Yesterday morning I boarded Alaska Airlines Flight 17 from Miami to Seattle. At 6 hours and 20 minutes, it’s the longest flight in the Continental United States. From Miami the plane sets out on a Northwest trajectory across Southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The plane then flies over Louisiana,Arkansas, Texas,Oklahoma,Kansas,Colorado,Utah,Wyoming,Idaho ,Oregon and then Washington State.
At Seattle I boarded a Horizon Air prop plane for the short 45 minute hop up to Vancouver. Pictures are below :

Miami

Crossing the Mississippi.

Western Kansas Farms.

Praries meet the Rockies at Colorado Springs.

First Snow in the Rockies.

Red Desert in Wyoming.

Wyoming or Utah.

San Juan Islands,Washington State.

Coming in for a landing at Vancouver.

This week ArcticTropic will be attending the Adventure Travel World Summit in Whistler, British Columbia. The Summit is the most important event of the year for the adventure travel marketplace. It’s almost sold out – there may be a couple of spots left – check the site.

The schedule is very busy – seminars running from 8 in the morning until 7 at night – not surprising, since adventure travel is the fastest growing segment of the market.

The seminar is not all work and no play – each evening there are major dinner events- and on Saturday the 6th many outdoor adventure activities are planned. I will be climbing the Blackcomb Glacier. At this time of the year the glacier is not as snowy as the pictures on the link – however the snow is already starting.

My journey from Miami is a long one – including the longest flight in the Continental United States on American Airlines from MIA to SeaTac- 6 and a half hours, followed by a 45 minute puddle jumper ride up to Vancouver. After a day of exploration in Vancouver, I’ll head up the road to Whistler. My years in the tropics have led to the disappearance of winter clothes, so I’ll have to resupply in Vancouver ( though Miami has its’ share of ski shops).

Daily reports will begin on Tuesday.