(photo Ben) November 3148 Mike ( tail dragger plane- 3rd wheel is under the tail)Leaving Hagglin field next to Martin's house we head to the ridge above Kilo hot springs to meet Ed, Ann and Dan (and Sky!) who paddled the Yukon to the Ray Mountains and hiked 40miles in to the remote hot springs. It was my first flight in a bush plane and Martin was great pilot. He even let me control yoke and fly the plane!
On our way from Fairbanks we stopped on a sand bar on the Yukon River near the village of Rampart.
(photo Ed) Martin dropped me off on the ridge while he went to pick up Ben near the Yukon River. A thunderstorm moved in and I was unsure if they would be able to land. After a few passes they landed and in the rain we descended down off the ridge and into the bush to find the hotsprings.
The hiking was not too bad and we were so excited to find Dan, Ed, Ann and Sky amongst the trees. They had seen a grizzly not too far before this and were wondering what was stirring in the trees.
The hot springs were amazing! A section of river with many natural pools at different temperatures.
and room for all!
Right at the hot springs there is a gravel bar that made for great camping. Ben constructed a nice log bench to hang out. The rain ended and 24 hour daylight was nice at midnight.
Spooky valley from the plane and nearing the ridge for a landing.
The next day we all hiked up to the ridge above Kilo and Martin shuttled us out 2 at a time to the Haul Road where Ben had parked a car. The smoke was pretty heavy from wildfires and visibility was lower.
Dan and Sky flew last and Sky loved it.
Martin did several fly bys for Ben on the Haul road, it was quite a rush with him flying so close. Then he landed right next to the road on an abandon airstrip. What an incredible trip with good friends...
2 comments:
WOW you folks are one of the few,that I know who have been to Kilo,Hot springs.I was there in the early 80s.We flew in by chopper and we walked out along Mt Tozi,was very senic and we had a bear encounter everyday,including a grizzly charging us.I have been working on a book about the trip, pics as well.please e mail me respectfully Brian Johnson wasilla,alaska po box 870511
thetribe@mtaonline.net my primary e mail thnks
Hi I happened to run across this blog about kilo hot springs. My brother and his partner built the cabins up there.I spent allot of time up there usually in the spring when it was easy to get in and out by ski plane.We had allot of fun up there hunting caribou exploring the country and of coarse soaking in the hot water. At that time we had the cabins hooked up to the water year round so when you showed up the cabins were already warm even if you hadn't been there for 6 months. we rarely cut wood to keep warm except for the cook stove. So it was easy living to say the least. are the cabins still there? One of them had a tub just outside the door.If you ever want to hear some stories about the place I'd be glad to tell you. we always considered it an oasis in the wilderness and it sounds as though it still is. Gary Kendall email garykl2sz@gmail.com
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