Okay, getting to Calgary from Anchorage is about as easy as going southbound on a northbound service road.

One would think Anchorage-Vancouver-Calgary (or as I prefer, ANC-YVR-YYC), what's the problem?

The problem this route only exists for the independently wealthy.

For the recent-college-grad-paying-off-pilot-licenses, the route is Anchorage-Seattle-Denver-Calgary, with a Calgary-Salt Lake City-Anchorage return.

I guess when compared to my Anchorage-Montreal, through Houston or my Detroit-Seattle, through Newark, this isn't too bad. At least Denver International boasts the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, conveniently located in the United Airlines terminal. Take the 2000 extra airline miles I get, and the detour is almost worth it.