This day would probability be the absolute highlight of our trip. Our chance to see the "real Alaska". What better way than to do this with a Beaver floatplane. We headed to Trail Ridge Air, based at Lake Hood SPB. We started from Lake Hood with two DHC-2' beavers heading west. The scenery changed quickly. After a swamp river delta west of Anchorage our flight continued into the mountains where the scenery changed to winter with lots of snow and ice. Between the mountains we made some Beaver air-to-air shots, great! After flying around a glassier we made a water landing at Beluga lake, which can't be reached by road. After landing, we hiked along the shore of the lake. Later when light rain started we went back to Anchorage.

On our way back we flew over Mt Sustna (4396ft), which took a lot of the beavers engine. Before landing on Lake Hood we made our second water landing on Big Lake. The pilot wanted to show us how the Alaskans life in the weekends. Great houses on the lakebed and a floatplane garage next to it.

This flight was an great experience, 2 and a half hours of flying and our first wildlife spotting, including moose, beluga dolphins and bears!

In the afternoon we were surprised with a KC-97 inbound to Fort Wainwrigth. Attempt two to access the base was successful, thanks to the change of guards. We visited BLM Aviaton, home of the smoke jumpers, normally using a C212 an a Do228.

Due to fires in the Fairbanks neighborhood, there were two Privateers firebombers, a Neptune (not in service) and the KC-97, one of two still flying aircraft of this type worldwide! We made great pictures of the bombers in action and went inside after there last drop of the day. The second highlight of this trip.