Jacque Retires in Style!

Jacque decided to retire!!

She did it with flare, and made a party out of it - like she does with everything.

Last week Dave and Jacque took their whole family (16 people!!) to Loreto, Mexico.

We stayed with some friends at their gorgeous beach house and spent our time relaxing, adventuring, eating, taking lots of family photos, and exploring the dirt trails on the Razor.

Swimming in the pool, turning the weight room into their Cave, and playing slap-pong.

One evening Lyle organized a ping-pong tournament. Dave was the Champ, Laura the Lu-hoo-zu-her.

Two other big events: scuba-diving and golfing on a gorgeous course - firsts for several of us.

One person liked to throw a fit when their ball went off course...

We rallied some stink eye from a few golfers when our 4 carts and 8 people raced past. We almost didn't notice though because we were having so much fun not being snooty!

One day we took a drive up into the middle of the Baja and explored a tiny little cobble stoned town, the mission church, and orange tree lined main street.

It was here we found a praying mantis that Bone's liked to pet. The mantis did not love it.

Then we explored a canyon and looked for cactus-wood, lizards and frogs. And we found them.

On the way home we stopped for dinner, and Jacque biked up a chilly margarita for us! It was kind of like her final LPA task. And she did it with a smile of course! Laura only had one sip before getting a roaring brain freeze. No one was surprised, but gave her sympathy anyway.

And no one will forget the day on our friends Yacht! Can you say highlight? We enjoyed all the boats, floaties, snorkeling and jumping we could. It was a spectacular day!

No one is looking for Dave to retire, but the celebration bar has been set pretty high whenever he decides he's ready.

Jacque - your partnership with Dave has made LPA what it is today. You've been a wonderful team mate. How will we survive without you?! Your presence in the offices and on the phones will be missed. Your quick thinking, care, and ability to manage all aspects of the company leave a huge void. Thankfully we know where to find you when we need you. We wish you lots of peace and excitement as you move towards the things God has planned for you next - he made you creative, joyful, and productive, so we know you're going to have a great time! We all love you so much! xoxo

New Staff!

They say hiring new employees can boost a companies overall positive energy.
Well actually they don't say that, but Lake and Pen does.

Katie came to us on sea legs, having just given up her sailing career to become a dispatcher. She brightens up the Port Alsworth office with her dimpled smile and get it done attitude.

Danny is a wizard with all things maintenance. He is pretty much the Captain America of LPA, he is excellent with customers, strong enough to handle any freight, and has been known to push around metal shields... that look remarkably similar to our freight carts.

Danielle is like the cherry on top of a delicious ice cream sunday on a hot summer day. It just seems right to have her around. She adds that extra touch to make LPA a fun and exceptional work place. You may find her in the Anchorage office, working away... or perhaps eating cherries!

Breanna came to Port Alsworth this summer with plans of becoming a wilderness explorer, but discovered her passion for being a dispatcher instead. She ditched the explorer status but still dabbles in the Wilder part, on her own time.

I hope you get a chance to welcome these fine folks to the team!

Our surprisingly multi-talented staff will make you smile - check them out on our website: lakeandpenair.com

UNLOCKING ALASKA!

It's Snow Use!

You can try and fight it but when snow begins to coat the world in a blanket of white fluffiness and all seems peaceful, you just can't help but feel that holiday spirit... at least that's the case here at LPA. You may even hear a Christmas song being sung, even if no one will openly admit to it.

Here's what the Port Alsworth hanger looks like when the ground is a carpet of snow. It may be no surprise we get snow each year but for some reason that first snow fall is so exciting!

 With the snow, we are now in the winter mode, plow machines are out, warm clothes are on, and sidewalks are shoveled.

Bones, especially, is enjoying the white stuff outside. The cold doesn't faze this kid. 

If you are looking for a Holiday getaway, a festive flight, or just want to join in the fun, visit one of our offices (Port Alsworth or Anchorage) or call us at 907-781-2228.

Unlocking Alaska!

6th Sourdough Fly-In

Thank you to everyone who came to Port Alsworth over the Memorial Day weekend!
We sure enjoyed having all the first timers who joined us, as well as catching up
with the old timers who've become like family over the years! Because, like they say...

The family who fly's together, stays together...

Or something like that...

Here are winners of 2015's Sourdough Fly-In...

5K:
Men: Beau Bracken 20:38

Women: Heidi Wilder 26:02
11-16 Boys: Callen Davis 20:56
11-16 Girls: Katie McGee 31:17
10yrs and under: Daniel Wardell: 24:56

Flying Competitions:
Shortest Takeoff: Jeremy Davis - 99 feet.

