Alaska Planning Early for 2001
Feb 6th, 2000 | 03:51 PM
#1
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Alaska Planning Early for 2001
Well after typing a whole long message and posting it, all I get is the title. So will try it again.
My travel partner and I both in our 50s are beginning planning for 2001 July and August trip to Alaska. We will be driving a 4 wheel from Vancouver and ending up in Edmonton. We look at a night each in Prince George and Prince Rupert before catching the ferry, then 12 days getting to Haines, with stops of two nights each in Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and Haines, and an overnight in Juneau to catch a boat to Glacier Bay Lodge for three nights. Then drive from Haines, via Tok, to Valdez for 2 nights, and 2 nights at the old gold mining hotel in Kennicott. Across to the Kenai for three nights in a wilderness lodge, and three nights in the Homer/Seldovia area. Overnight in Anchorage before 3 nights at one of the back country wilderness camps in Denali and then two nights in Fairbanks before driving to Tok, across the Top of the World Highway, then down through Dawson City, Whitehorse, Watson Lake and Dawson Creek, with a night each before reaching Edmonton. This translates to 39 days total between Van. and Ed. Does this sound about right? I know about Milepost and other guides, but am mainly looking for experienced traveler in that area to tell me what I am planning wrong, or what I should change. Any specifics would be welcome too. We're not into fishing, hunting,and camping out, but like hikes, boating,fairly tame rafting and generally enjoying the scenery.
My travel partner and I both in our 50s are beginning planning for 2001 July and August trip to Alaska. We will be driving a 4 wheel from Vancouver and ending up in Edmonton. We look at a night each in Prince George and Prince Rupert before catching the ferry, then 12 days getting to Haines, with stops of two nights each in Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and Haines, and an overnight in Juneau to catch a boat to Glacier Bay Lodge for three nights. Then drive from Haines, via Tok, to Valdez for 2 nights, and 2 nights at the old gold mining hotel in Kennicott. Across to the Kenai for three nights in a wilderness lodge, and three nights in the Homer/Seldovia area. Overnight in Anchorage before 3 nights at one of the back country wilderness camps in Denali and then two nights in Fairbanks before driving to Tok, across the Top of the World Highway, then down through Dawson City, Whitehorse, Watson Lake and Dawson Creek, with a night each before reaching Edmonton. This translates to 39 days total between Van. and Ed. Does this sound about right? I know about Milepost and other guides, but am mainly looking for experienced traveler in that area to tell me what I am planning wrong, or what I should change. Any specifics would be welcome too. We're not into fishing, hunting,and camping out, but like hikes, boating,fairly tame rafting and generally enjoying the scenery.
Feb 6th, 2000 | 04:36 PM
#2
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Patrick
First of all, Im terribly jealous that you will spend so much time in THE most beautiful place on the world! I was there for just 14 days in July 98, and cant wait to go back. One thing I INSIST you do is visit the Brooks Camp, in Katmai National Park. From Anchorage, you fly to King Salmon and then take a ferry or Pontton plane to Brooks Camp. This is where the grizzly bears come to feast on salmon thsi time of year. It was the highlight of our vacation--you will NEVER see anything like this in your life. Feel free to contact me directly for more info. If you are going to spend that much time in Alaska, and during this time of year, you really shouldnt miss it! Enjoy your trip!
First of all, Im terribly jealous that you will spend so much time in THE most beautiful place on the world! I was there for just 14 days in July 98, and cant wait to go back. One thing I INSIST you do is visit the Brooks Camp, in Katmai National Park. From Anchorage, you fly to King Salmon and then take a ferry or Pontton plane to Brooks Camp. This is where the grizzly bears come to feast on salmon thsi time of year. It was the highlight of our vacation--you will NEVER see anything like this in your life. Feel free to contact me directly for more info. If you are going to spend that much time in Alaska, and during this time of year, you really shouldnt miss it! Enjoy your trip!
Feb 6th, 2000 | 06:15 PM
#3
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Thanks for the tip. More info? Where is King Salmon?? A long trip and expensive from Anchorage?? Actually a couple of years ago we hiked to a falls on a river in British Columbia where we saw about a dozen bears catching and devouring salmon by the dozen. It was pretty spectacular. But I'm not opposed to doing this again. Was this a day trip from Anchorage or did you stay there. Been looking at the map and didn't find King Salmon.
Feb 7th, 2000 | 02:39 AM
#4
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Patrick, stop in Seward and take the long Kenai Fjords trip from there. It was suggested to about 15 of us who went up 5 years ago to work at a church camp near Anchorage. We never regretted it! The wild life we saw up close was awesome--the Capt. stopped when necessary to explain, point out & let us see. Had a couple of whales come up right by the boat. Only about 100 people, if that, on the boat, so we could move around freely and see from all angles. Your trip sounds wonderful!
Feb 7th, 2000 | 08:50 AM
#5
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Hi, Patrick,
King Salmon is in the west, where the Alaska Peninsula joins the main part of the mainland. Not accessible by road, it's about an hour or less (by jet) from Anchorage. It's a major jumping off point for many fishing resorts and for Katmai park, also an important airport for the commercial fishing industry in the Bristol Bay area.
It's a great part of the State, but like much of rural Alaska, it involves further travel to your ultimate destination, often at pretty high cost. If you have the time and the money, it's a great experience. If resources are scarcer, you'll probably see enough wildlife in a 5 week expedition to satisfy your critter requirements.
Otherwise, your schedule sounds fine if rather ambitious. I would not skip Dawson City, but I would look at the Milepost and review your driving tolerance and energy levels in the southcentral part of your schedule (Homer-Anchorage-Denali) because you have a lot of driving to do between these points. (Homer-Anchorage a full day, ditto Anchorage-Denali.) A drug store and supermarket break of more than one night in Anchorage might be advisable.
Happy planning!
King Salmon is in the west, where the Alaska Peninsula joins the main part of the mainland. Not accessible by road, it's about an hour or less (by jet) from Anchorage. It's a major jumping off point for many fishing resorts and for Katmai park, also an important airport for the commercial fishing industry in the Bristol Bay area.
It's a great part of the State, but like much of rural Alaska, it involves further travel to your ultimate destination, often at pretty high cost. If you have the time and the money, it's a great experience. If resources are scarcer, you'll probably see enough wildlife in a 5 week expedition to satisfy your critter requirements.
Otherwise, your schedule sounds fine if rather ambitious. I would not skip Dawson City, but I would look at the Milepost and review your driving tolerance and energy levels in the southcentral part of your schedule (Homer-Anchorage-Denali) because you have a lot of driving to do between these points. (Homer-Anchorage a full day, ditto Anchorage-Denali.) A drug store and supermarket break of more than one night in Anchorage might be advisable.
Happy planning!
