{"id":1328,"date":"2019-01-14T01:54:17","date_gmt":"2019-01-14T01:54:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/?p=1328"},"modified":"2025-06-03T07:24:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T07:24:21","slug":"alaskanada-british-columbia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/01\/14\/alaskanada-british-columbia\/","title":{"rendered":"Alaskanada &#8211; British Columbia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arrival into Canada was, as always, fairly straightforward. I&#8217;d had to buy a &#8220;customs decal&#8221; for $28 in advance to place on the airplane (seems to have no other purpose than a tax), and then file an e-apis declaration online with the US CBP. Apart from that, it was just filing a VFR flight plan online, and calling the Canadians to let them know about the arrival. The flight was a short, less than 30 minute hop up to Vancouver International. On arrival I called customs again from the airplane, and they gave us the OK to continue; we never even saw any body! A short Uber ride, and it was time to explore Vancouver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-11.47.54.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"634\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-11.47.54-2000x634.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-11.47.54-2000x634.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-11.47.54-1024x324.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-11.47.54-768x243.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-11.47.54-604x191.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vancouver harbour panorama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Vancouver stay was for two nights, and it was possible to see a reasonable amount of downtime. Highlights included the excellent dining, great museums, and picturesque walking routes. It was fun to stand overlooking the harbour and watch the sea-planes come and go. At the end of the weekend Elsa took a commercial flight home, and I carried on solo into Canada on my way north.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-1\" data-gallery_id=\"4644\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-1\" data-gallery_no=\"1\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-11.51.08.jpg\" title=\"Vancouver seaplane dock\" data-rl_title=\"Vancouver seaplane dock\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-11.51.08-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Vancouver seaplane dock<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-12.20.07.jpg\" title=\"Holland America line\" data-rl_title=\"Holland America line\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-12.20.07-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Holland America line<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-13.02.04.jpg\" title=\"Vancouver seaplane\" data-rl_title=\"Vancouver seaplane\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-13.02.04-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Vancouver seaplane<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-13.10.24.jpg\" title=\"House-boats\" data-rl_title=\"House-boats\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-13.10.24-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">House-boats<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-14.02.12.jpg\" title=\"Vancouver skyline\" data-rl_title=\"Vancouver skyline\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-14.02.12-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Vancouver skyline<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-14.46.23.jpg\" title=\"Totem poles\" data-rl_title=\"Totem poles\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-14.46.23-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Totem poles<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-15.06.56.jpg\" title=\"Honk honk\" data-rl_title=\"Honk honk\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-23-15.06.56-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Honk honk<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-24-14.10.35.jpg\" title=\"Sled dog in the maritime museum\" data-rl_title=\"Sled dog in the maritime museum\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-24-14.10.35-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Sled dog in the maritime museum<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I left Vancouver on Sunday evening, just as a cold front was blowing in, and headed east in front of it. Tailwinds meant I flew the 67 nautical miles to Hope, BC in less than 30 minutes. I tied down the aircraft with my new set of &#8220;Claws&#8221; and set up the tent just in time for the front to arrives, and rain to fall all night. Hope was a good stop, a large grass field with pilot building including wifi! <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1057\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/vancouver-hope.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/vancouver-hope.jpg 1057w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/vancouver-hope-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/vancouver-hope-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/vancouver-hope-410x270.jpg 410w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1057px) 100vw, 1057px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Racing east to Hope, BC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-2\" data-gallery_id=\"4646\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-2\" data-gallery_no=\"2\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-24-20.06.09.jpg\" title=\"Leaving Vancouver\" data-rl_title=\"Leaving Vancouver\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-24-20.06.09-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Leaving Vancouver<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6240110.jpg\" title=\"Up the river to Hope, BC\" data-rl_title=\"Up the river to Hope, BC\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6240110-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Up the river to Hope, BC<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I woke the next morning, it was still raining and cloud was low. I had a relaxing morning as the weather gradually improved. The airport maintenance manager came by, and gave me a lift to the local service station in his tractor, to grab some food and some local currency. By the time I was done with lunch the weather had improved enough to start heading north through the valley.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"976\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/hope-echovalley.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/hope-echovalley.jpg 976w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/hope-echovalley-768x453.