Hey guys ! my first post here. Am headed to Alaska this august (13-23 st) and need some guidance. I will be traveling alone.
1. Planning to spend 3 nights and 4 days in Denali national park. Shall take the shuttle to the west end of the road and work my way back over the next three days.
Any suggestions on places/areas to camp.
Where to look out for Caribou, Dall sheep, brown bear, dall sheep, wolves etc... I would really love to see caribou :)
2. I have to choose between Yakutat/Icy bay area and McCarthy/Kennecott area :(
This is where i really need your help. Which one would you choose.
I think i know how to get to Mccarthy but have trouble finding a way to icy bay.
I could fly to Yakutat from Anchorage. How to get to Icy Bay from Yakutat ? Is flying the only way or are there boats ? Are there scheduled air taxis ? I am a student and chartering a flight may be too expensive.
If i go to Yakutat, i intend to do a day trip to Hubbard Glacier area and then spend 2 days in icy bay. I want to go there to see Mt St Elias :)
3.If i choose to go to Mccarthy i will only have a day left. I would probably do a day trip from anchorage to the kenai peninsula.
If i go to Yakutat, I might have 3 days left. Do you think a short trip out of Fairbanks to Brooks range is worth it ? Again i have a choice here. Take the Dalton highway bus to Atigun pass area or fly to Anaktuvuk Pass. Do you think either one of them is a good idea ?
Sorry for the long list of questions. I dont have a lot of time left and am a little confused. But excited :)
Wow, you are going to be covering a lot of miles during those 10 days! Here are my initial reactions.
1. You aren't going to have a lot of flexibility on where you can camp in the back-country unless you have a few days to wait for units to open. You might be better off picking one unit and sticking with it. You can find caribou most anywhere in the park.
2. McCarthy is easy to get to because you can drive to it. Icy Bay will require a flight to Yakutat, and another expensive flight or boat charter to Icy Bay, and then a kayak or something to get around - and kayak rentals over there are ridiculously expensive. Just keep in mind, that area is very remote and can have terrible weather.
3. It isn't a "short trip" from Fairbanks to the Brooks Range - heck, it is a pretty long trip just getting to Fairbanks from McCarthy. But the road to the Brooks range is a couple hundred very rough, mostly dirt miles as is the last 60 mile to McCarthy. The Brooks Range is amazing, but just keep in mind the amount of time it takes to get between places up here. Denali to McCarthy for example would be a very long day much of which would be on very slow, rough dirt roads (Denali Highway and McCarthy road).
Thanks for the speedy response Ron. Icy bay does seem out of reach :(
I am not planning to do a lot of driving. Not very good at it :)
If i go to McCarthy, this is my plan. Arrive in Anchorage early morning 1 am on 13 th.
Take the bus to Glennallen at 6 am .. arrive at 10:30. ( http://www.alaskadirectbusline.com/schedule.htm )
Take the shuttle next morning to McCarthy.. arrive at 11 am on 14 th. (http://www.kennicottshuttle.com/itinerary.html)
15/16/17 around McCarthy.
Start early18 morning and somehow get to Glennallen by 5:30 pm to catch the bus back to anchorage.
(I would have to spend one more day in glennallen if i took the kennecott shuttle)
19 th morning take the bus to denali.. reach by 12:55 (http://www.alaskashuttle.com/Parks.htm). Then take the camper shuttle to wonder lake.
Get back to anchorage 22 night.
23 day trip to kenai. 23 midnight fly back :)
My only concern about going to McCarthy is that it takes me 3-4 days just to get there and back :(
If i skip McCarthy, ill should have time for a 2 night trip to the brooks range plus 1 night in kenai. The Denali bus goes to Fairbanks. They allow you to get off and on anywhere from Anchorage to Fairbanks. I can fly from fairbanks to Anaktuvuk Pass(280 $ roundtrip). If i decide to do Brooks range, ill go early in the trip to allow for weather delays.
Icy bay looked like a good alternative to McCarthy. As you have pointed out, it might be difficult getting there.
OK - Flying to the Brooks Range would make it a much short trip from Fairbanks.
That sounds like a lot of work just to get to McCarthy. Granted, McCarthy is really cool, but I don't know if it is worth the effort, especially since you will be on vans and won't be able to photograph your way out there and back. You are going to be passing by some beautiful country and it will be tough not stopping for the photo. Having grown up in Glennallen I can say there isn't much to do there for an overnight stop if you don't have a vehicle.
Now if you could find a rental car that allowed you to drive from Anchorage to McCarthy, that would change everything - then you could photograph your way out there. I might add, McCarthy is cool, but kind of the front door to some amazing country that you won't have time to explore.
