Author Topic: Alaska! (Read 9492 times)

riverbee · « **on:** April 13, 2015, 11:02:43 pm »

for my x0th birthday this year.......

....... i am being treated to a trip to alaska in june. (and someone else who has always wanted to go)

all who have been to alaska, please share where you have been, where you went, what you enjoyed and what you would recommend. for all who have not been to alaska, what would you include in your dream trip? we will be in alaska for 10 days beginning june 24th, and will fly out on the 11th day, july 4th.

we have looked at cruises, and we have looked at fly in fishing trips, and also railway trips.
so final planning, a little of all, just a little/ or some highlights of our travel plans:

we will be basing out of girdwood, and talkeetna, alaska. the first day we fly into anchorage and will be driving 3 hours to girdwood, with some stops along the way, one stop along the seward highway will be beluga point (whales).

girdwood:
*mt alyeska, gondala/tram and parasailing..........some hikes on some trails. parasailing, me? I will pass on this flight....

*5 hour glacier cruise through prince william sound and exploring whittier after the cruise.
*glacier discovery train to grandview, alaska.
*byron and portage glacier

talkeetna:
*grand denali tour of mount mckinley by airplance with a landing on the glacier.
*explore and drives- trapper creek/petersville road.
*FISHING! Fly in helicopter trip up clear creek, and float down. day trip, lunch riverside!
*MORE FISHING! Montana creek for rainbows! (1/2 day trip)
ps, no combat fishing for both trips, above any crowds.......
*trail hikes

Looking forward to the trip. anyone with something they would recommend?

Jen · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2015, 11:27:28 pm »

What An Awesome Trip! Surely you will have a birthday cake on that trip some time, a nice short vid of you and your cake and candles would be just dandy

Lburou · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2015, 12:54:11 am »

Great idea!

We lived in Eagle River, AK from 82-86. My best friend is still a resident up there. Some things have changed and some stayed the same. Get away from the cities and tourist spots for the land as it was and the views of heaven that remain.

South of Anchorage, our best times were down the road past Girdwood. I would drive past Girdwood (or at most only spend 30 minutes there), and spend time fishing on the Kenai River (salmon runs all year round), halibut fishing out of homer, or Salmon fishing on the Deshka River (North of Anchorage).

There is a visitor center up eagle river canyon. Hatcher pass has blueberries in the fall, but is a nice drive anytime (with a ghost mine to see). Kodiak island (take the ferry from Homer to Kodiak) has unspoiled wilderness and some great salmon fishing without a lot of tourists. Trips to Denali are worthwhile.

Our eyes sparkle and we have large smiles when we think of salmon fishing in Alaska from our airboat. A silver Salmon taking the hook and jumping out of the water to your eye level as you wade knee deep is priceless. The other types of fishing pale in comparison.

The road between Anchorage and Girdwood (on the way to Homer) passes through an area that sank during the 1966 earthquake. You can see dead trees, even homes sticking out above the water as you drive by...Interesting if you know the history.

Portage Glacier is more interesting than the tourist things at Girdwood (JMO). We visited the Glacier many times and it never failed to entertain us. Cross country skied over the lake to the glacier in winter (I shiver now remembering how cold & windy it was that day). Any hiking trail is more fun than the places tourists go.

Fly-in fishing sounds fun, but I'd go for the salmon if you do. I'd choose an air boat trip on the Willow River, across the Little Sioux River to the Deshka River and fish there. Grayling, pinks, silver salmon there.

We bought an airboat from a man who guided that River system and we did four years of airboating on the Willow, Little Sioux and Deshka Rivers. You can see the tip of Denali just breaking the horizon from the Little Sioux (Denali is prolly 100 miles away). When you get a mile away from the road, it is like it was a thousand years ago. Eagles, moose, bears all a stone's throw from you boat. Easy to be lost out there so take an experienced guide or you won't find your way back.

There are some great boat excursions between Homer and Seward following the fiords. All kinds of birds, seals, bears and such from a big boat but close in. I like the sound of the Prince William Sound cruise and the glacier discovery train too.

Did I mention salmon? Be sure to go to a salmon fry some place.

JMO
HTH

:-)

kebee · « **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2015, 04:23:43 am »

I spent 372 days and 3 hrs in Alaska when I was in the Air Force and the little time I was at Anchorage and Fairbanks and not being able to go any where I am afraid I can only say that where I was at after Fairbanks in the sticks I am not much help. Loved the place though, saw a lot of bears and even feed a few a candy bars which they loved and saw a lot of moose and other wild animals. Got to do some gold panning also which was fun and got a little gold from it. I know you will love it there for you have will have the feel of real out door willness, enjoy your self and take it all in for the beauty of GOD handy work.

Ken

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2015, 09:29:15 am »

Sounds like a fantastic trip... My wife wants to go to Alaska.. horseback in to the camp, then spend ten days fishing, and horseback out.. I might have to see if I can set that up for her one of these days..

mowarren · « **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2015, 10:12:30 pm »

check out this page
http://bucktrack.com/Alaska_Survival_Journal.html

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2015, 09:39:46 pm »

