Alaska Flightseeing

Jason Lobo
	"A pilot I know wanted to see the whole state in depth. He's been flying for 20 years and still hasn't seen it all. " Who he is: Alaska resident for 12 years. Bush pilot for Wrangell Mountain Air for 7. Age: 32 Don't miss: Flightseeing. We like to say, "Denali's got a mountain, and we've got the rest."

Why did you come to Alaska?

I came up when I was 15 to work with my dad, who was a heavy diesel mechanic in Bristol Bay. I'd been up for two weeks when I looked around and decided I'd live here someday.

How did you get started flying?

A month or so after I arrived, a bush pilot let me fly his plane. I looked at my dad and said I wanted to be a pilot. The next summer I worked washing airplanes, then washing and loading them. Then I worked up to buying my own.

What is there about living in McCarthy that's unlike any other place in Alaska?

I guess McCarthy's like a lot of the Bush-the level of access and prep that's required. No traipsing down to the corner store. Gotta be fairly competent, just to live in the state. Compared to some villages, though, McCarthy's even more remote. We have the mail plane twice a week, but for other stuff, it's up to you to haul in the supplies.

What's your favorite book on Alaska?

The Flying North, a collection of stories about all the old bush pilots from the '20s.

What do you do in winter?

Some days you wake up and it's beautiful, so I'll go cross-country skiing. Or someone throws a dinner party, and it turns into a two- to three-day stay, just chatting and helping around the house. Every once in a while, it's just best to read a book. Everything slows down. The Protestant work ethic gets thrown out the window.

How would you spend your perfect weekend in McCarthy?

Well, it would have to be sunny. First, go out in an airplane for a daytrip into the backcountry. Fly over the mountains and glaciers and look down, awed. Then go romp-go hiking on the glacier. Look up and see these 20-30 foot headwalls that were bumps from the air. There are always neat and new experiences, finding different nooks and crannies you haven't explored before. Then just hang out at a restaurant, jaw-jacking and chatting. All adventures are followed by a beer at the pub. The Golden Saloon died in 1938, so this pub is the "New Golden Saloon."

What's your favorite local hidden treasure?

You can drink out of all the streams on the way to the Kennicott Glacier. Of course now someone's going to get giarrdhia.but in the last 10 years, it's been sweet and clear.

What's one experience or attraction you think visitors should not miss in McCarthy?

I'm a little biased, but flightseeing. This is something that's kept me entertained for seven years, doing the same job. And as we like to say, "Denali's got a mountain, and we've got the rest."

What's one thing about Alaska you think visitors may not know that you would like to share with them?

The whole scale and grandeur. Just looking at a map doesn't really show you. When you're planning a vacation, you need time to be flexible with weather, and to stop at a place you didn't know you'd love. Here's the best example I have of Alaska: a pilot wanted to see the whole state in depth. He's been flying for 20 years in bush planes and still hasn't seen it all.

If you had to plan a day with just $10-$20 in McCarthy, what would you do?

Well, that's $10 for lunch, and $10 for afterwards.If you're on a mountain bike, pedal up to Kennicott, or hike up the wagon road. Go exploring along the glacier-you don't need crampons. Hike up Bonanza for huge vistas of the valley.