To do the Brooks Range and Kenai in 3 days would be tough as they are very far apart. I think I would rather spend all 3 days at one location or the other.
No matter where you pick, I'm sure you will have a great trip!
- If you are going to go all the way to the Brooks Range via the Dalton, plan on 4-5 days at least. Otherwise, it's a death march trip. Remember you can't get to the Arctic Ocean unless you participate in a tour.
- Yakutat is stunning. All of the ten days a year that it is clear. Hubbard Glacier is awesome, but you have to charter to get there. Last time I checked, Yakutat Lodge was cheapest. A seaplane flight into Russell Fjord is even more awesome, but when the weather is bad there - probably 300 days year - it's really, really bad. As in you can't ever fly in, or they can't get you out on time. Yakutat does have a road system, and you can rent beater trucks, but all the roads are on the forelands, and unless it is clear, all you'll see is swamps and trees.
- Instead of the Kenai Peninsula, go to Seward and spend the day on the long (11.5 hour) charter trip out into Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords Nat'l Park. Far more photo ops, on all but the worst days.
- Icy Bay is dicey. There's always a risk you'll get out there and the weather won't let you get out on your schedule. And getting a sea kayak at Icy Bay, as Ron says, is spendy.
- Unless you have trip insurance, I'd not fly into any place that you can't be sure you'll fly out. Yakutat has jet service, and flights get in and out 90% of the time. The others, not so much.
- Remember Alaska is huge. And the roads, for the most part, aren't freeway-speed travel. On the Dalton or the McCarthy Road, for example, 40 mph is very good; 30 mph much more common.
If you do decide to go to Yakutat, feel free to contact me by email. I've been there 25-30 times, and can give you some tips.
Thanks for the suggestions guys ! From the response, i gather that it makes sense to target denali plus one more place. I need a day or two to digest all the comments and make a decision.
Ron, your comments on McCarthy make a lot of sense. I wanted to use McCarthy as a base and wasnt planning to spend any time close to town. If i decide to go there, ill make sure i have at least 4 full days to get out on to the mountains.
Jim, will definitely write to you if I need any help with Yakutat.
Anand
Posted by David Taylor on July 14, 2010 at 12:16 AM
I agree with your last statement, Anand. I think you would have a much more successful trip if you picked out 1 place to direct the majority of your attention to, like Denali. By trying to hit so many spots, you are really spreading yourself too thin. You'll see a lot of different terrain, but you won't get a chance to "experience" it. I would recommend spending your time in Denali. That time of year, you should be able to get some early fall colors, especially in the higher altitude. With that much time there, you'll have a greater ability to be flexible for where to go in the park, and to take the time to get great shots.
All the best on your adventure!
Discussion
6 replies1. Planning to spend 3 nights and 4 days in Denali national park. Shall take the shuttle to the west end of the road and work my way back over the next three days.
Any suggestions on places/areas to camp.
Where to look out for Caribou, Dall sheep, brown bear, dall sheep, wolves etc... I would really love to see caribou :)
2. I have to choose between Yakutat/Icy bay area and McCarthy/Kennecott area :(
This is where i really need your help. Which one would you choose.
I think i know how to get to Mccarthy but have trouble finding a way to icy bay.
I could fly to Yakutat from Anchorage. How to get to Icy Bay from Yakutat ? Is flying the only way or are there boats ? Are there scheduled air taxis ? I am a student and chartering a flight may be too expensive.
If i go to Yakutat, i intend to do a day trip to Hubbard Glacier area and then spend 2 days in icy bay. I want to go there to see Mt St Elias :)
3.If i choose to go to Mccarthy i will only have a day left. I would probably do a day trip from anchorage to the kenai peninsula.
If i go to Yakutat, I might have 3 days left. Do you think a short trip out of Fairbanks to Brooks range is worth it ? Again i have a choice here. Take the Dalton highway bus to Atigun pass area or fly to Anaktuvuk Pass. Do you think either one of them is a good idea ?
Sorry for the long list of questions. I dont have a lot of time left and am a little confused. But excited :)
Anand
1. You aren't going to have a lot of flexibility on where you can camp in the back-country unless you have a few days to wait for units to open. You might be better off picking one unit and sticking with it. You can find caribou most anywhere in the park.
2. McCarthy is easy to get to because you can drive to it. Icy Bay will require a flight to Yakutat, and another expensive flight or boat charter to Icy Bay, and then a kayak or something to get around - and kayak rentals over there are ridiculously expensive. Just keep in mind, that area is very remote and can have terrible weather.
