Which trail is the best trail in Alaska to hike? The one you’re hiking on, of course! Pick out a trail and gear up! Hiking Alaska is like hiking an area the size of thirteen states. It’s as big as Texas times two. Alaska has the largest National Park on…

Eight-five-seven Charlie was a 1948 Stinson model 108–3. She was born red. In the last year of her life, she changed her dress, and she became metallic blue, with a white stripe running the entire length of her somewhat pudgy fuselage. Before becoming blue, she looked her age — one…

Charlie’s pilot traveled to Southwest Alaska in the old 1948 Stinson Voyager, 857 Charlie. Charlie’s pilot’s daughter, her friend, and her friend’s father completed the party. They flew through scenic Lake Clark Pass and landed at Iliamna. The girls sat in Charlie’s swing-back seat, aged with forty years of use…

“Ted,” said Charlie’s pilot, as Charlie pointed her faded red nose north, “I know a place where an old, woods-wise moose hangs out. Let’s motor over there and take a look.” Ted and Charlie’s pilot were on their way to rendezvous with one of Ted’s friends for a fly-out caribou…

Gravel sprayed off the big tires of 857 Charlie and peppered her horizontal stabilizer. Her aeronautical designers back in 1947 never envisioned her landing on a gravel bar off the Big Susitna River in Alaska. She was made to fly from airport to airport in the South-48, but with bigger…

Charlie had successfully carried her four subsistence hunters to a proper conclusion. Each had taken a moose, dressed it out, and cut it up in pieces small enough to be carried in Charlie’s cockpit. …

Charlie’s pilot guided the 1947 Stinson from frozen lake to frozen lake at about 800-foot altitude. It was late November, weather was clear — crystal clear — but it was cold — almost bitter cold. The plane’s tiny cockpit was heated, but not enough to be entirely comfortable without those…

Gravel sprayed off the big tires of 857 Charlie and peppered her horizontal stabilizer. Her aeronautical designers back in 1947 never envisioned her landing on a gravel bar off the Big Susitna River in Alaska. She was made to fly from airport to airport in the South-48, but with bigger…

Ted Pyrah has a heart big as the Matanuska Valley in which he resides. His big heart caused him to agree to accompany a lady senior citizen caribou hunter the air taxi operator would not take out alone. “I don’t know whether he’s afraid for me or of me,” Helen…