This is the Otter we used, kitted out with skis, to ferry half of us and our kit to the South East fork of the Kahiltna glacier. The flight stayed low below 8000 feet and took us through the infamous One Shot Pass before a smooth landing on the snow-covered “runway”.

On this flight, packing sharps and flammable liquids and gases did not seem to be a concern, but the pilot ensured we had all our essential survival gear with us on our plane in case the other plane with the rest of the team and gear couldn’t make it.