Tent- high winds capable

[Ramcam]

I use the Venus 2 it is excellent and underrated if you ask me.Big BIG vestibules low profile for wind, lots of guy outs.

 

[kodiakfly]

I am hoping that with fuel prices falling half of what they were that air taxi pricing will follow that somewhat. Guess we will see though.

I doubt you'll see much. Street gas is still just below $4.00 here, and aircraft maintenance and man-hours don't follow gas prices.

Sadly, we've not enjoyed the lower gas prices that most everyone else has.

 

[BRobertson]

I doubt you'll see much. Street gas is still just below $4.00 here, and aircraft maintenance and man-hours don't follow gas prices.

Sadly, we've not enjoyed the lower gas prices that most everyone else has.

Same here in Ketch, diesel is still $4.15,
and now that we are used to the higher prices, I think any price lowering will be a token amount!!

Bob

 

[Beendare]

Is float plane costs more in the early season than later in the year? I am hoping that with fuel prices falling half of what they were that air taxi pricing will follow that somewhat. Guess we will see though.

Get a quote beforehand- it might be the backbreaker for you. I've seen guided African hunts cheaper than the out and back float plane costs on Kodiak. All that $$$ to get into a plane that was originally built in 1953-57...and has had every part on it replaced..... at least once!

 

[luke moffat]

I have flown out on Kodiak more than a few times but always in oct or nov. Just curious why you think early season fly out is more than late season?

 

[BRobertson]

Get a quote beforehand- it might be the backbreaker for you. I've seen guided African hunts cheaper than the out and back float plane costs on Kodiak. All that $$$ to get into a plane that was originally built in 1953-57...and has had every part on it replaced..... at least once!

People that have not operated an air taxi or guide service here in AK cannot understand the cost of doing business here!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a start, the aircraft cost at least $ 300,000 and then the insurance is min of 10% of the value of aircraft per year,, plus liability insurance to support all the frigging scum lawyers, plus, plus.....
Of course, it has been a few years since I was involved, so everything is no doubt a lot more now!!

Bob

 

[Beendare]

I have flown out on Kodiak more than a few times but always in oct or nov. Just curious why you think early season fly out is more than late season?

Its not as far as I know.......

BR- yes crazy expensive to keep those planes in the air

 

[Ramshead]

FYI there is a Hille Nallo 2GT posted over at the BPL classifieds today for $550.

 

[luke moffat]

Luke,
Kodiak is getting more and more popular thats why we are looking at other options. I've done the early hunt twice so if I can be of assistance on that let me know. They have typically stopped growing by the second week of august- but still in velvet until early Sept. The problem with that early hunt is the float plane cost...so if you can mitigate that- you are golden. A flight that was $850 RT 15 years ago is now $1300+ one way. Those deer stick out like a turd in a punchbowl early and its easy to find spots on the mtn in the alders to setup camp out of the wind.

Hmmm not sure on pricing and it veries greatly based on where you go (how far out of Kodiak) but most of the time its less than $1K pp for flights in the beaver...if going all the way to the west end of the island is obviously more. But usually for me its somewhere between $750-$1K pp where I usually end up going.

 

[Archelk]

I finally saved up and purchased a Hilleberg Kaitum 3 person tent and I could not be more impressed. Me and my hunting partner share it and the room inside is unreal. I think total weight came in around 7lbs. So 3.5 lbs distributed between the two of us for a 4 season tent in any weather is light in my book. It is a tunnel tent and the first one I have had the pleasure of using and we love it. I am 6'01" and have plenty of head/foot space left inside. I have done the whole lightweight/minimalist thing and every year we hit a big rain storm and i hate being in a tiny one man tent all for the sake of saving weight. I have to be comfortable sitting out a storm and this tent serves the purpose and then some. The inner tent is yellow and the color seems to cheer ya up sitting out long storms. The inner tent can be taken out to save weight and increase even more room for the interior. If have yet to have any condensation issues. the venting set up options for the tent are endless. I can set this tent up in about 2 minutes and it's kiss simple. After paying the $$$ for this tent I now why they charge so much. Workmanship is top notch.

 

[Nick Muche]

Hmmm not sure on pricing and it veries greatly based on where you go (how far out of Kodiak) but most of the time its less than $1K pp for flights in the beaver...if going all the way to the west end of the island is obviously more. But usually for me its somewhere between $750-$1K pp where I usually end up going.

Agreed!

We flew (2 people) last July all the way to the south end of the Island, twice... It was 1900$ total. All depends on what kind of plane you are flying in, where you are flying and how the transporter figures out what to charge (Hourly, Mileage or flat rate per person).

 

[AK Troutbum]

Two beaver loads, round trip, to the south west end of the island last month, $5044.

 

[Nick Muche]

We (2 people) used a Nallo 3GT for a week in late October this past fall on Kodiak... It withstood the nastiest wind storm I have ever been apart of (sustained 60 mph with gusts I'd guess near 90mph)... We pitched it right in a pass and the wind blew like crazy for about 16 hours. It was crazy, but the tent held up.


When it's time to purchase a single man tent, I think I am going to go with the Nallo 2GT or just the Nallo 2 with a paratarp for gear. I am impressed with them and there was plenty of room.

 

[Nick Muche]

Two beaver loads, round trip, to the south west end of the island last month, $5044.

Holy moly... How many people split it though?

 

[AK Troutbum]

4 people and an extremely comfortable camp.

 

[Nick Muche]

That's not too bad then, worked out to be a pretty reasonable rate, with a very nice camp by the sounds of it.

 

[kodiakfly]

Who did you guys fly with?

 

[AK Troutbum]

I flew with Island Air twice this last year. One trip, one beaver to Terror lake $1250 total, and then our 2 beaver load trip to the far southwest end of the island.

 

[Romo]

Check out Terra Nova. 4 season mountaineering tents.

 

[Beendare]

Two beaver loads, round trip, to the south west end of the island last month, $5044.

Yeah, those long flyouts are getting expensive- everywhere. In Ak, pair a short season with costs to insure and maintain those planes- its expensive. A buddy chartered a plane for us in the Bahamas and it was crazy $$ down there too.