Sky Trekking

If you want to see the real Alaska that lies beyond the end of the road…

Your means of access is a float, ski or amphibious aircraft. Small parties (2-6 people) are flown and guided by experienced pilot guides from point-to-point. The aircraft is reserved exclusively for your party. Times are kept reasonable so that more time can be spent on location pursuing activities. Sometimes local guides assist our groups. We secure the finest accommodations available and plan catered meals so you will be comfortable and satisfied. These are carefully planned trips where all of the details are taken care of and delivered for you.

We specialize in custom aerial tours of Alaska. Via your own private bush plane and pilot. We provide you with an exclusive opportunity to experience Alaska’s most hidden treasures.

We are committed to providing travelers with the highest quality experience within Alaska’s greatest wilderness areas. We specialize in small group treks ranging from one to ten people. In a state that is mostly inaccessible by road, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking perspective of Alaska’s most rugged and stunning wilderness from the vantage point of your own private bush plane.

Our world-class fly-fishing, kayaking, and hiking activities can be tailored for active adventurers, family groups, children or seniors.

Sky Trekking Alaska is unique among adventure tour operators in four ways:

	Innovative Itineraries - Our adventures feature the best, seldom-traveled backcountry areas in Alaska and are based on years of planning experience.
	Exceptional Quality - Sky Trekking Alaska’s mix of comprehensive services and tour quality is unsurpassed. We take the work out of your vacation and handle all the advance planning and trip logistics.
	Small Personal Groups - Get away from the crowds rather than travel with them. We have one of the lowest guide-to-guest ratios in the industry, never exceeding 1 to 4.
	Local Pilots and Guides - Having been to each destination and often designing the trips after our own experiences, we are able to provide first hand information about the Alaskan environment.

	Where We Operate As a Federally licensed Air Carrier, Sky Trekking Alaska is certified to operate in Alaska, Canada, and the continental United States. Our itineraries are carefully designed to take you through some of the world’s most spectacular and remote scenery in Southcentral, Southeast, Southwest, Arctic, Western, and Interior Alaska.
	An Orvis-Endorsed Expedition Sky Trekking Alaska was chosen as an Orvis-Endorsed Expedition based on our reputation for superior client service, our proximity to exceptional fishing areas, and our ability to deliver an experience that is filled with the best Alaska has to offer. An Orvis endorsement is your assurance of expertise, standards, and integrity you can rely on.

Our Pilots and Crew:

	Lori Michels, Chief Pilot and Owner Lori obtained her training at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington from 1979 to 1981. As chief pilot, Lori has logged almost 10,000 hours of flight time. She holds FAA certificates for Airline Transport Pilot, Commercial, Instrument, Multi-Engine Land, Multi-Engine Sea, Single-Engine Land and Single-Engine Sea. She is certified to fly worldwide and has logged hours in Russia, Europe, Mexico, Central and South America.
	Martin Anzelini, Director of Maintenance Marty is a certified Airplane Inspector with over 15 years of experience. He owns and operates Anzelini Aircraft Services, which specializes in maintaining and rebuilding Cubs, Cessna 180/185’s, and Grumman Widgeons. Marty obtained his maintenance training from Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, Washington from 1980 to 1983. He is Private Pilot and Single-Engine Land certified and owns his own Piper Super Cub.
	Bill Dorman, Pilot Bill holds the following pilot certifications: Airline Transport Pilot, Multi-Engine Land & Sea, Single-Engine Land, and Single-Engine Sea. He has logged over 13,000 hours of flight time. Bill was raised in Alaska and is truly an Alaskan airman, having started his training as a teenager at Merrill Field in Anchorage. He has flown as a commercial pilot since 1982.
	Steve Carter, Pilot Steve began flying sailplanes in central Oregon in 1974, earning a commercial and instructor’s certificate. He received his aviation training at Lane Community College from 1978 to 1980 and currently holds the following certificates: Airline Transport Pilot, Multi-Engine Land and Sea, and Single Engine Land and Sea. In 1981, Steve began flying commercially in Alaska, logging over 6,000 hours throughout the state.
	Jeremy (Jay) Kelley, Pilot Jay holds the following pilot certifications: Airline Transport Pilot, Multi-Engine Land, Multi-Engine Sea, Single-Engine Land, Single-Engine Sea. He has been flying in Alaska since the early 70s and has 22,000 hours of logged flight time. Jay lived in Cordova, Alaska for fifteen years and flew there as an air taxi pilot and commercial fish spotter. Growing up in Seattle, Jay received his pilot’s license in 1960 and was a flight instructor at Boeing Field for a few years before moving to Alaska. During the winter, Jay flies volcano tours in Hawaii.

