Eric is a bush pilot in Western Alaska. Bush planes are the life line to the villages. This is how villagers receive everything from mail to food. That trip, Eric's plane was full of soda pop. No diet pop to my dismay! Bush planes also carry villagers to and from places. That is one of the only ways villagers can get where they need to go. Remember, there are no roads here, and there are very few cars in the villages. Most villagers get around by 4 wheeler, or snowmobile. In the summer time, villagers will travel to and from by boat, since all of the villages are on the river. The Kuskokwim and Yukon Rivers are the lifeblood of this area since most villagers live a subsistence lifestyle. That means they hunt, fish and gather for food. It is really quite amazing.
I enjoying flying around with Eric. It's a great way to see the vastness of this area. It is also a great way to meet interesting people. On this trip, I met a woman who drove her snowmachine from Marshall (where we are) to Bethel. They traveled the 150 mile journey during the winter and temperatures dipped down to 30 below zero. She also said they know this area so well, that they don't use a GPS. The journey took almost 12 hours. She said it was a bit cold, but not too bad. I am amazed at how tough the people are here. You have to be, or you will not survive.
Bush flying is not for the faint at heart. It can be very dangerous and the weather can change in an instant. Eric only has me fly on nice weather days, so that I will continue flying with him.
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