Midnight Sun
Parkwest Air Tours has answered the call of the wild and organized a fabulous tour to the Land of the Midnight Sun. You will see spectacular mountains, sinewy glaciers, raging rivers and pristine wilderness all the way up to Fairbanks, just south of the Arctic Circle. There will be ample daylight to enjoy the scenic wonders, abundant wildlife and wild entertainment of the Last Frontier. Highlights include two nights in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, three nights in Anchorage, and three distinct destinations in the Canadian Yukon. Be a part of Alaska's aviation heritage: fly with us to The Midnight Sun.
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Day 1, Saturday, May 30th
Arrive Helena, MT by midday, and transfer to the Great Northern Hotel. We will conduct a comprehensive Tour and Flight Briefing at the hotel at 3:00 pm. Welcome dinner at local restaurant with other pilots and guests.
Day 2, Sunday, May 31st
After breakfast, we will depart Helena for Dawson Creek, British Columbia, the start of the Alaska Highway. We will stop en route for Canadian Customs and fuel at Springbank, Alberta, near Calgary. After checking into the George Dawson Inn, we'll visit the Northern Alberta Railway Park, the true "Mile 0" of the Alaska Highway, and the Dawson Creek Station Museum.
Day 3, Monday, June 1st
After breakfast and briefing, we will launch for the flight of a lifetime: northwest along the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory. This highway route provides some dramatic scenery and remote wilderness, albeit with the safety of the highway beneath you. We'll stop for fuel in Fort Nelson and Watson Lake, both original airports for the Northwest Staging Route en route to Whitehorse. After checking in to the Gold Rush Inn, we'll use the ample daylight to enjoy downtown Whitehorse, and get a flavor for the river history of the Yukon.
Day 4, Tuesday, June 2nd
Today we'll finally touch down in Alaska, first in Northway (to clear US Customs), then Gulkana (for fuel), then onward to McCarthy. After tying our planes down, we'll make the short drive to Alaska's largest ghost town: Kennicott. Home to our gorgeous Glacier Lodge, the town itself is a National Historic Landmark and site of one of the world's richest copper ore deposits. After lunch, we'll step back in time and take a historic tour of the town and 17-story mill facility.
Day 5, Wednesday, June 3rd
No fly day (unless, of course, you want to!). Take time to enjoy the alpine wilderness and scenic beauty as you soak in our largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias which surrounds this town and lodge. Options include river rafting, glacier hiking, or simply relaxing on the front porch of the beautiful lodge.
Day 6, Thursday, June 4th
Today's will be a spectacular flight, contrasting high rugged peaks on the right with ocean scenery on the left. We'll fly down the Copper River to the Gulf of Alaska, then follow the coast to Anchorage's Merrill Field. We will spend three nights in the heart of Anchorage, allowing plenty of time for ground and flightseeing opportunities around the region. After we get settled in, we'll take a trolley tour of Alaska's largest city.
Days 7 and 8, Friday and Saturday, June 5th and 6th
Use your free days in Anchorage to explore beautiful south-central Alaska. There is a multitude of activities available, including day trips to Denali, bear country, or the Kenai Fjords.
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Day 8, Sunday, June 7th
After breakfast, we will fly to the land of the Midnight Sun, flying though the Alaska Range to Fairbanks. Hopefully we'll get a glimpse of Denali, the highest peak in North America! After checking in to the hotel, we'll set sail on the Riverboat Discovery for a cruise on the Chena and Tanana Rivers.
Day 9, Monday, June 8th
From Fairbanks, we'll make our way back to Canada, this time to Dawson City, the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush. After checking in to the Downtown Hotel, we'll take a walking tour to learn about the town with its wide streets, historic inns, and diversity of activities. In the evening we'll go out for a lively show at Diamond Tooth Gertie's, and perhaps induct a few of you into the Sour Toe Club.
Day 10, Tuesday, June 9th
No fly day. Enjoy the Klondike! You can pan for gold, be led on a historic walking tour, visit the mineral dredges, or stroll the cemeteries of this interesting town.
Day 12, Wednesday, June 19th
Leaving Dawson City, we'll fly up the Yukon and Pelly Rivers to Faro for fuel, then over the Saint Cyr Range to Watson Lake. After settling in to the hotel, we'll explore the famous Sign Post Forest and the Alaska Highway Interpretive Centre.
Day 13, Thursday, June 11th
After breakfast and briefing, we will launch for another spectacular flight: south through the Rocky Mountain Trench. This countryside includes some of the most dramatic scenery and remote wilderness in Northern Canada. We'll stop in Mackenzie for fuel, then carry on to Golden, Canada's "ultimate Rocky Mountain destination."
Day 14, Friday, June 12th
We'll continue our journey south down the trench and in to Montana, stopping for customs and fuel at Kalispell. From there, we'll hop over the Continental Divide and continue on to Helena. We'll relive our great memories at the Farewell Dinner.
Day 15, Saturday, June 13th
We'll say good-bye in Helena and follow our respective routes home.
PLEASE NOTE: Weather conditions may affect this itinerary. Please see the weather information on our FAQ page for more information regarding weather delays. Due to the unpredictable and often unsettled weather patterns of northwestern Canada and Alaska, we will have to fly with ceilings and visibility lower than those encountered on the other Parkwest Tours. We will not compromise safety, but will be prepared to fly in low VFR conditions or even file IFR and fly in or above IMC. Because of this, all pilots must be instrument rated, current, and proficient. Additionally, all aircraft must be instrument-capable, have a cruise speed of at least 135 knots TAS, and be able to fly 3.5 hours with an hour reserve. |
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