I am so excited for you riverbee. You are going to have a great time! There truly is no place like Alaska, at least no place I have been. I went in 2003.
Some things to note:
Be prepared to eat salmon and lots of it.
Pan for gold somewhere.
Take mosquito repellent.
If you go to Denali Park, plan to stay 2 days at least.
The Alaskan Railway is a great way to get from place to place.
The roads are one big giant pothole.
Eagle watch.
If possible, check out the Alaskan pipeline. If nothing else, but to see what they want to build through the heart of this country.
I am not a big shopper, but I realized that buying merchandise(and services) from locals allowed those people an opportunity to live out their dream of living in Alaska. In other words, avoid the tourist junk stores with the Chinese made stuff.
Some fishing boat outfits will ship your catch home for you.
Learn some history and go to a place where you can learn about the Native American people.
Check out totem poles.
The airplane trip to see Denali sounds so cool. Everyone will probably tell you that the mountain has it's own weather pattern and to expect clouds to block the view. I don't know if this is true, or they just don't want you to be disappointed when it's cloudy. The clouds happened to part for us.
The one thing that took me by surprise was that it was NOT like watching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. You have to look REALLY hard to see the wild life. That's where guides are wonderful. They know what to look for.
Flying into Anchorage is really cool. We flew in that way and sailed the inside passage home.
If I think of anything else, I will add it.

riverbee · « **Reply #7 on:** April 19, 2015, 11:46:26 pm »

thanks for the replies and info!
and please do add bakers!
my sister lived in alaska, some info from her, and some info from friends to help us plan a little.

lee, did i mention salmon?................

the two days of fishing, one day is about a 20 minute helicopter trip, about 12 miles upstream of the mouth of clear creek, and a days float down, no crowds, (jet boats can only go up two miles) nothing but us and the guide. fish consists of king salmon and big rainbows, the second, or half day is montana creek, and it's rainbows. our guides name for both days is none other than DAVE FISH...........

denali,
we researched this, and the bus tours and opted for the tour by airplane and landing, traffic is restricted to the first 15 miles, thereafter ride a bus, but will spend additional time driving as far as we can from talkeetna. (also planned our days for the air flight in case of a rain check or too cloudy). i was looking for the map the company sent us (and not in the links below, can't find it right now, but these two links describe the air tour and landing:

Grand Denali Flight Tour and Glacier Landing Denali Nat'l Park

Grand Denali Route Map

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2015, 12:10:26 am »

Sounds like a dream trip Squirt

, my son has been trying to talk me into taking a 2 week fishing vacation with him and some of his buddies to Alaska, but my cattle and girls depend on me $:-\$ Jack

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2015, 08:31:18 am »

Quote from: riverbee on April 19, 2015, 11:46:26 pm

denali,
we researched this, and the bus tours and opted for the tour by airplane and landing,

The bus tours take a whole day, but the vistas are grand. BTW did anyone mention that the bus is a school bus? The plane tour will be wonderful especially if time is an issue.

riverbee · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2015, 09:55:49 pm »

"The bus tours take a whole day, but the vistas are grand. BTW did anyone mention that the bus is a school bus? "

yes bakers, the bus tours do take a whole day, and it is a school bus! LOL!........a friend of ours has taken the tour, he did recommend it, gave us pros and cons, so we were thinking this over and decided on the air flight.

bakers did you do the bus tour?

riverbee · « **Reply #11 on:** June 28, 2015, 02:48:55 am »

tbonekel · « **Reply #12 on:** June 28, 2015, 08:14:37 am »

Hope you are having a great time! Looking forward to some great adventure stories!

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #13 on:** June 28, 2015, 11:41:42 am »

I'm sure my buddy the squirt will have a good time, but i'm not to sure Alaska Will.

Jack

Riverrat · « **Reply #14 on:** June 28, 2015, 01:05:11 pm »

Have a great time. The Alaska trip is on my bucket list

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #15 on:** June 28, 2015, 01:06:25 pm »

Quote from: riverbee on April 21, 2015, 09:55:49 pm

bakers did you do the bus tour?

Sorry river, I just saw this. You probably wanted an answer prior to your trip. :( Yes, I took the bus trip.

riverbee · « **Reply #16 on:** July 01, 2015, 03:08:50 am »

hey everyone!.....
alaska is an alluring place! incredible!

first adventure story was leaving home.....

TSA decided that myself, my luggage, and my carry on needed a pat down, searching and swabbing....
seems when i went through the radar whatchamacallit thingy, there was a mass of something they saw in my lower region.........

didn't figure this out until later...... but for anyone who flys who has recently had cortisone shots in both hip joints might as well expect a small delay

first day was great here, sunshine, but since then pretty much rain every day, also 22 hours of daylight took an adjustment . we have traveled many places, driving, by tram, by rail , and by a cruise ship in spite of the rainy weather. this morning we were to take an air flight all around denali, with a landing. the north face was not visible, so we gambled and decided to wait. we have 3 days to take the flight, maybe the weather will cooperate. tomorrow morning we go FISHING!!! looking forward to it. we have met many great folks, enjoyed great food (albeit expensive), and enjoyed our travels!

some pix of a tram ride we took on my birthday. this was in girdwood, alaska, mount aleyska. there are all sorts of trails to hike, two restaurants, etc...
i took a video of the tram ride down..........

i haven't uploaded it yet, but here are some pix and a video i took of a bumble working globe flowers at the base (aleyska resort): (more pix to come when i have time):

going to the top:

some views from the top:

..................

turnagain arm:

a video of a bumble working globe flowers at mt. alyeska resort:

Zweefer · « **Reply #17 on:** July 01, 2015, 08:32:14 am »

Very cool! Thanks for sharing. Hoping the weather cooperates for the rest of it!

tbonekel · « **Reply #18 on:** July 01, 2015, 09:33:20 am »

Great pictures!

efmesch · « **Reply #19 on:** July 01, 2015, 03:41:20 pm »

River, your pictures re-awaken very pleasant memories of our month long trip across Alaska in June of 2010. If it's not too late, try to get to see the Cross Alaska Pipeline. It's an amazing feat of human ingenuity built to cooperate with the unbelieveable beauty God spread so lavishly across the whole state.