PIREP Sled-2 (Anchorage - Atlin, BC - Anchorage)

Photo: "the four light VASI is now a three light VASI"

Well Boss I got there and back, I guess that's something? I used the outer island route suggested for the trip down and use the inland route coming back.

I was not able to do any cross checks for distance. Failed to record the time crossing the Haines NDB which was the FAF. Estimated a decent point by the terrain ahead and faster swing of the ADF. Went down one ridge too soon and had to climb back up to cross to the other side and to it all again. Finally found the airport nestled in the depression and landed 36 as suggested, winds were 330/00. Came in a little low over the beach and had to yank it back up with a resulting dive at the threshold, bounced a little and ballooned. The wind that didn't exist pushed it sideways and the four light VASI is now a three light VASI. Look for two white and one red when on glide path landing there now. Good thing I had a jack and a spare wheel in the luggage compartment, the light mounting tore the side out of the tire.

Took a while to load and secure everything. Brought Carolyn Moore, and the sleds to the Cargo area Anchorage.

The trip back I made a big screw-up. I recorded a heading for departing one waypoint as 253 and it should have been 291. I have no idea where I got the 53 from, did not match anything I could find any place. It was a 117.6 Nm leg and by the time of signal loss I was off in la la land. Kept my wits about me and made all the turns planned on time as though I were on course. I ended up very far south west of the planned course and missed the next two check points, never able to establish signal reception. At some point I crossed back north of the planned course and was very close to clicking on the GPS when I found the third waypoint, Galeana NDB off my left wing at 10 o'clock, not too far, 12 minutes or so to get there. After nearly an hour wandering around off course the bleep, bleep, bleep of the radio aural identifier sounded so sweet. That got me back on course. From there to the MATTA intersection was only 116.7 Nm and a 33 Nm descent into Anchorage tracking direct to Campbell Lake. ATC was playing ther usual games stacking traffic on 14 both in and out so I switched the radio off, crossed 14 and landed 7L. I am going to stop all AI, it is nothing but a nuisance.