3. It isn't a "short trip" from Fairbanks to the Brooks Range - heck, it is a pretty long trip just getting to Fairbanks from McCarthy. But the road to the Brooks range is a couple hundred very rough, mostly dirt miles as is the last 60 mile to McCarthy. The Brooks Range is amazing, but just keep in mind the amount of time it takes to get between places up here. Denali to McCarthy for example would be a very long day much of which would be on very slow, rough dirt roads (Denali Highway and McCarthy road).
Hope that helps!
Ron
Thanks for the speedy response Ron. Icy bay does seem out of reach :(
I am not planning to do a lot of driving. Not very good at it :)
If i go to McCarthy, this is my plan. Arrive in Anchorage early morning 1 am on 13 th.
Take the bus to Glennallen at 6 am .. arrive at 10:30. ( http://www.alaskadirectbusline.com/schedule.htm )
Take the shuttle next morning to McCarthy.. arrive at 11 am on 14 th. (http://www.kennicottshuttle.com/itinerary.html)
15/16/17 around McCarthy.
Start early18 morning and somehow get to Glennallen by 5:30 pm to catch the bus back to anchorage.
(I would have to spend one more day in glennallen if i took the kennecott shuttle)
19 th morning take the bus to denali.. reach by 12:55 (http://www.alaskashuttle.com/Parks.htm). Then take the camper shuttle to wonder lake.
Get back to anchorage 22 night.
23 day trip to kenai. 23 midnight fly back :)
My only concern about going to McCarthy is that it takes me 3-4 days just to get there and back :(
If i skip McCarthy, ill should have time for a 2 night trip to the brooks range plus 1 night in kenai. The Denali bus goes to Fairbanks. They allow you to get off and on anywhere from Anchorage to Fairbanks. I can fly from fairbanks to Anaktuvuk Pass(280 $ roundtrip). If i decide to do Brooks range, ill go early in the trip to allow for weather delays.
Icy bay looked like a good alternative to McCarthy. As you have pointed out, it might be difficult getting there.
Anand
That sounds like a lot of work just to get to McCarthy. Granted, McCarthy is really cool, but I don't know if it is worth the effort, especially since you will be on vans and won't be able to photograph your way out there and back. You are going to be passing by some beautiful country and it will be tough not stopping for the photo. Having grown up in Glennallen I can say there isn't much to do there for an overnight stop if you don't have a vehicle.
Now if you could find a rental car that allowed you to drive from Anchorage to McCarthy, that would change everything - then you could photograph your way out there. I might add, McCarthy is cool, but kind of the front door to some amazing country that you won't have time to explore.
To do the Brooks Range and Kenai in 3 days would be tough as they are very far apart. I think I would rather spend all 3 days at one location or the other.
No matter where you pick, I'm sure you will have a great trip!
Ron
- If you are going to go all the way to the Brooks Range via the Dalton, plan on 4-5 days at least. Otherwise, it's a death march trip. Remember you can't get to the Arctic Ocean unless you participate in a tour.
- Yakutat is stunning. All of the ten days a year that it is clear. Hubbard Glacier is awesome, but you have to charter to get there. Last time I checked, Yakutat Lodge was cheapest. A seaplane flight into Russell Fjord is even more awesome, but when the weather is bad there - probably 300 days year - it's really, really bad. As in you can't ever fly in, or they can't get you out on time. Yakutat does have a road system, and you can rent beater trucks, but all the roads are on the forelands, and unless it is clear, all you'll see is swamps and trees.
- Instead of the Kenai Peninsula, go to Seward and spend the day on the long (11.5 hour) charter trip out into Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords Nat'l Park. Far more photo ops, on all but the worst days.
- Icy Bay is dicey. There's always a risk you'll get out there and the weather won't let you get out on your schedule. And getting a sea kayak at Icy Bay, as Ron says, is spendy.
- Unless you have trip insurance, I'd not fly into any place that you can't be sure you'll fly out. Yakutat has jet service, and flights get in and out 90% of the time. The others, not so much.
- Remember Alaska is huge. And the roads, for the most part, aren't freeway-speed travel. On the Dalton or the McCarthy Road, for example, 40 mph is very good; 30 mph much more common.
If you do decide to go to Yakutat, feel free to contact me by email. I've been there 25-30 times, and can give you some tips.
Jim
Ron, your comments on McCarthy make a lot of sense. I wanted to use McCarthy as a base and wasnt planning to spend any time close to town. If i decide to go there, ill make sure i have at least 4 full days to get out on to the mountains.
Jim, will definitely write to you if I need any help with Yakutat.
Anand
All the best on your adventure!