1 Wrangell (PAWG)
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Wheeled or Helicopter
(with autopilot best)

As you fly the river basin and as you approach Telegraph Creek, watch for the runway just off the river to port. (Approach) Turning a little to port will put you right on the lineup of the runway. Because the autopilot is doing the work and all is calm, you pull out your Alaska History book and look up Telegraph Creek:

Telegraph Creek gets its name from an overland telegraph line to Yukon, the assembly of which started in 1866. The project was stopped when the first Trans-Atlantic submarine cable was laid, then started again during the Klondike Gold Rush. The cable was finished in 1901, and abandoned in 1936, when wireless radio killed it. Though the Yukon Telegraph Trail is mostly overgrown over to the south of Telegraph Creek, a 265-km stretch still survives between Telegraph Creek and Atlin, and is open to the serious backpacker. The fascinating history of the Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek area dates back a century to the Yukon Gold Rush era. Telegraph Creek witnessed the discovery of gold by prospectors on the Stikine River in the 1860s, and was the head of navigation for paddle-wheelers during the plans for the Collins Overland Telegraph Cable.

Today, Telegraph Creek is a predominantly Native settlement, with many restored buildings dating back a century or more. There are many deserted historic buildings in the town itself, as well as some that have been restored, including the original Hudson's Bay Company Store, which is now a cafe, general store and lodge. Probably the most remote town in BC assessable by road, Telegraph Creek is reached via a rough Forest Service road that runs southwest from Dease Lake, passing through the Stikine River Provincial Park, skirting the Grand Canyon of the Stikine River, and passing through Telegraph Creek to end in Glenora, another gold rush boomtown in its heyday.

You watch for the runway, ease to port and land at Telegraph Creek to drop off 2 bags of mail and pick up whatever they may have for you.

NOTAM ALTITUDE to 3500 FEET It is best to fly about 3500 feet as we go around the "top" of the Stikine Circle heading for Iskut Village. This is at the near shore (for us) of the Eddowtenajon Lake. The airport is on the far side of the first lake. (Approach). . .Give it a low pass. If there is no car beside the runway, then they have nothing for you. You don't have anything for them, so if the car is not there, then just touch and go and head on down Eddowtenajon Lake. As you make this 50 mile trip to the next stop, look for the "cones of Iskut" ... the flight plan takes you over one.

• The Iskut-Unuk River cones are, strictly speaking, located in Canada. They are included here because flows from the Lava Fork valley flow south over the Alaskan border and into Alaska. From Wood and Kienle (1990): "The Iskut River cones comprise a group of six small basaltic centers in the southern part of the Stikine Volcanic Belt. The largest, Iskut Canyon Cone - a stratovolcano ~1 km across and 200 m high - is exposed on the steep southern slope of Iskut valley near its junction with Forrest Kerr Creek. This cone is the source of at least 10 thick lava flows which initially dammed Iskut River and are now exposed in a box canyon extending ~20 km downstream from the cone. The flows are divided into two groups separated by an erosion surface. A lower group of dark-colored alkali basalt flows predates wood that gave a C14 date of 8,780 yr BP. Wood from a gravel lens in an upper group of light-colored flows yielded a C14 date of 3,660 yr BP. Drilling to asses the hydroelectric potential of the canyon revealed that the subaerial flows are underlain by hyaloclastite resting on pre-eruption river gravel
• "A pyroclastic cone ~300 m high (Snippaker Creek Cone) near the west flank of Cinder Mountain is the source of a narrow, levee-bounded flow that descended Snippaker valley for ~20 km, almost to its junction with Iskut valley." Read more here.

As you leave set the altitude at 3500 feet. Leave Iskut Village airport on a heading of about 136 and this will bring you over Eddowtenajon Lake. Follow the wide valley for 52 miles to Bob Quinn Lake Airport. (Approach) This is a leisurely part of the trip, it is long and wide and safe .You've set up the gps to follow the deep river canyons of the Iskut River (which you will follow all the way back to "The Junction" with the Stikine.

NOTAM SAFE ALTITUDE 4500 FEET About a third of the way there, you can safely go to 2500 feet for a better view of the river. As you approach the airport, turn off the autopilot. Bob Quinn Airport will come up to port, land and exchange mail bags at the blue and while trailer. You bring a pouch of Robby White's favorite pipe tobacco. He's the postmaster of the area. Usually, you'll share a little lunch that he's brought from home..

After taking off from the airport, reset the autopilot for 2500 feet. Fly a heading of about 226 to go back out over the Iskut River Basin and continue following the river to the next and final mail drop at Bronson Creek. When the river turns to the west to about 250, Bronson Creek will be 13 miles ahead to port. As you approach from this direction, stay to the starboard shore before your turn to final.

NOTAM SAFE ALTITUDE 1500 FEET In this area you can safely go down to 1500 feet, making the approach to Bronson Creek easier. Turn off the autopilot and make a safe landing. Taxi to the end of the runway and you'll drop the bag at the little blue building there. Take off to fly back out over the Iskut River and turn to port following the river.