AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 72
The weather is changing as Sonn ascends Denali, formerly
Mount McKinley, but this is normal on the highest peak in North
America. With a summit elevation of 20,310 feet, Alaska's Denali is
a popular climb. His passengers leave the swiftly moving Susitna
River and the lush spring greens of the tundra behind as Sonn flies
them toward the Denali base camp, at 7,200 feet msl on the southeast fork of the Kahiltna Glacier.
The straight-line distance from Talkeetna Airport is less than
50 nautical miles, but the route is longer as the single-engine turboprop weaves among much lower peaks until reaching One Shot
Pass-the most direct route to the base camp-at 9,500 feet.
"The mountain is alive-the environment is alive. The tectonics of the whole thing. You're dealing with 30 billion years and 60
billion years," Sonn explained. "And there's a culture of people that
go out there and thrive in it. The frostbite, the hypothermia, the
emotional challenges."
And he's noticed more changing on Denali than today's weather.
"You'll see one point on the rock and know it used to be under the
snow." Talkeetna was under 4,000 feet of ice 20,000 years ago, he
said, and some areas have lost 350 feet of ice since the 1940s. "We're
being challenged by the roughness of the [glacier] strips earlier in
the season," he added, because there sometimes isn't enough snow
to refresh the surface.
Sonn has been involved in Alaskan aviation for 20 years. He
started as a guide, loading airplanes with boats and riding in the
right seat on flights out to gravel bars. "Inevitably they let you fly,"
he said, and Sonn earned his certificate in Alaska. "I was learning
from aviators with incredible backcountry experience. I realized
how valuable that was, and I paid attention.
"And it was cool airplanes-Super Cubs, Maules. It's 'hop in,
let's go.'" People use airplanes here like they use cars elsewhere, he
said. "I was lucky to have that experience." Also a seasoned skier,
emergency medical technician, and skydive pilot, he's flown for
K2 Aviation for seven years.
Continued on page 75
"T
"The mountain is alive-
the environment is alive.
The tectonics of the whole thing.
You're dealing with 30 billion years
and 60 billion years. And there's a
culture of people that go out there
and thrive in it. The frostbite,
the hypothermia, the emotional
challenges."
-Chip Sonn, glacier pilot
72 | AOPA PILOT January 2012
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018
Contents
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - Intro
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - Cover1
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - Cover2
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - Contents
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 2
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 3
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 4
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 5
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 6
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 7
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 8
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 9
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 10
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 11
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 12
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 13
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 14
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 15
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 16
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 16A
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 17
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 17A
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 18
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 19
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 20
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 21
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 22
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 23
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 24
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 25
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 26
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 27
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 28
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 29
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 30
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 31
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 32
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 33
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 34
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 35
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 36
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 37
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 38
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 39
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 40
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 41
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 42
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 43
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 44
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 45
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 46
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 47
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 48
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 49
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 50
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 51
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 52
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 53
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 54
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-1
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-2
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-3
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-4
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-5
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-6
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-7
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-8
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-9
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-10
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-11
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-12
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-13
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-14
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-15
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - T-16
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 55
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 56
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 57
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 58
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 59
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 60
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 61
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 62
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 63
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 64
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 65
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 66
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 67
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 68
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 69
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 70
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 71
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 72
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 73
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 74
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 75
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 76
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 77
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 78
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 79
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 80
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 81
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 82
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 83
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 84
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 85
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 86
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 87
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 88
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 89
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 90
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 91
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 92
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 93
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 94
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 95
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 96
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 97
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 98
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 99
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 100
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 101
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 102
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 103
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 104
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 105
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 106
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 107
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 108
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 109
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 110
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 111
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 112
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 113
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 114
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 115
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 116
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 117
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 118
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - Cover3
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/turbinepilot_201103
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com