 MSL, the ones heading back to the West were taken from 6500 MSL.

Here is a screenshot of my Garmin Aera 660-it shows the route, time of flight, actual flight hours, and distance. At very top of screenshot is Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport Airspace..


Attached is a photo heading East from Kenai towards the mountains. The road from Anchorage heads through these mountains as well. Road is 160 miles one way, while it is only 60-air miles to Anchorage.


Following are some of the other photos I took:





Here is a photo of the Kenai River and part of the Highway-far distance is a small town called Cooper Landing. Copper Landing is at the Lake at the far end of the valley-Kenai Lake.


Ok, turned around and now heading back to the West. One of my favorite mountain biking trails is along the lower right side of photo, a ten mile hill climb to the top of Devils Pass:


Looking to the Northwest you can see in the far distance Denali and Mt Foraker (approx. 190-200 miles away in the haze):


On the West side of Kenai is Cook Inlet, the Northern most part of the Pacific Ocean, the mountains in the far distance are on the West side of Cook Inlet, both of these are volcanos. Mt Redoubt to the North (right side of photo) has erupted twice since 1989. Lake in the background is Skilak Lake.


Real pretty day for flying!

Best regards,
Mike Bauer

[SmilingJack]

Not used to seeing bumps in the earth

Nice pictures Mike.

Going to be 80 here tomorrow, but I would trade it for that flight you did!

[mbauer]

Originally Posted by SmilingJack

Not used to seeing bumps in the earth

Nice pictures Mike.

Going to be 80 here tomorrow, but I would trade it for that flight you did!

Thank you for the kind words.

One of my favorite areas to see, by airplane, car or bicycle. The Devils Pass Trail ties into the 38.8 mile long Resurection Pass Trail, great way to spend a week riding from cabin to cabin along the route. Nearest road is miles away.

Best regards,
Mike Bauer

[mbauer]

If you might be interested in some more info on MT Redoubt, here is a link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Redoubt

Several photos, one awesome photo showing what the view from here in Kenai looked like when it erupted.

Best regards,
Mike Bauer

[Vlad]

As a good friend of mine would interpret it this is sick! Sick being translated a notch over superb and two over awesome! Very rare views Mike thank you. I have a bookmarked volcano webcams I watch almost daily and Mt Redoubt looks gorgeous in your picture. Hope to be there in seven months.

[vic syracuse]

Absolutely beautiful! You make us jealous, for sure. We are planning to come back up there this summer and can't wait. Alaska has some of the most beautiful scenery there is, and the people are so friendly!

Vic

[snopercod]

Awesome photos. Thank you!

[rockwoodrv9]

Hey Mike, looks like you are having a good time back in AK. I am getting close on my plane. Maybe next summer I can fly up!

[mbauer]

Thank you for checking the thread out!

Vlad, will have updated info for your Dutch visit fairly soon.

Vic, where do you plan to head next summer? Curious, would like to meet and say hello in person.

snopercod, going through 425 photos I took on 7-22-2017 when I flew over to the West side above the Tordrillo Mountains part of the Alaska Range.

Will be posting a new thread soon, creating some panoramic combinations that look like they meet the 900 pixel wide specs for this forum.

Rockwood, great to hear you're almost ready to fly! Look forward to a visit if you head up. Will send you a PM - Question for you.

Best regards,
Mike Bauer

[vic syracuse]

Hi, Mike. We like to get to Anchorage and do daily fly outs from there, seeing the glaciers and perhaps Barrow. We managed to get across the Arctic Circle last time, but the fires and smoke kept us from going any further north. We try to go up the coast to Ketchikan and Yakutak, weather permitting. If not, we go up the trench through White Horse and Fairbanks.

Hopefully, we can meet yout, oo. :0

Vic