American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 293 An Epic Journey!

Time flew by amidst the fulfilling and intense training and the warm companionship.

On the evening of the seventh day, when Lin Yu'an walked out of the FAA office with the driver's license that embodied countless hours of sweat and effort, he knew that his journey in Anchorage was about to come to an end.

He needed to go home. Arya and Emily were still waiting for him in Weissman.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, McCormick drove her Subaru with Lin Yu-an to the Merrill Airport.

A faint sadness of parting filled the air. There was no music playing in the car, only the soft crunching of the tires as they rolled over the snow.

Inside the huge, temperature-controlled hangar, the brightly colored Turbine Beaver had already been towed to the tarmac by ground crew, and all pre-flight preparations were complete, making it look like a spirited warhorse.

McCormick stood under the wing, looking up at Lin Yu'an who was conducting the final aircraft inspection, and asked with some lingering concern, "Flying back to Wiesman from here requires crossing the Alaskan Mountains. Although you've already obtained your instrument rating, what about the weather there..."

Lin Yu'an peeked out from the other side of the wing, smiled, and said with absolute confidence in his eyes: "Don't worry, this is a route I can complete on my own."

His flight plan this time was different from the one he came by, because he now had the full range of flying qualifications and no longer needed to land in Fairbanks for a layover.

His plan was to take off directly from Anchorage, using the powerful performance and long range of the Turbo Beaver to fly north over the heart of the Alaskan Mountains and land directly on the frozen Koyukuk River near the town of Wiesman.

This is a type of flight that only instrument pilots can attempt. This is both his journey home and the ultimate test of his seven days of training.

After completing the inspection, Lin Yu'an put his backpack into the cabin, then turned around to look at the woman in front of him who had fought alongside him and shared countless thoughts and moments during this time.

She was wearing a thick parka, the wolf fur on the hood fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. Her eyes were a little red, clearly she hadn't slept well the night before.

McCormick forced a smile, but his voice trembled uncontrollably.

She paused, as if gathering her courage, "Lin, be careful on the road. And... thank you for everything you've done for December and Amber."

“Then…” She took a deep breath, raised her head, and her blue eyes looked exceptionally clear and fragile in the morning light.

She said in an almost confessional tone, "No matter...no matter what the final outcome is, we...will always be friends, right?"

Lin Yu'an knew the unspoken subtext behind her words.

She was saying: I know your family is complicated, and if in the end your wives don't accept me... I don't want to lose you, my only friend in life, because of this.

McCormick gave him all the options, and also prepared a way out for his own potentially fruitless relationship.

Lin Yu'an looked at her, and an indescribable feeling of pity welled up in his heart.

He stepped forward, opened his arms, and gave her a gentle yet restrained hug. He could feel the stiffness in her body and the slight trembling that came through her thick clothes.

“McCoz, you don’t need to presuppose any sad endings for the future.”

"Leave everything to me."

After saying that, he released her, looked at her deeply, then turned and boarded his plane, closing the cabin door.

He was afraid that if he looked at it any longer, he wouldn't be able to bear leaving.

As the turbo beaver's distinctive hissing sound rang out, the massive five-bladed propeller whipped up a gust of wind, causing McCorz's long hair and clothes to flutter wildly.

She stood there, watching the sunbird-like plane slowly taxi to the runway, and then, with an unstoppable roar of its engines, it soared into the dawn sky.

Soon, it became a tiny black dot and disappeared behind the layers of snow-capped mountains in the distance.

McCormick stood there, motionless for a long time.

It wasn't until a cold snowflake landed on her cheek that she realized she was already in tears.

Three and a half hours later, in the town of Wiesman.

When the deep, powerful roar of the turbines came from the southern sky.

Arya and Emily, already holding two babies wrapped up like little dumplings and two Bernese Mountain Dogs wagging their tails excitedly, were waiting on the frozen riverbank.

They saw the brightly colored plane gracefully circle in the sky. Lin Yu'an even playfully shook the wing slightly, as if to greet her family.

Then, with extreme precision, it slowly descended onto the frozen river surface covered by thick snow.

