Talkeetna River Headwaters

The kids and I went up to a strip I've been wanting to try for a long time and when my friend Lou told me he was in there this weekend, I decided I better get with the program...

We flew up the Chickaloon (which is always pretty) and flew over my parents place on the way - the kids got to see Grandma and Grandpa rowing on the lake, then on the way back we flew low through the Chickaloon valley which was great.

We landed up at the headwaters of the Talkeetna River. I almost bagged it because I didn't like the go around at 4500 feet, and the wind seemed to be blowing the wrong way, but closer to the strip it was calm so we went ahead and did it.


A quartering tailwind started picking up when we were leaving, and I wanted to go but I couldn't get Hanna away from examining the rocks, creek, parka squirrel holes and caribou bones (lots...) to get her headed towards the plane... She kept saying "No! Baby Walk!" So... by the time we left it was a downwind takeoff at 4500 feet elevation and we pretty much used all available (but I held it on a bit because it was gusty so it wasn't really too bad...)..



The runway marker they're standing by is made from a wrecked airplane lift strut.



Dave