Ontario to Alberta via a 172

[Fishizl]

Hi Folks, leaving in a couple weeks to Edmonton area from Ottawa in a 172. Anyone done the trip in a GA aircraft that has recommended route airports to stop at or ones to avoid.?

[rookiepilot]

Bring a Spot device for N Ontario, esp if not following the highway. Be careful of weather off Superior. (Which is along the highway)

[digits_]

St Andrews, Winnipeg, Gimli, Regina, Saskatoon are all nice. North Battleford has self serve avgas I believe.

[khedrei]

From Springbank eastward we stopped in Steinbech. Walking distance to hotel and restaurants and cheap fuel. Then thunder Bay. You can reverse it i guess.

The SPOT tracker is a good idea around lake superior. We went in late summer and didn't use one but were always with ATC on IFR flight plan.

Survival kit is a good idea. Once you get to Manitoba the terrain is less scary.

Gore bay might be a nice first stop. Has good service, plug in, and normally has a courtesy car. Call in advance to check. Say hi to Robby if he's there. Then thunder bay maybe for the night.

[rookiepilot]

From Springbank eastward we stopped in Steinbech. Walking distance to hotel and restaurants and cheap fuel. Then thunder Bay. You can reverse it i guess.

The SPOT tracker is a good idea around lake superior. We went in late summer and didn't use one but were always with ATC on IFR flight plan.

Survival kit is a good idea. Once you get to Manitoba the terrain is less scary.

Gore bay might be a nice first stop. Has good service, plug in, and normally has a courtesy car. Call in advance to check. Say hi to Robby if he's there. Then thunder bay maybe for the night.

Gore bay is a nice stop.

To get to TBAY…..in one day….doable in a 172 before dark if winds aren’t too strong, starting early. I wouldn’t be eager to be flying in N Ontario at night.

ATC can’t hear or see you unless quite high, for a significant time along the NE Superior coast. At least last time I did it, at 9000 ft, over 100 miles with no contact. However, have #2 tuned to 121.50, there is always traffic higher up that should hear you. Know your position closely if away from the highway.

[khedrei]

I was never not in contact with ATC but they couldn't see me on radar. If you stay on the airways above the MEA you shouldn't have comm issues an there are PALs all over the place but if you are VFR there isn't much they will do for you unless you are in an emergency and you can give them your position. I'd have to recheck the MEA on the airways but I dont think comm is an issue. We flew the airway from YQT to the Marathon VOR and didn't lose comms ever.

[CpnCrunch]

You can check fuel prices on 100ll.ca and Foreflight, but check when last updated because quite often they can be out of date. (These days foreflight seems to be more up to date). Make sure to check NOTAMs for no fuel available, and always aim to land with an hour of fuel (I guess I shouldn't need to say that, but...) Smaller airports are usually cheaper and easier to park at.

[rookiepilot]

I was never not in contact with ATC but they couldn't see me on radar. If you stay on the airways above the MEA you shouldn't have comm issues an there are PALs all over the place but if you are VFR there isn't much they will do for you unless you are in an emergency and you can give them your position. I'd have to recheck the MEA on the airways but I dont think comm is an issue. We flew the airway from YQT to the Marathon VOR and didn't lose comms ever.

I flew YXL - Marathon VOR then direct Elliott lake, then south. Can’t recall exactly where I lost comms. It happens in places. Maybe too low for them.

[SamuelTheKitty]

Forget staying in Canada for this trip - get south of the border as quickly as you can and stay there as long as an efficient routing to your destination allows. More airports, more radar coverage, cheaper fuel (though maybe not with the exchange), nicer FBOs, warmer people, and likely better weather.

It'll probably add ~150NM to your overall distance, but having done that trip more times than I can count in a machine with similar speed/endurance, you'll be much happier.

[fish4life]

I’d echo the go south route. At the very least get to SSM then go south through the US around Lake Superior rather than north. You will have a ton more options for airports in case of any need to divert for weather or mechanical issues and more places to put it down safely if you have engine issues.
Make an EAPIS account and I think you will need to get a US Customs decal still but not sure it’s been a while.

[vanislepilot]

I did almost the same route (Toronto Buttonville YKZ to Edmonton) In a Cardinal C177

Stopped in Sault St Marie then followed the Superior coast/Highway 17 up to Marathon. Filled up and flew straight to YQK-Made lots of position reports with FSS (Bonus points if you use a VOR) then SAR will very quickly be able to locate you.

Landed in YQK bit the fueler tried to rip us off a $250 callout charge (After 7 pm, we landed at 7:05) so after relieving ourselves in the bushes we had enough fuel to get to Winnipeg. Overnight there then Yorkton, Saskatoon, Edmonton the next.

Always always always have enough fuel to get to the next airport. Especially the case in Ontario where there aren't many. One

If you leave in a few weeks you'll have lots more daylight so you should be able to get out of Ontario in a day. The rest of the trip is a cakewalk.

