10-26-2008, 09:43 PM
Alaska - recap analysis - bad ass
Background: Flew to Kodiak for work for two days, spent two days on the return trip in Anchorage and environs in mid-Sept. Terrain was unrreal, but due to the time of year, it was their rainy season (with the biggest raindrops I've ever seen).
I was in Kodiak for an audit, which ended up being pretty short and left us with some free time. The island is pretty spartan, largely employed by halibut and crab fisherman (yes, like you see on the Deadliest Catch). It being the beginning of the silver (Coho) salmon run, we rented some tackle and hit Buskin Creek. Results were pretty unimpressive, but we tagged a decent sized fish and then a Kodiak brown (considered medium size at 900lbs) tore out of the bushes and decided to take a bath just below our position. We stood fast as he/she turned downstream and ended up charging some flyfisherman who were being a little too stubborn with mother nature.
I flew to Anchorage the next day to explore the environs, almost hit a 1500lb moose, and drove to the Kenai peninsula for a cruise in Resurrection Bay at Seward. The cruise yielded the basics like countless bald eagles, incredible terrain, glaciers, sea lions, et cetera.
Alaska isn't cheap, as it's one of the last vestiges of wilderness in our country with minimal infrastructure - however, it does come with some great food, interesting people, and amazing sights and wildlife. Bald eagles there are like pigeons in the continental US, moose are as common as deer, and there's an endless supply of sealife to keep your eyes and stomachs busy. Stay isn't cheap, neither is the food and gas, but it's largely fresh and tasty.
My recommendation - Alaska can't be fully experienced in one full visit. There are several options here...
Recommendations for future visits
1) Rent and RV and explore the interior. I love camping, but with the amount of bears and remoteness of Alaskan sites, I'd recommend an RV and drive from Anchorage down the Kenai - then east to the Wrangell area, then north through Fairbanks region and/or Denali, then back.
2) Cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage - experience all the glacial activity and sealife of the SE coastal region
3) Adventure to Ketmai park to see the bears - requires a bush pilot, but you'll be one with the largest non-polar bears on the planet.
All can be experienced with side trips to do halibut and/or salmon fishing (time of year pending, and king salmon being the most rewarding)... I can't wait to plan a trip back...
Background: Flew to Kodiak for work for two days, spent two days on the return trip in Anchorage and environs in mid-Sept. Terrain was unrreal, but due to the time of year, it was their rainy season (with the biggest raindrops I've ever seen).
I was in Kodiak for an audit, which ended up being pretty short and left us with some free time. The island is pretty spartan, largely employed by halibut and crab fisherman (yes, like you see on the Deadliest Catch). It being the beginning of the silver (Coho) salmon run, we rented some tackle and hit Buskin Creek. Results were pretty unimpressive, but we tagged a decent sized fish and then a Kodiak brown (considered medium size at 900lbs) tore out of the bushes and decided to take a bath just below our position. We stood fast as he/she turned downstream and ended up charging some flyfisherman who were being a little too stubborn with mother nature.
I flew to Anchorage the next day to explore the environs, almost hit a 1500lb moose, and drove to the Kenai peninsula for a cruise in Resurrection Bay at Seward. The cruise yielded the basics like countless bald eagles, incredible terrain, glaciers, sea lions, et cetera.
Alaska isn't cheap, as it's one of the last vestiges of wilderness in our country with minimal infrastructure - however, it does come with some great food, interesting people, and amazing sights and wildlife. Bald eagles there are like pigeons in the continental US, moose are as common as deer, and there's an endless supply of sealife to keep your eyes and stomachs busy. Stay isn't cheap, neither is the food and gas, but it's largely fresh and tasty.
My recommendation - Alaska can't be fully experienced in one full visit. There are several options here...
Recommendations for future visits
1) Rent and RV and explore the interior. I love camping, but with the amount of bears and remoteness of Alaskan sites, I'd recommend an RV and drive from Anchorage down the Kenai - then east to the Wrangell area, then north through Fairbanks region and/or Denali, then back.
2) Cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage - experience all the glacial activity and sealife of the SE coastal region
3) Adventure to Ketmai park to see the bears - requires a bush pilot, but you'll be one with the largest non-polar bears on the planet.
All can be experienced with side trips to do halibut and/or salmon fishing (time of year pending, and king salmon being the most rewarding)... I can't wait to plan a trip back...
05 S/C "Elixige"
07 Mazda 3S - commuter car
99 YZF-600R - commuter bike
07 Mazda 3S - commuter car
99 YZF-600R - commuter bike