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/hope-echovalley-458x270.jpg 458w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 976px) 100vw, 976px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The first small steps into vast Canada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-3\" data-gallery_id=\"4648\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-3\" data-gallery_no=\"3\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6250121.jpg\" title=\"Up the valley from Hope\" data-rl_title=\"Up the valley from Hope\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6250121-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Up the valley from Hope<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6250124.jpg\" title=\"Railroad north of Hope\" data-rl_title=\"Railroad north of Hope\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6250124-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Railroad north of Hope<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6250126.jpg\" title=\"Railroad north of Hope\" data-rl_title=\"Railroad north of Hope\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6250126-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Railroad north of Hope<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My first stop was the small airstrip of Cache Creek. A gentleman came to meet me who&#8217;d been operating an excavator nearby; he kept his ultralight airport at the strip. Apparently, Cache Creek had been used as a filming location for the movie &#8220;2012&#8221; where it was destroyed by an eruption of Yellowstone. Ironically it had then burned down a couple of years later in forest fires, a case of life imitating art.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-4\" data-gallery_id=\"4649\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-4\" data-gallery_no=\"4\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6250133.jpg\" title=\"Approaching Cache Creek\" data-rl_title=\"Approaching Cache Creek\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6250133-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Approaching Cache Creek<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-15.19.38.jpg\" title=\"Ultralight at Cache Creek\" data-rl_title=\"Ultralight at Cache Creek\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-15.19.38-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Ultralight at Cache Creek<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-15.22.10.jpg\" title=\"Cache Creek ultralight pilot\" data-rl_title=\"Cache Creek ultralight pilot\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-15.22.10-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Cache Creek ultralight pilot<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Departing Cache Creek I headed north, but the weather soon started to close in again. I stopped at what was marked in Garmin Pilot as a public airstrip. It turned out to actually be the highly exclusive spa resort of Echo Valley. The owner, an experienced pilot, welcomed me and after hearing about the weather diversion insisted that I join them for the night. The resort was gorgeous, and I spent a very happy evening with the owners family and the other guests.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-5\" data-gallery_id=\"4652\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-5\" data-gallery_no=\"5\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-17.33.30.jpg\" title=\"Echo Valley\" data-rl_title=\"Echo Valley\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-17.33.30-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Echo Valley<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-18.08.00.jpg\" title=\"Echo Valley\" data-rl_title=\"Echo Valley\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-18.08.00-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Echo Valley<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-20.34.10.jpg\" title=\"Echo Valley\" data-rl_title=\"Echo Valley\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-20.34.10-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Echo Valley<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-21.20.44.jpg\" title=\"Echo Valley\" data-rl_title=\"Echo Valley\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-25-21.20.44-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Echo Valley<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The weather the next morning was ideal for flying. After exploring the resort a little, I set off for a long day of flying that I hoped would take me all the way through BC and into the Yukon.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"924\" height=\"618\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/echovalley-watsonlake.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/echovalley-watsonlake.jpg 924w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/echovalley-watsonlake-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/echovalley-watsonlake-404x270.jpg 404w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 924px) 100vw, 924px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Through &#8220;The Trench&#8221; into the Yukon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-6\" data-gallery_id=\"4654\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-6\" data-gallery_no=\"6\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-09.37.30.jpg\" title=\"Beautiful weather the next morning\" data-rl_title=\"Beautiful weather the next morning\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-09.37.30-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Beautiful weather the next morning<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-10.06.07.jpg\" title=\"Echo Valley airstrip\" data-rl_title=\"Echo Valley airstrip\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-10.06.07-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Echo Valley airstrip<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-10.06.29.jpg\" title=\"The Echo Valley pigs\" data-rl_title=\"The Echo Valley pigs\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-10.06.29-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">The Echo Valley pigs<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-10.06.52.jpg\" title=\"Views over Echo Valley\" data-rl_title=\"Views over Echo Valley\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-10.06.52-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Views over Echo Valley<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My first stop was Williams Lake, to do a little planning for the legs ahead. From there I flew north to Mackenzie, the final fuel stop before &#8220;The Trench&#8221;. The Trench is a 400nm (800km) glacial valley that runs up through BC and is one of the main routes to Alaska from the lower 48. There is no fuel, and only a couple of small dirt strips if landing is needed. The final 200nm is entirely devoid of man&#8217;s influence.