Enjoy flying along the Lake Superior coast, it's probably some of the njcest untouched scenery in the country

[lownslow]

Always always always have enough fuel to get to the next airport. Especially the case in Ontario where there aren't many.

This. Of YAM-YXZ-YSP there’s a decent chance at least one will be fogged in if you’re passing through outside METAR hours.

[EPR]

I went YOW to Sudbury, then to Sault Ste. Marie and on to Grand Rapids, pushing on to Grand Forks (over night) then to Regina and then YYC.

[broken_slinky]

+1 for doing the trip through the US. As mentioned there are way more options in the US for airports, FBOs, fuel, accommodations, courtesy cars, maintenance, etc... That said, I've done the Canadian side too and there is something about experiencing your own country.

[thepoors]

I did Winnipeg to Waterloo, and back, in a 172 in my time building days. Whenever I reminisce on that trip I think I must have been nuts...but it's definitely doable. The Canadian route is definitely an adventure. US route much safer, but you have the hassle of border crossings.

Anyway, like several have said Gore Bay is a great stop. Marathon is also a decent option along Superior. I would avoid Wawa, gets fogged in too often. After Thunder Bay you have Dryden and Kenora as options if you need to divert. Once you're into Manitoba it's stress free because you'll be able to land pretty much anywhere should you need to. Brandon is a great stop - nice museum at the airport.

It's a beautiful trip, enjoy and stay safe.

[FL_CH]

US is definitely a nice option but you will likely require ADSB OUT.

[7ECA]

From Ottawa, the best bet would be following the Trans-Canada highway towards Sudbury, etc. But, if you've got the time and inclination to divert a bit heading South towards the Toronto area, the Tobermory area generally is nice. Head across the gap of Georgian Bay/Lake Huron to Manitoulin Island and then pick up the Trans-Canada again and follow it out towards Sault Ste Marie, Wawa, Marathon. Overnight in Marathon so as to not go too nuts; but be aware that there ain't a lot of options for decent accommodation.

From Marathon, going to Winnipeg is a pretty easy four-ish hour flight on an average day in a 172. It's a pretty interesting transition when you cross the boundary between Ontario and Manitoba. From Winnipeg... you don't really have to worry too much. It's flat, and there's plenty of places to go and see along the way. If you're a Prairie type, then you'll have lots to see and do as you cross the flatlands. Head North if you've only ever been along the Trans-Canada, or vice versa.

[digits_]

I think there is some pretty extreme overthinking going on here. The part of Ontario you'd be crossing is relatively flat and there's a highway you can follow. How much easier does it need to be...

The northern part of Ontario and Manitoba are swarming with single engine piston aircraft...

[rookiepilot]

US is definitely a nice option but you will likely require ADSB OUT.

Only in US terminal airspace? Not sure?

My trips to the west have been: YYZ area -- Green Bay over the lake at 10,000 (not a good idea before summer) -- Rapid City SD -- Kalispell, MT -- Vancouver -- Calgary - Great Falls MT --Green Bay -- Home. Couple more fuel stops in there can't recall.

#2 -- long trip into US Midwest -- then north to Winnipeg -- Dryden - Sioux L - Home via Marathon and then Gore Bay, Home......

#3 -- Grand Canyon via US midwest, New Mexico, Arizona, home via Colorado and Midwest....no Canada that time.

US is more options. N Ontario is much more beautiful.

[RatherBeFlying]

The Northeast corner of Lake Superior catches the Southwesterly flow across a couple hundred miles of lake. The air picks up lots of moisture that produces clouds, fog and rain when it meets the steep shore. I've seen two planes sitting out the weather - a float plane in Gargantua Bay and an agplane that landed in a very rare stretch of straight and level highway by Agawa Bay.

The country is very rough. If the rubber band breaks, you don't want to end up far from the highway. Winter might be a better time as the lakes are frozen, which may be a better deal than landing in trees.

[NotDirty!]

Marathon has self serve/card lock fuel, which is a nice alternative to the rather steep call out charges at most of the other airports along that portion of the route. Also has some of the most interesting terrain of any airport in Ontario, other than probably Wawa.

[CH650B]

I'll be making a similar trip myself. equipped with a viking 130 (honda) engine. wondering if anyone knows any decent spots that offer mogas? Otherwise I'm thinking places with a crew car and filling a jerry can. -and decalin for the likely 100LL ill be stuck with

[khedrei]

Gore bay has one but I dont know if the gas stations in town have premium/ethanol free. Call Robby at the airport and check if the car is available. He probably knows about the gas stations too.

[BristolBay]

Making the trip next week from Ontario, Gore Bay, marathon, Dryden, Winnipeg. I will use ForeFlight and an area 660 for navigation and bring along a ZOLEO transmitter.

[rookiepilot]

Making the trip next week from Ontario, Gore Bay, marathon, Dryden, Winnipeg. I will use ForeFlight and an area 660 for navigation and bring along a ZOLEO transmitter.

Nice. Be aware radio coverage is a bit spotty in places, (too low) or at least last time I did it.