The Professionals Choice

With our Bush Hawk XP ski-plane we specialize in drop offs and pickups for mountain climbers and skiers.

We can accomodate expeditions in the Chilkat mountains and Mt. Fairweather ranges from Haines and The Wrangell-St. Elias mountains from Haines and Yakutat, Alaska. Call for more information.

Photo from the top of Mt Fairweather

PRESS RELEASE:

For the 2009 climbing season we had these 3 stand out climbs. In April we took Paul Knott and Guy McKinnon for the first ski plane landing in the John's Hopkins glacier canyon that allow them access to nothing but unclimbed routes on that aspect of the Fairweathers. They climbed Mt Bertha on April 26 09 via the Northwest Ridge, and on May 2 09 they climbed Peak 8,599' which is north of Mt Crillon and east of Mt Orville. Featured in Climbing Magazine

A week later I took Paul Schweizer and Simon Yates for a landing at the 8,500 foot level on Mt Vancouver. They made the first Alpine Style accent of the SW ridge. Read the trip Report. We thought that they were going to be the first ever to climb via the SW ridge but later learned that in 1968 it was actually siege climbed by a Japanese expedition from the Canadian side. They had a 10 member team, 3 of whom died in the process and only 2 of whom reached the summit after 13 days on the mountain.

And in late May we took the Summits of Canada team James Coleridge and Len Vanderstar to Mt Fairweather for an ascent of the north route. Which can be followed at www.summitsofcanada.ca as well as their climb of Mt Logan in 2008.

Mountaineering support in the St Elias Range

I have supported climbers and skiers since the mid 1990's. Among many highlights are groups on Mt Fairweather, including the Carpe' Ridge, Mt Lituya and the classic Grand Plateau glacier. Mt Logan we land in position for the Kings Trench route. Mt Cook (see Outsides Mags Parting shot in Nov 2005), Mt Vancouver South Buttress, Mt Hubbard, 1st Assent of the North peak on Mt Foresta and many others. The most impressive I think was a few years ago I had 3 women and 1 guy from Canada traverse from Haines to Cordova in 55 days, climbing up the East Ridge on Logan and down the West Kings Trench..

Mountaineering Mt Logan, St Elias Range

In 2008 we supported James Coleridge and Len Vanderstar from www.summitsofcanada.ca on Mt Logan. They had 40 plus days worth of gear, skis, sleds, satellite up links and measuring equipment to measure the height of Mt Logan. And the Bush Hawk was able to take them in and out in one load each way. The Bush Hawk is like having a plane and a half for the bulky loads. When conditions are right and the climbing team is on the smaller side I have taken 3 climbers and gear to various locations.

Ski Mountaineering Mt Cook, St Elias Range

Read about skiing Mt.Cook from one of our clients.

Ask the Pilot.

I have flown over Glacier Bay and the St Elias since 1992. There are changes, obviously in the glaciers and snow conditions due to warming, most years. So the Classic reads of past climbers might be a little off the mark if the climb took place many decades ago. We notice these changes and really the pilots of a given area are the best source of current info.

Good Things to know: You can mail part of your gear up to me in Haines, Alaska via the United States Postal Service (Parcel Post) for a reasonable price, allow 3 weeks. I require you to have a Satellite phone to coordinate the pick up, which you can rent in Haines. There are plenty of butane canisters and white gas here as well.

Did you know?

Climate Change: Glaciers are part of the climate. Virtually all of Alaska's glaciers have been shrinking for about the last 250 years, losing more ice through melting or calving than they gain through snowfall. But seemingly small changes in temperature or precipitaion can tip the balance. Glaciers worldwide are under comprehensive long-term study. The Mendenhall Glacier and the Juneau Icefield have hosted the longest continuous research program in North America.