Our Story
Snowking Mountain
Elevation: 7,433 ft. (2,266 m.) Lat/Long: 48.408°N / 121.275°W
Snowking Aviation is named after Snowking Mountain, just visible from our home airport: Mears Field in Concrete, WA. Located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, Snowking Mountain may well be the largest mountain under 8,000 ft in the North Cascades–however, the summit is not readily visible from any highway. The Snowking massif is spread out over 10 square miles and contains several false summits. The true summit remains hidden from roads and is only visible by air (or by foot!).
Dominated by glaciers, sapphire blue lakes, granite walls, and thick Pacific Northwest forest, Snowking Mountain is a spectacular part of our wild backyard. We are proud to celebrate the mountains of the North Cascades.
Our Locations
The North Cascades
We currently divide our time between Northwest Washington and Southcentral Alaska. Our Pacific Northwest base is Mears Field, a community airport located in the heart of the North Cascades. Mears Field is 95 miles northeast of Seattle in the upper Skagit River valley.
The airport is surrounded by emerald forests and mountain peaks. Elk, deer, coyotes, and eagles are frequent visitors, and just a short walk away the Skagit River supports all five species of pacific salmon and two species of native trout.
A community of local aviators and friends regularly gather at the pilot lounge for hangar talk and coffee. The pilot lounge is fully equipped with bathrooms, showers, a kitchen, public computer terminal, and free wi-fi. It is available to pilots, their guests, and our customers. All are welcome.
Alaska
The big, wild frontier of Alaska is our home. We live and fly there seasonally, and we routinely ferry airplanes between Alaska and the 48 States. Our base is located in Talkeetna, Alaska, just 25 air miles southeast of Denali National Park.
Talkeetna has played a key role in the history of bush flying in Alaska, and it remains a hub of aviation activity. This small, historic village has evolved into a booming tourist town, and scenic flights of Denali, fly-out guided adventures, salmon fishing, and jet boating are some of the area’s popular activities.
THE AIRPLANES
The Super Cubs
Our 160hp Piper PA18s (Super Cubs) are two seat, single-engine, high wing, tailwheel airplanes. The Piper Super Cub is Alaska’s quintessential bush plane, and ours have storied histories of bush flying in the Last Frontier. They transports us to high alpine ridge-tops, snowy glaciers on Denali, braided river gravel bars, and tiny mountain lakes.
Our Super Cubs can be outfitted with floats, skis, and tundra tires for access to the wildest places. They are currently configured with 35″ and 31″ Alaskan Bushwheels, and are used primarily for aerial photography and backcountry scoping flights. The overhead skylights, lower doors, and side windows provide clear visibility in all directions. Both passenger side windows can be opened during flight for crystal clear photographs. The airplanes are capable of slow flight and are maneuverable for close-up perspectives. The Super Cub is the best airplane for aerial photography in the mountains, and flying in one is a thrilling experience.
The Skywagon
Our Cessna 180 Skywagon is a four seat, high wing taildragger. We fly on 31″ Alaskan Bushwheels suitable for unimproved backcountry airstrips. Bubble side windows offer clear, unobstructed views.
Skywagons operate well out of most short and rough airstrips, and they carry a good load. They are no longer in production and are highly sought-after bush planes.
This plane includes many mountain flying modifications. The three-blade propeller is quieter, smoother, generates more thrust, and provides greater ground clearance. The P Ponk engine upgrade adds horsepower. The Sportsman’s STOL kit increases wing efficiency with a re-engineered leading edge airfoil, and micro vortex generators on the wing and empennage improve the airplane’s slow flight performance.
The Pilot
Wayne Mushrush
An accomplished Alaska bush pilot, alpine and river guide, Wayne has traveled to some of Alaska’s wildest places–from Katmai to Kluane. He has logged many hours flying air tours in Denali National Park and the North Cascades.
Wayne trained in architectural design and historic restoration on Nantucket Island and led numerous projects there. He now divides his time between Alaska and the beautiful Pacific Northwest.