I said it before, and I say it again… One cannot visit Alaska without taking to the skies! I had been to Alaska once before and had a fantastic time flying around Talkeetna and Valdez. You can read about it in my blog (link in signature). So, this time, in early May of 2025, I went to Palmer and Seward instead. While I flew both an airplane and a helicopter last time, this time the flying was all by helicopter because the destinations (remote, inaccessible glaciers) required it.
After attending and teaching a “Rusty Pilots” seminar for AOPA at the Great Alaska Gathering in Palmer, I drove to Seward. On the way though, I took a side detour to Whittier via its unique one-way (timed) tunnel to take a cruise and see wildlife (though I actually saw about the same amount of wildlife from the air). The coolest part was getting really close to a couple of glacier walls.
It’s no surprise though that flying from Seward Airport (PAWD) and Wolfe Lake Airport (4AK6) topped it all!
From Seward, I had my eyes set on Bear Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. While I could not find an outfitter with a helicopter, I could fly myself (all Part 135 charters without dual controls required by insurance). I found a commercial outfitter, “Adventure Sixty North,” that needed to make a trip to Bear Glacier to get the summer season started! As can be seen in aerial imagery, Bear Glacier is only accessible by helicopter the majority of the year. However, the guides did talk about a time, usually with the snow melt, when the beach that blocks the Glacier’s lagoon gets flooded over, and low bottom boats and kayaks can get through.
A Robinson 66 took us up and around Resurrection Bay, to the east shore of the glacier. It was a fairly short flight. The “two normal helipads” were flooded since it was still early in the season, so we had to set down on the grass.
We were dropped off there for several hours while the tour guides erected a big tent and then we went kayaking on Bear Glacier’s lagoon. My expectations were high going into it, but they were exceeded. The helicopter ride in itself was beautiful, of course, but kayaking between icebergs was a first (and hopefully not a last) for me. Wow! I saw the statement “when you see an iceberg, you’re only seeing about 10% of it above the waterline” with my own eyes and I understand now why we need to learn to respect them and keep some distance from them. If they turn, and they will turn, or if they crack, and they will crack (we saw and heard several do both), they can push you, sink you, or flip your kayak (and the water temperature is not for the faint of heart!). We also saw and heard many avalanches on the surrounding mountains. One, in particular, was very wild to watch. It looked a bit like a waterfall, but it didn’t sound like a waterfall; it was much more violent. Good reminders that it’s important to respect mother nature!
Some icebergs were truly pieces of art: the colors, the textures, the sizes, and the shapes were all unbelievable.
It rained more than half of the day, but the weather was very nice in the afternoon on our return flight. The weather forecast often calls for rain showers and low ceilings this time of the weather, but with a good attitude and good gear, it doesn’t stop anybody or anything!
I learned that Pollux Aviation provides a good number of outfitters across Alaska with both helicopters and pilots. Their main hub is at Wolf Lake Airport (4AK6), and they have a flight school as part of it. Finding a Robinson 22 or 44 was easy with them. You’d think they are a Robinson dealer by the (full) look of their hangar.
I took a R22 since it was only me, and we were essentially staying at sea level with no luggage, I was not in a hurry timewise, and it’s significantly cheaper. Great decision!
Knik Glacier is the closest glacier to Palmer, and I had heard some great things about it. It did not disappoint. The entire flight was beautiful. I flew over the lagoon and river that comes down from the glacier, landed on the glacier itself surrounded by ponds, saw Colony Glacier in the distance, and made our way back to Palmer through a canyon. Helicopters really show off in these types of flights. The ability to land almost anywhere is just incredible!
Between both flights, I saw lots of mountain goats, a black bear (in the canyon by Knik Glacier), and moose (mostly along Knik River). From the water, I also saw bald eagles, sea otters, and Steller sea lions. Too early for whales and orcas.
Don’t take my word for it… go visit Alaska and experience it for yourself! Fly safe and fly often!
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