Flick 2014 Journey: Anchorage II

Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska with a population of over 300,000, 40 percent of the state's total population lives in Anchorage. Most of the land in Anchorage's city limits is uninhabited and mountainous. Anchorage grew from a railroad town (1920) to a major air traffic today.

Never saw so many 747 Cargo Planes at one time, landing and taking off. The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (TSAIA) is the world's third busiest airport for cargo traffic, surpassed only by Memphis and Hong Kong. This traffic is strongly linked to Anchorage's location along "great circle" routes between Asia and the lower 48. In addition, the airport has an abundant supply of jet fuel from in-state refineries located in North Pole and Kenai. This jet fuel is transported to the Port of Anchorage, then by rail or pipeline to the airport.

1/2 of the small planes registered in the US are located in Alaska. Since much of the state is remote with no roads the main access vehicle is an airplane. An individual can earn their pilot license at 15, before their driver's license. Seaplanes are very common.

Homes along the lakes have their planes parked, not a boat.

Vintage Beaver

Small houses next to the planes are called "Dog Houses". You can guess why.

Anchorage sits in a valley surrounded by mountains. Yes they still had snow in June.

A hike to the top of Flattop Mountain gave an excellent view of the city. This is the local and visitor favorite, fairly short but a challenge. The last 100 yds. is scrambling over rocks.