Need advise: Alaska
Greg Rose
Nils W. (10064...@CompuServe.COM) wrote:
: Hi there !
: I am planning a backpacking trip to Alaska together with my
: girlfriend. Although it`s high season we will probably go in
: August /September for about 5 or 6 weeks.
: As we haven`t been in Alaska before we would appreciate if you
: could give us some advice on
: - what not to miss
- The Wrangell/St. Elias National wildlife refuge and national park.
- The Copper river valley, Chitna, McCarthy and Cordova.
- If you like to eat fish, do some charter fishing down on the Kenai, your
freezer will benefit. I brought home almost 100 lbs of halibut fillets
from my last trip. I know of a great charter boat company in Ninilchuk
(spelling?), send me email if you're interested in a reference. My
sister swears by this guy (she lives in Alaska) and always gets her fish.
: - where not to go
- Get out of Anchorage as fast as you can.
- Forget about Denali unless you really don't mind dealing with crowds.
: - what to take along
- Everything you'd take on a regular backcountry expedition in which you are
unsure what the weather will be like. Be ready for rain, and if you're
climbing any mountains above 3000 ft. or so then be ready for even worse
weather.
- Topo maps. The USGS map sales office is at the University which is not
far off of Tudor and the New Seward Hiway in Anchorage. Give 'em a call.
- plenty of film.
- Bear protection or some plan to handle them. I've been to Alaska twice
now and not seen a bear in the backcountry while there, but I think I'm
just lucky.
: - what to book in advance
- Bush plane pilot if you're planning on *really* getting out into the
backcountry. Send me email if you'd like a reference.
: You`ll probably say "Alaska`s huge folks, where about do you
: wanna go ??" To tell you the truth: We don`t have a clue yet. But
: we definately prefer spending our time hiking in the backcountry
: than checking off all tourist spots !
For someone who has never been before I definitely recommend the Wrangell/
St. Elias mountains. They're awesome and beautiful in a way that still
sends shivers up and down my spine. Avoid the crowds and don't go to
Denali unless you're really prepared to put up with a lot of tourist
schlock.
Good luck,
greg rose
posted and mailed.
Nils W.
Hi there !
I am planning a backpacking trip to Alaska together with my
girlfriend. Although it`s high season we will probably go in
August /September for about 5 or 6 weeks.
As we haven`t been in Alaska before we would appreciate if you
could give us some advice on
- what not to miss
- where not to go
- what to take along
- what to book in advance
You`ll probably say "Alaska`s huge folks, where about do you
wanna go ??" To tell you the truth: We don`t have a clue yet. But
we definately prefer spending our time hiking in the backcountry
than checking off all tourist spots !
Thanx for all kinds of help !
Nils & Conny
ass...@uaa.alaska.edu
In Article <51j42b$egm$1...@mhade.production.compuserve.com>
Nils W. <10064...@CompuServe.COM> writes:
>Hi there !
>I am planning a backpacking trip to Alaska together with my
>girlfriend. Although it`s high season we will probably go in
>August /September for about 5 or 6 weeks.
To start your planning, get one or both of the following:
"The Milepost"
"The Alaska Wilderness Milepost"
The first will tell you everything you need to know about anything
along the road or ferry system in the state. It has complete info
for everyone from the first class tourist to the bacpacker.
The second is a good information guide to the backcountry and to the
off-the-road-net villages. It is a good source of information and
contacts without all the advertising contained in "The Milepost".
These will get you started and you can take your planning from there.
Good luck.
Both are published by: Alaska Northwest Books, P.O. Box 3007,
Bothell, WA 98041-3007.
Joe Moore
Palmer, AK
Erich A. Pfeiffer
Greg Rose (gr...@black.phobos.com) wrote:
: Nils W. (10064...@CompuServe.COM) wrote:
: : Hi there !
: : I am planning a backpacking trip to Alaska together with my
: : girlfriend. Although it`s high season we will probably go in
: : August /September for about 5 or 6 weeks.
============= snip ================
: - Get out of Anchorage as fast as you can.
-- but spend at least half a day at the Museum of Art and History. They
have great dioramas about the various phases of Alaska's history. If
you are looking for presents try Penneys, next door, they have a
special Alaska department on the ground floor (we baught Ulu-knifes).
The museum is, I believe, at A and 4th street.
============== snip ====================
: - Topo maps. The USGS map sales office is at the University which is not
: far off of Tudor and the New Seward Hiway in Anchorage. Give 'em a call.
-- There are two universities whose campuses are adjacent: University of
Alaska in Anchorage and Alaska-Pacific University. The USGS is in a
building they rent from Alaska Pacific University.