The aircraft's ski-like landing gear only stirred up a fine mist of snow the moment it touched the ice, gliding smoothly as silk.

When the plane came to a smooth stop in front of them, the engines shut off, and Lin Yu'an opened the cabin door and jumped off the tall fuselage, Aria could no longer contain herself. She handed the child in her arms to Emily and was the first to rush up and jump into his arms.

Emily, also holding two children, greeted them with a smile.

Whiskey and honey, meanwhile, excitedly rolled and frolicked at his feet, expressing their longing in the purest way.

Under the sunlight, on the glacier, a family embraced tightly.

That evening, in front of the fireplace.

Lin Yu'an recounted in detail to his two wives everything that had happened in those seven days.

From thrilling flight training to spending time with December and Amber, and then to a completely new way of thinking about "freedom".

Of course, he also revealed his grand plan for a sanctuary and an animal kingdom.

"So, lawyer Marty is already handling all the legal and tax issues for us, and everything is nearing completion. The next step is to visit our future home in person. I've already scheduled a time with real estate agent Arthur."

"When do we set off?" Arya was already impatient, her eyes sparkling with longing for that kingdom.

"Tomorrow," Lin Yu'an replied crisply.

"Tomorrow?!" Arya and Emily were both stunned. "So soon?"

“Yes.” Lin Yu’an nodded. “All the preparations were already underway while I was still in Anchorage.”

"Then... how do we get there?" Emily, who was more thoughtful, immediately asked the most practical question.

"Want to fly with us? To get from here to Wyoming, we have to cross Canadian airspace. Applying for cross-border flight permits and going through customs takes time, right? And..."

Her gaze shifted to the two sleeping babies in the cradle, her voice filled with worry, "A flight of more than ten hours... Will the children be able to handle it? The noise and air pressure of the plane..."

Lin Yu'an gave her an approving look, then smiled confidently.

"So, before I answer your questions about the flight route, let me show you the special preparations I've made for this trip."

He walked to the side and took out his tablet. "Back in Anchorage, I commissioned the aircraft modification team there to give our plane a special upgrade for baby safety."

He showed a product image: "First, to solve the noise problem, I have ordered four sets of professional-grade aviation noise-canceling headphones from Peltor, two sets for adults and two sets for children."

"These headphones not only actively cancel out the low-frequency roar of the engine and protect hearing, but also have a special function."

"It can connect to the aircraft's internal communication system. This means that during the flight, we can have a clear conversation like we are now, and I can also play lullabies for the children at any time so that they can hear our voices and feel at ease."

"Secondly, there's the issue of air pressure. I will keep the cruising altitude below 10,000 feet to minimize drastic changes in air pressure."

Finally, he showed a modified cabin design drawing, "To make the children more comfortable on long journeys, I had them modify the rear seats of the cabin."

“Those two individual luxury seats can now be laid completely flat and connected to the central aisle, forming a flat area covered with soft material.”

"During the stable cruising phase of the aircraft, blankets can be laid out here to create a temporary aerial play mat, allowing children to engage in limited and safe activities under our supervision and stretch their bodies."

He pointed to two prominent devices on the design drawing, "But most importantly, two ISOFIX-compliant car seat anchors have been installed on the floor in this area."

"The two specially ordered aviation safety seats for the children will be firmly secured to the cabin floor, just like racing seats."

Looking at his two lovers, who were now completely at ease, he said gently, "In short, on this journey, I will be your captain, your navigator, and your guide..."

"But most importantly, I will always be the children's safety officer."

"I will never allow them to face even the slightest avoidable risk on my plane."

Seeing this meticulous preparation, which even took into account the details of putting the child to sleep, Arya and Emily's last bit of worry vanished.

Lin Yu'an smiled, walked to the huge North American map, and picked up a red marker. "Then it's about the flight route. I've already prepared all the logistical support needed for the long-haul transoceanic flight." "We don't need to deal with the Canadians. But that's not because I'm afraid of trouble, but because I've devised a route for us that's far more magnificent than crossing Canada."