Federal Aviation Regulations require certification when providing air transportation of persons or property for compensation or hire. As a FAA Certified Part 135 Air Carrier, Sky Trekking Alaska’s pilots and aircraft meet or exceed FAA maintenance and training standards.

Our Company…

Under Part 135 operations, Sky Trekking Alaska is required to develop an Air Carrier Training Program, provide an FAA approved Drug & Alcohol Testing Program, prepare a Flight Operations Manual, develop a Hazmat Program for handling hazardous material, and register and show proof of insurance.

Our Pilots…

Under Part 135 operations, each of our pilots undergoes an annual flight check by the FAA to evaluate his/her knowledge, skills and abilities. Pilots are required to participate in our Air Carrier Training Program and keep documentation of training, flight, and duty times. The work history and flying experience of each pilot must also meet Part 135 requirements.

Our Aircraft…

Aircraft utilized in Part 135 operations must undergo a conformity inspection by the FAA and adhere to strict maintenance schedules and repair procedures performed by FAA certified personnel.

Our planes are equipped with two-way intercom systems that allow the pilot to easily converse with guests and narrate each flight. This narration focuses on the history, geology, geography, and native ecosystems that make Alaska such a unique place. Every passenger is given a window seat to enjoy the spectacular views.

Cessna 185

Single-Engine, Equipped with floats, wheels or wheel-skis.

Passenger capacity: 3

Range: 600 nautical miles per fueling

Grumman G-44 Super Widgeon

Twin-Engine, Amphibious

Passenger capacity: 5

Range: 600 nautical miles per fueling

Sky Trekking Alaska features the best available accommodations, from unique backcountry lodges to quaint B&Bs. We insist on clean, modern rooms with private baths. We look for peaceful, quiet settings that are surrounded by awe-inspiring mountains or beautiful lakes

We secure the finest accommodations available and create delicious catered meals so you will be comfortable and satisfied during the trips.

We serve meals prepared with fresh ingredients and provide coffee, tea, water, juices, and/or beer and wine with dinner. Let us know if you have special dietary needs and we will plan accordingly. For our excursions, Sky Trekking Alaska works with several Executive Chefs to create first-class menus that take advantage of Alaska’s abundant fresh seafoods. Our breakfast, lunch and dinner menus reflect an eclectic, contemporary American style with Asian and Spanish influences.

Witness “The Last Great Race” while seeing the heart of Alaska. Follow Alaska’s greatest winter event, the Iditarod sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, while partaking in a multitude of winter activities.

Alaska is a place of spectacular beauty and by March, the long hours of darkness are long gone. Sky Trekking Alaska now gives you an opportunity to see this winter wonderland while following the State’s premier winter event: the world famous Iditarod Sled Dog Race. This adventure begins in Anchorage and ends in Nome. During the trip you will enjoy numerous unique activities and experience a birds-eye-view of this intense, one of a kind race on the historic 1,049 mile Iditarod Trail as we follow the race and visit its checkpoints.

Dan and Lori Michels, your pilots and guides, will utilize two ski-equipped planes to fly you along the racecourse from checkpoint to checkpoint. Guests will have the opportunity to talk with the top mushers each day and absorb a keen understanding of the difficulties experienced by the teams as they battle this merciless trail and the relentless elements nearly 24 hours a day.

You’ll observe the race first hand while participating in numerous activities. You will get hands-on experience mushing a dog team, fishing through the ice, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Daily flight seeing is also part of the package, and the Expedition and Start Treks include a grand tour around the highest peak in North America, Mount McKinley, where you will marvel at its high granite cliffs and glacier filled valleys.

Catered meals will be served along the trail and all accommodations are clean, modern, and the best available from various hotels and B&B’s. In addition, cross-country seeing opportunities will include a trip around majestic Mt. McKinley and side trips to Eskimo villages to interact with native people. Wildlife that may be seen includes fox, wolves, wolverine, polar bear, moose, caribou, and musk oxen.

Overnight accommodations will be at five locations: Wasilla, Talkeetna, McGrath, Unalakleet, and Nome.

This adventure package trip includes all transportation, meals, activities and accommodations during the trek. Transportation to and from Alaska is not included. Space is limited to eight guests.