Finding Lake Chandler

You are one of my best pilots and I have a special trip for you. About six months or so ago, I flew two explorers into Anaktuvuk Pass. They were checking on some ancient Eskimo folklore and had hired an Eskimo from Anaktuvuk to lead them on this expedition. At the time I didn’t know what they were looking for. They are now back at Anaktuvuk and want us to fly them to this lake that they discovered. They have the coordinates and the general heading they took and that is all I can give you. (Charts and maps were not as accurate or complete as today, remember we are flying in the fifties). So take the Goose and better take a couple of days of gear and food, as I don’t know what you will be in for.

PAKP – Anaktuvuk Pass

NBD name Hdg/Dist Freq ID

Anaktuvuk Pass At field 348 AKP

Runway 1/19 4800’ x 100’ Gravel/good Lighted Elevation 2103

After meeting with the explorers you have the information to lead you to the lake. Take a heading of 268 degrees out of Anaktuvuk Pass to the coordinates N 68 13.51, W 152 41.45. To the best of their calculations the elevation of the Lake is about 3000’. That’s it! The mountains in that direction are in the 6500’ range so better be ready to fly some passes to the lake and then down to the lake. Enough gear for a couple of days is loaded and off you go to somewhere and something you know little or nothing about. After your vacation <G> you head back to Bettles. Check your fuel and oil, as there is nothing out there.

Now that you are back tell me all about it cause while you where gone we had a meeting and plan on building a Lodge and Dock there as soon as we find a builder.

The truth is that the crews from Bettles flew this flight many times and had built a lodge there.