His pen, starting from Wiesman in central Alaska, didn't fly southeast towards Canada. Instead, it traveled south along the coastline of the Gulf of Alaska, filled with glaciers and fjords, drawing a beautiful arc.

“I calculated that the direct flight from here to Wyoming would take about thirteen hours. It’s impossible to do it in one day with a child. So I split the trip into two days.”

He pointed to two points on the map: "On the first day, we took off from the river in front of our house, our first stop was Fairbanks for a resupply, and then we flew south."

"We'll land in Juneau at noon, where we can refuel and rest. I've booked the best restaurant in town, where we can try the freshest king crab for lunch. And from there, our epic journey will officially begin."

"In the afternoon, we took off again and arrived in Ketchikan, the southernmost city in Alaska, at dusk. We will spend the night in the best floating hotel there."

"Then, the next day." His pen tip made a breathtaking leap on the map.

"We're about to embark on the most exciting transoceanic expedition ever! We'll take off from Ketchikan, refuel, and fly directly across the Gulf of Alaska in the northeastern Pacific Ocean to Seattle, Washington!"

"This is a nearly 600-nautical-mile uninterrupted transoceanic flight, a challenge that would be virtually impossible for a typical jungle aircraft."

"However, for the turbo beaver equipped with a remote auxiliary fuel tank, this is well within its safe range."

"After arriving in Seattle, we will enter the airspace over the continental United States. We will refuel and rest again, have lunch, and then embark on the final leg of our journey."

"We will fly eastward, over Idaho, and finally, in the twilight of the day, descend upon our kingdom in Wyoming."

He looked up at his family, who were stunned by his meticulous and romantically imaginative plan, and said with a smile, "This is more than just a migration, ladies."

"This will be our family's first-ever aerial adventure along North America's most magnificent coastline and mountains."

"This will be the first unique gift I give to you and the children!"

The next morning.

The brightly colored Turbo Beaver, like a giant bird about to spread its wings, rested quietly on the smooth ice.

Lin Yu-an is conducting the final pre-flight inspection around the aircraft.

Meanwhile, Arya and Emily shuttled back and forth between the cabin and the plane, carrying their already packed luggage, the children's diapers, bottles, changes of clothes, and their own minimal belongings into the spacious cabin of the plane.

Two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Whiskey, and Honey seemed to sense the atmosphere of parting as well.

Instead of chasing and playing excitedly as usual, they lay quietly on the snow, their large brown eyes, filled with confusion and affection, following their owners closely.

"Hey, guys, come here." After finishing his inspection, Lin Yu'an squatted down and opened his arms to the two dogs.

Whiskey and Honey immediately whimpered and buried their heads in his arms, rubbing their huge, furry heads against his chest and cheeks, making reluctant whimpering sounds.

"Alright, alright, it's not that I don't want you anymore." Lin Yu'an smiled, vigorously rubbing their thick fur.

"We're just going to a new place to build a bigger and more beautiful home for you and the babies. You need to stay here and behave well and listen to Uncle Stan, okay?"

Just then, my old friend Stan came chugging along on his snowmobile.

Stan jumped out of the car, looking at the scene before him with a hint of reluctance in his eyes. "Don't worry, Lin. I will take care of them as if they were my own children. Once you're settled in your new home, come back for them anytime."

"Thanks, my friend." Lin Yu'an stood up and gave Stan a big hug.

Without many words, the bond between the men was solidified in this firm embrace.

Lin Yu'an carefully carried the two babies, who were dressed like little astronauts, into the cabin and secured them firmly to the two specially modified aviation safety seats.

"Are you ready, ladies?" He glanced back one last time at the small town where he had lived for so long and which was full of memories, and then asked Arya and Emily, who were already seated.

"Anytime, Captain," the two replied in unison, their eyes sparkling with anticipation and excitement for the unknown journey.

As Lin Yu'an boarded the plane and closed the cabin door, the powerful Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbocharged engine emitted a distinctive hissing sound.

The five-bladed propeller began to spin slowly, then gradually accelerated, eventually becoming a blur that was indistinguishable to the naked eye. It created a strong airflow and glided slowly across the wide glacier. Then, the nose of the aircraft lifted up and soared into the vast, clear blue sky.