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-7\" data-gallery_id=\"4656\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-7\" data-gallery_no=\"7\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-11.45.47.jpg\" title=\"Williams Lake\" data-rl_title=\"Williams Lake\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-11.45.47-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Williams Lake<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260137.jpg\" title=\"North towards The Trench\" data-rl_title=\"North towards The Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260137-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">North towards The Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260145.jpg\" title=\"Mackenzie lumber yard\" data-rl_title=\"Mackenzie lumber yard\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260145-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Mackenzie lumber yard<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260147.jpg\" title=\"Leaving Mackenzie\" data-rl_title=\"Leaving Mackenzie\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260147-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Leaving Mackenzie<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260161.jpg\" title=\"Entering The Trench\" data-rl_title=\"Entering The Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260161-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Entering The Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260171.jpg\" title=\"Lower half of The Trench\" data-rl_title=\"Lower half of The Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260171-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Lower half of The Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I stopped off at the small strips of Fort Grahame and Fort Ware. Fort Grahame was deserted, and the few people I saw at Fort Ware were cold and unfriendly, so I didn&#8217;t linger.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-8\" data-gallery_id=\"4658\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-8\" data-gallery_no=\"8\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-15.27.22.jpg\" title=\"Fort Grahame\" data-rl_title=\"Fort Grahame\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-15.27.22-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Fort Grahame<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-16.23.33.jpg\" title=\"At Fort Ware\" data-rl_title=\"At Fort Ware\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-16.23.33-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">At Fort Ware<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-16.36.36.jpg\" title=\"Fort Ware cemetery\" data-rl_title=\"Fort Ware cemetery\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-16.36.36-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Fort Ware cemetery<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From Fort Ware, there is no sign of man until reaching Lake Watson, more than 400km away. The cloud-base was low, and the valley walls disappeared into the clouds above. The way ahead remained clear and safe, however.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-9\" data-gallery_id=\"4660\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-9\" data-gallery_no=\"9\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260174.jpg\" title=\"Up the Trench\" data-rl_title=\"Up the Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260174-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Up the Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260176.jpg\" title=\"Departing Fort Ware\" data-rl_title=\"Departing Fort Ware\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260176-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Departing Fort Ware<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260178.jpg\" title=\"North half of the Trench\" data-rl_title=\"North half of the Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260178-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">North half of the Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260186.jpg\" title=\"North half of the Trench\" data-rl_title=\"North half of the Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260186-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">North half of the Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260191.jpg\" title=\"Glorious blue lakes\" data-rl_title=\"Glorious blue lakes\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260191-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Glorious blue lakes<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260196.jpg\" title=\"Descending the north of the Trench\" data-rl_title=\"Descending the north of the Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260196-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Descending the north of the Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260202.jpg\" title=\"Out the north of the Trench\" data-rl_title=\"Out the north of the Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260202-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Out the north of the Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260214.jpg\" title=\"Beaver lodge\" data-rl_title=\"Beaver lodge\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260214-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Beaver lodge<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260206-1.jpg\" title=\"Brilliant colours in the north of the Trench\" data-rl_title=\"Brilliant colours in the north of the Trench\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-9\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P6260206-1-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Brilliant colours in the north of the Trench<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watson Lake has a dedicated camp site for pilots, and I met two pilots in a Cessna 170 who were on their way south. We had dinner together, keeping out of the drizzle in the pavilion, before turning in in our respective tents. I was now far enough north that it was not getting fully dark at all in the nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-21.39.19.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-21.39.19.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-21.39.19-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-21.39.19-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/2018-06-26-21.39.19-480x270.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Camped out at Watson Lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/01\/15\/alaskanada-arrival-in-alaska\/\">Click here<\/a><\/strong> to read the next part of the story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Arrival into Canada was, as always, fairly straightforward. I&#8217;d had to buy a &#8220;customs decal&#8221; for $28 in advance to place on the airplane (seems to have no other purpose than a tax), and then file an e-apis declaration online with the US CBP. Apart from that, it was just filing a VFR flight plan online, and calling the Canadians to let them know about the arrival. The flight was a short, less than 30 minute hop up to Vancouver&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/01\/14\/alaskanada-british-columbia\/\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alaskanada"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1328"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27577,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1328\/revisions\/27577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}