Bill_H

I am hearing and reading this a lot about the weather. Everyone seems to desire a return trip to Alaska, but I sometimes wonder why. If all this money is spent and so many days are a wash; then way are so many people willing to return to Alaska and not just go somewhere else.

We are looking forward to Alaska and we will take our umbrella. It always works. Be prepared and it will not happen.

I am having trouble posting messages today. I am not sure if it is this site or my computer.

Hope your friends have sunny weather this week.

We went to alaska this June, just a tidbit as I wanted to see lots of bears.. the bears are not around if the salmon are not running , so before you book your flight to see bears make sure the salmon are there. We booked Katmai National park the 3rd weekend in June stayed on site and the bears were not around !because the salmon were not running yet!! soo needless to say we saw just a couple of bears Not what we anticipated because mother nature came late with a storm in April and the river was not warm enough for the salmon. So good luck Fishing opens around the 3rd weekend of June so after that is when you will see the most. Its expensive and you might want to get the most for your dollars

JoAnnee

Thanks. I needed to hear what you said. I have wanted to see the bears just as you must have. We visited Yellowstone June 15-22, 2007 and saw a mother bear nursing her 2 cubs about 35 feet away. She was at Fishing Bridge and the rangers were there.

Try Yellowstone if June is your traveling month. Our friend goes the end of June before the July 4th crowds.

We have to travel in June due to my husband's job.

Maybe you will enjoy this site.
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/...dcamgrizzlies/

PS This National Geographic site tells you about Brooks Camp and the Lodge. If you can not get it to work, just google the following words: live webcam for grizzly bears.

Then the site choices will be listed with the National Geographic site. If the picture flickers, just click in the picture and it will stop. My computer might just be stubborn.

Hope your next Bear excursion is worth the money.

Continuing the theme of good/bad weather, Homer bear trips and Emerald Air ... my friend Janet (MFJ) emailed last night and they DID get to go on the bear flight with Chris and Ken Day after all, two days of good weather. Here's a part of what she wrote ... Bonnie, you were asking why people go to Alaska when the weather is iffy -- it's days like these, when it all comes together and you have these experiences you can't get anywhere else in the world :)

From MFJ's email:

<b>&quot;finally we had one beautiful day (actually, two!) as yesterday and today the sun has been shining. And yes we did get to the bears and it was awesome! Saw about 25 bears, some came too close to shoot. ... lots of bears splashing about in the water catching (and not catching) salmon. They are so cute to watch, really like dogs!

Unfortunately I didn't really get any cub shots as they were too far from where we were standing, except for the moment the mom and cub came within 10 feet over the bank, thats when Ken shouted Hey Momma Bear! and I was too close to shoot. Also, a bear who overshot his salmon came within about five feet of (husband) in the stream, no kidding.</b>

Bill

Bill_H

www.nationalgeographic.com

Put Chris Day in the search box, and an article comes up with her quotes. For National Geographic to use Chris and Emerald Air in the article is a great compliment.

Tell your friend I said: Good for her on a successful trip!

I have to put in my vote for Emerald Air. We just returned from a trip with them and it was fantastic! If you can't fit it in this trip, it's a MUST for next time.

china cat - to answer your question about rental cars - yes, you can rent a car from Avis in Whittier, but it depends when you go. I think this year they opened around June 5th or so (if you go to the Avis website, you can look them up and get a direct number and call them, instead of Anchorage).

Note, they will charge you a $125 fee to drop off in Anchorage, which we paid.

There is a Hertz in Seward, but they will also charge a fee to drop off in Anchorage, so you might as well do it from Whittier.

Karen

thanks karen. If our plans work out, I expect we'll be cruising from June 3rd-10th northbound, so may be able to pick up in Whittier. I was considering a round trip, drop off in Whittier and then train back to Anchorage, but don't know if that will fit my itinerary. I'd like to take that train or the Seward-Anchorage train at some point. Haven't worked out the details yet.

It's been many, many years since I've been to Alaska, but I'm hoping to get back there next summer. As I recall, Homer is the resort town that the locals hit and was well worth the visit. Have fun!

When I was planning my trip, people kept telling me I was trying to do too much. They said &quot; Alaska is a place you will go back again so take some time and enjoy it.&quot; Having been I totally understand. My advice is not to do too much - like driving from Homer back to ANC. Enjoy the day with Emerald Air ( a must!) but that is a full day.
Meeting Chris and Ken Day and seeing the bears will truly be a highlight of your trip. Enjoy! I am going back again next year.

I am in the exact same predicament as you. Trying to do this and that and wanting to do it all next Sept. So I have made the decision to do the Kenai and skip Denali this trip. I know that many will say I am foolish, but I was making myself crazy trying to do everything. We are going to go with Emerald Air and I am soooo hoping that the weather will be better next year than it was this year. It never did improve for them. That's sad for their business and for the people that drive all that way. It appears that Homer is a great place to be anyway, but it will be hard to contain myself for a year of anticipation.

Bill, for some reason I could not get the link to those pictures to work. ANy ideas?

I've made several trips to the Homer and Seward areas in years past and always enjoyed wonderful weather (July and August). It sounds from the postings that this year was an exception. It was also in the southeast where I went this year. Out of a little over two weeks, I only had about 4 days of good weather and a couple more days of marginal weather. The rest was steady rain or drizzle, low clouds, and a fair amount of fog.

In Skagway, they told me that this summer was the coolest and wettest since they've been keeping records.

I guess you pays your money and you takes your chances.