============== snip ====================
We were in Alaska for two weeks this summer with Elderhostel (we are
old folks), one week on the Alaska Pacific University Campus and one
week in Denali where Elderhostel has its own campus along the Nenana
river. We had a great time: no mosquitos and only three days of rain,
Have fun
Erich in Irvine, Cal
E.G. Clayton
On 16 Sep 1996, Greg Rose wrote:
[lots of useful advice for AK trip snipped]
> - Bear protection or some plan to handle them. I've been to Alaska twice
> now and not seen a bear in the backcountry while there, but I think I'm
> just lucky.
Lucky??? Nobody wants to get chewed by a bear, but seeing one in the
backcountry is one of life's rare, truly grand experiences. You missed
out.
If you don't want to see bears, there's plenty of fantastic places to
hike without going all the way to Alaska!
Ed Clayton
Nils Willuweit
I DO know that there is a spelling mistake !
:-) Nils
- Murph -
Nils W. <10064...@CompuServe.COM> wrote in article
<51j42b$egm$1...@mhade.production.compuserve.com>...
[snip]
>
> - what not to miss
5 regions of Alaska: Far North, Interior, Southwest, South-central, and
Southeast. On a 5 week trip, you ought to be able to hit 2 or 3 areas,
unless you do the Southeast (which could be done by itself)... I'll
elaborate.
> - where not to go
Don't expect any of the "cities" to be nice-looking or architecturally
interesting. They're all ugly, with a few exceptions.
> - what to take along
Regular backpacking gear, plus extra warm clothes for the cold... Let me
think some more about that.
> - what to book in advance
Depends on what you want to do... Denali should be booked in advance, along
with some of the things along the Kenai Peninsula. Also, it might be wise
to book all air charters in advance, just for the hell of it.
My suggestions on what to see:
Katmai, Kodiak, and the Southwest - my favorite area. Try camping along
the Katmai coast in one of the various tent camps (like Clint Hlebechuk's
<http://www.kodiak-katmai.com> on Hallo Bay) to see lots of wildlife and
awesome volcanic landscapes. Kodiak has many nice lodges, if you can
afford them. There's one on the Karluk that's superb for bear-watching
(maybe the best on the island).
The Interior - Denali and that area is impressive. Backpacking there would
be an awesome experience, especially in the Fall (Alaska's best that time
of the year). For ideas in the area, call up Denali and request
travel-planning info, look at the map, and just pick a spot. There are no
trails in Denali's backcountry. There are a few other areas in the
Interior that are pretty neat, but Denali is probably the area's crown
jewel, in my opinion.
The Far North - Never been there, but definitely Alaska's wild heart. Good
for wildlife and scenery, not to mention serenity. Check out the Brooks
Range (gates of the Arctic, the Oolah Valley, the Kobuk Sand Dunes, and the
ANWR)... Sourdough Outfitters runs trips through there, and that's a good
time to watch the Fall caribou migration (depending on which part of the
Range you're in).
The South-central - The Kenai Peninsula is nice, but crowded. Although I
lack personal experience, Wrangell-St. Elias seems to be the best place to
backpack in this area. America's largest National Park. 7 of America's 10
highest peaks. You probably get the picture. There are a few companies
that do guided tours through the Park (trekking).
The Southeast - Doesn't seem all that great for backpacking - touristy
things are more popular down there. Check out the many bear-observatories
in the area if you go though, especially Pack Creek and Anan Creek.
Glacier Bay and Misty Fjords are also supposed to be impressive. To do the
ferry thing and go from Ketchikan to Skagway, seeing all the sights, and
spending some time in the cities, would take AT LEAST 2-3 weeks. Consider
doing the Southeast by itself.
That's that... good luck,
Greg Rose
E.G. Clayton (cla...@rouge.phys.lsu.edu) wrote:
: On 16 Sep 1996, Greg Rose wrote:
: [lots of useful advice for AK trip snipped]
: > - Bear protection or some plan to handle them. I've been to Alaska twice
: > now and not seen a bear in the backcountry while there, but I think I'm
: > just lucky.
: Lucky??? Nobody wants to get chewed by a bear, but seeing one in the
: backcountry is one of life's rare, truly grand experiences. You missed
: out.
You're right. I was being a little facetious, but sometimes my humour
doesn't get carried over the wire so well.
: If you don't want to see bears, there's plenty of fantastic places to
: hike without going all the way to Alaska!
Actually, I was hoping to see a bear. But I didn't. I haven't despite
many trips to many places that have bears. As one other poster suggested,
perhaps my lack of deoderant usage that scares 'em off.
:-)
greg rose
Son of Traven
>Actually, I was hoping to see a bear. But I didn't. I haven't despite
>many trips to many places that have bears. As one other poster suggested,
>perhaps my lack of deoderant usage that scares 'em off.
If it makes you feel any better, YOU have never seen a bear, but I'd bet the
family estate if I thought I could prove it, that at least one bear HAS seen
you.
New Mexico, it ain't New and it ain't Mexico
Also known as: "The Land of Entrapment"
Capital City: Santa Fake