Wheels on Glacier Landing at 7,400'

Alaska is currently experiencing an incredible episode of high pressure dominating the State. That means warmth, calm, and brilliant blue skies! I would ask ‘what did we do to deserve this’, but given our dreadfully rainy summer, I know why we deserve it.

Mike Richmond and Erik Hursh

Today I decided to give my good friend Mike Richmond a tour of the Wrangell Mountains. After a quick low-level flight over the Copper River and a fuel stop in Gulkana, we blasted off to the GIANTS. We took a look at a mud volcano at the west base of Mt. Drum and made a quick low pass and landing at Chelle Lake (a Wrangell-St. Elias Backcountry Cabin site). Wasting no time, we continued on our aerial journey eastward.

Super Cub at Sanford 1

After skirting the incredibly intense red, yellow, and white-colored north flank of Mt. Drum, we soon came to a tableland between Mt. Sanford, Mt. Drum, and Mt. Wrangell. And here is where I have staked-out (psychologically speaking) “Sanford 1”, a 600’ piece of flat tundra, strewn with miscellaneous-sized rocks that are easily avoided. It’s perched high above the Sanford Glacier with great visibility to the surrounding area. I’m going back for a picnic!

Mike at Sanford 1

I wanted to show Mike the vast Nabesna Ice Field further to the east, but after climbing to almost 9,000’ to cross the glacier saddle connecting Mt. Sanford with Mt. Wrangell, I decided he ‘got the idea’, and we vacated the winter-like high altitude atmosphere for the more tropical feeling (today at least) lower elevations of the area. I remembered a high saddle that connects a group of minor mountains to Mt. Wrangell, which was on the way down. And this is where the biggest excitement of today began.

I had visited this saddle in July, and at that time, the glacier was down to bare ice. I had attempted some low passes in July but declined to commit to a landing due to winds, and I suppose the fact that it’s a little precipice at 7,400’. Yep, that might have something to do with it! Today though, the saddle was white. It had snowed since my previous visit. Because it was calm, and I knew there was an excellent base (consitent glacier ice), I decided to drag the surface. (To "drag" is to do a low pass inspecting and "feeling" the surface with the landing gear.) So around we went, putting more and more weight on the surface with the wheels with each pass until I was comfortable in the approaches and ability of the surface to support the aircraft. If you look closely in the aerial photo, you can see all the "drag" marks.

7,400' Glacier Saddle

One of the tricks was to time the touchdown and rollout so that it carried us to the crest, but not so fast that we “blew past” the crown on top. The wheels did not have any "grab" for braking action, so this was all energy management and timing to get us stopped (and I didn’t dare stop prematurely, facing downhill backwards!). After a couple attempts leading to ballistic takeoffs (where the effect of gravity pulled us down the slope, sort of out performing the engine's pulling power (a bit anemic at this altitude) to get us up to flying speed), we nailed a landing and stop at the crest and cautiously shut down, positioning the aircraft sideways to prevent it from escaping without us.

Super Cub on 7,400' Glacier Saddle

7,400’, wheels on the glacier ice & snow, small saddle, calm winds, about 30F, excellent approach and departure (lack of obstructions), and no real reason to do it other than that I want to be the best I can be. And doing this (and everything else I do with an aircraft) is how I gain invaluable experience and insight that will pay dividends down the road of mountain/bush flying in Alaska. Cheers from your pals at Nunatak Air!

Alaska

Wheels on Glacier Landing at 7,400'

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