The plane climbed rapidly and soon flew over the mountains surrounding the town of Wiesman.

The two little ones, who had just turned one year old, were looking at the world from a completely new perspective for the first time.

In their eyes, there was no sorrow of parting like adults, only pure curiosity about this floating world.

The son inherited Arya's liveliness and energy; he waved his chubby little hands, trying to catch the rapidly receding clouds outside the window.

The daughter, like Emily, was quiet, her large, dark eyes fixed intently on the rapidly shrinking white world below.

Arya and Emily looked down through the porthole at the land below, a land they knew so well yet now seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

The winding Koyukuk River, like a silver ribbon, is inlaid on the boundless snowfield. The small wooden house has become an almost invisible black dot.

"Goodbye, our first home," Arya said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy.

“No, darling,” Emily took her hand and gently corrected her, “we’re just going to start a new journey. This will always be our starting point.”

Lin Yu'an piloted the plane southward. He set the cruising altitude to 9,500 feet. At this altitude, the air was stable and the visibility was excellent.

Soon, the majestic Alaskan Mountains, the roof of the North American continent, appeared directly in front of them in an extremely imposing manner.

The snow-capped mountains, each over four thousand meters high, stand silently between heaven and earth like a group of white giants.

Sunlight shone on their steep, glacier-covered rock faces, reflecting a dazzling light. The massive glaciers, like frozen rivers, cascaded down from the crevices of the mountains, their ends a deep blue.

"Look! That's Denali!" Arya suddenly put down the map and pointed to a white, towering peak in the distance that was clearly taller and more majestic than all the surrounding mountains, and exclaimed excitedly.

Hearing their mother's excited voice, the two little ones also turned their gaze to the huge white mountain.

They might not understand what it was, but they could feel the excitement. The son excitedly kicked his legs in his car seat, making "ya ya" sounds, as if cheering for the mountain's grandeur.

Denali, at 6190 meters, is the highest peak in North America. Its name means "that high mountain" in the indigenous language.

At this moment, it was fortunate that it was not obscured by the clouds and mist, and its sacred and complete outline was clearly displayed in front of them.

Lin Yu'an didn't speak; he simply skillfully piloted the plane, slowly approaching the giant peak.

He piloted the Turbo Beaver and began circling Denali from a safe distance of a few kilometers away.

The two little ones' faces were almost pressed against the cold porthole. Looking down at the glaciers that snaked like white dragons and the mountain peaks that shimmered in the sunlight, their eyes were filled with the light of exploring the unknown world.

Arya and Emily could clearly see the feather-like snow banners fluttering in the wind on the mountain peaks, the almost vertical ice walls, and even a few colorful tents belonging to climbers, as small as ants, on the glacier halfway up the mountain.

“It’s spectacular…” Emily murmured to herself, completely overwhelmed by the primal power and creation-like scene before her.

After completing the detour, Lin Yu-an reset his course and continued south.

Over the next few hours, they flew over the vast Copper River Delta, overlooking the braided river system that stretched like a spider web.

They flew along the rugged coastline and saw a massive glacier that, under the influence of gravity, broke into countless blue ice blocks, crashing into the turquoise bay and creating huge waves.

Around noon, the plane began its slow descent.

Climbing and descending pose the most severe test to an infant's eardrums. But Lin Yu'an had already made thorough preparations.

Arya and Emily, without any hesitation, each took out the bottles they had prepared and began to feed the babies.

The two little ones hugged their bottles, swallowing contentedly. This simple action perfectly balanced the air pressure in their ear canals, ensuring they experienced no discomfort during the descent.

I just looked out the window with curiosity at the beautiful city that was constantly growing and surrounded by mountains and the ocean.

Lin Yu'an's voice came clearly into their headsets through the internal communication system: "Ladies, welcome to Juneau, the capital of Alaska!"

"We'll be refueling and resupplying here for the first time. And while we're at it, we'll try some of the world's freshest king crab."

(End of this chapter)