Spot Landing: Levi Althens (LPA Fly-In first-timer) - 1" off the line!

Water Ballon Drop: Andy Flack - 2'2" from bullseye.

Rifle Shooting: 
They were tied after the first round, so they did a shoot off.
Shane Mullins 59/60
Teresa Sobe 58/60.

Film Fest:
Dave Estrem's 4 minute "C-17 Montage"

Can't wait to see you all again next year!
Same time! Same place!

6th Annual Sourdough Fly-In: May 23-24 in Port Alsworth!

Are you coming?
It's going to be great...

Participate in the most beautiful 5K run.

Bring your plane and join the Flying Competitions!

Bring your kids too because we have fun games planned for them as well.

This year we're changing things up by providing a free Grill-Out dinner, instead of lunch.

Then the Coyote Creek Band will play as we dance the evening away - so wear your comfy shoes!

Join the Film Festival! To submit your film by May 20, contact: lyle@lakeandpenair.com

You won't want to miss the free yummy Sunday morning Pancake Breakfast.

And you'll for sure want to get your 2015 Fly-In T-shirt!

No Plane? No Problem! Call: 1-888-741-2228.

It's going to be great you guys!
Are you coming?

Summer is Coming!

Spring is here. 

The seemingly endless day, the blooming pussy willows, the fresh smell in the air, the mud everywhere all shout to the arriving spring, which in turn trumpets in coming summer.

Summer brings FISH! The great norther animal that brings all Alaskans so much.

Lyle and Heidi have a side business, fully supported by Lake and Peninsula Airlines, 

providing fresh, natural, high quality Sockeye Salmon to local Alaskans. 

Iliamna Fish Company 
sells shares of wild Alaskan Red Sockeye Salmon.  

Go to redsalmon.com, or to the front desk at LPA's Anchorage office,
 to find out more and to order your own shares before they're gone.

The time is now as summer is coming!

 Unlocking Alaska!

Iditarod Update...

 Typically the middle of the Iditarod Ruby was moved up in the schedule with the restart moved to Fairbanks. We were fortunate to stay at the Wild Iris B&B for two nights as the mushers moved through!

 Huslia was the midpoint of the race this year and the first time it has been included on the trail! The town was excited with the activity. All of us as well as the mushers saw the new location as a blessing and loved the energy! 

 Our first view of the Bering Sea coming into Unalalkleet!!

 Here is Dallas Seavey blazing out of White Mountain headed for Safety where Dude Like Hella who was part of our posse was waiting to chat with Dallas and see him through the checkpoint! 

Woohooo, Dallas wins his third Iditarod! I was a grip for one of the camera men holding his wires so he was free to roam around to film this monumental occasion!! It was a fun week on the trail with the KTVA ch 11 news crew and now I am happy to be home . . . planning our next adventure!!!

2015 Alaska Iditarod Dogsled Race

The Iditarod: the Last Great Race on Earth . . .

Lake and Peninsula Airlines is tracking this year's great Alaska Iditarod Race.

Currently the race is in full swing with hardy mushers traveling between Ruby and Huslia, Alaska.

As many of you know the Iditarod race is a 1,000-something mile long dogsled race honoring the rich Alaskan History of using dogsleds to navigate Alaska and the Iditarod Trail's impact on Alaska's early development and history and the United States history. Currently the trail is a National Historic Trail.

 The race usually begins in Willow and ends in Nome, but this year the route was changed quit a bit to accommodate the lack of snow and ice throughout the state.

This did not stop participants, officials, spectators, photographers, news crews, and any other interested individuals from heading north to experience this unique race.

And Lake and Peninsula Airlines got in on the fun as well.  Anchorage's Channel 11 booked Lyle to fly them around the trail.  He is currently in Ruby and will be continuing on to Huslia tomorrow.  He is posting on Facebook, daily, the fun sites, events, and pictures surrounding the race.  

Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/

LakeAndPenAir?ref=bookmarks.

Also check out iditarod.com for official information on the epic race.

Lake and Peninsula Airlines also got in on this renowned race through its very own Brian. You know Brian, the friendly face that meets you at the Anchorage office and greats you with "It's a great day to fly Lake and Pen" whenever you call in. It turns out he is a man of many talents, one of them being photography.  He even went to college for this very cool skill. All these pictures are his handy work.

Except for this one: Brian's the guy in the huge orange coat.

Tell him how you love his pictures next time you see him.