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Have a lady friend that would like to see Alaska...she would like to see wildlife and nature. What would be a good time to go...I was thinking maybe late May or early June... I was thinking may be a boat based trip somewhere in the SE Alaska...she also likes to shop for regional products so maybe see towns like Sitka... I am open to any and all suggestions and if I could work in a little salmon/halibut fishing or crabbing that would be great... What say ye... Mike  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | ||
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Try to get to Katmai the first week of July. Lots of bears and excellent salmon and rainbow fishing. Most groups fly out of Homer, which offers fantastic halibut fishing so you can kill two birds with one stone. Driving to or from Homer from Anchorage gives you the opportunity to fish the Kenai for reds or Kings After that if you have the time drive to Denali park and take the shuttle back to Eielson visitor center. I would recommend you rent a small motorhome, 24-28 feet, then there is no need for hotels or rental cars. Stop when you want to cook or eat or sightsee. Alaska offers a ton of pull outs where you can pull over in the RV and sleep for the night or you can find designated camp grounds. When in Anchorage visit the downtown market which is every Sat and Sun. About 300 booths of mostly handmade Alaskan stuff and most likely the cheapest place in Alaska to buy them. One thing for certain, don't delay making reservations at Katmai or for the RV. Good luck. My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost. | |||
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One stop shopping for scenery+wildlife=Denali National Park. 237 miles north of Anchorage. Avoid May through July--animals look rough early on and are hard to see in warm weather when leaves are dense. Best time=last week of August, first week of September. Animals are active and look good, leaves are at peak of color, bugs are mostly gone and temps are perfect. Take a bus into the park and hike anywhere, from short, easy day hikes to all-day long hikes in rough country. Buy bear pepper spray in Anchorage--all you need to be safe. It's a world-class place for anyone who's into wildlife and nature. | |||
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Been here 40+ years and have still never been to Denali. If you want SE, here are some options (and I am biased): Juneau - day trips to Tracy Arm, 1/2 day whale watching trips closer to town. Day fishing/whale watching charter. Mendenhall Glacier & Mt. Roberts Tram (just a rental car) Gustavus - Glacier Bay + fishing We gots tourist traps (shops) galore!  | |||
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Mike all these idea's are good ones. As for time of year I think you nailed it, late May through June would be my dates due to dryest weather patterns. However, it can be wet and rainy at any time. | |||
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The Kenai Fjords boat tours out of Seward are great for wildlife- lots of puffins and whales and porpoise etc. An air tour of the chugach range from Merrill field or lake hood would get you sheep and probably goats- if you do the 2 hour flight, not the one hour. For my money the chugach is a better tour than McKinley, and I spent a lot of hours both places. Brooks camp in katmai is amazing if she is in to close proximity to brownies. Really spendy, though, even out of homer. Something like 700 each for the day. A raft trip on the upper Kenai in mid June or later is almost guaranteed to get you a black and brown bear. Beautiful float anyway. I would go after June 1st, be gone before July 4th. July 4th brings out all the stupid alaska has to offer and things get busier everywhere. Book soon, FYI. Doug | |||
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Thanks...sounds like I am choosing between Denali in late August or Chugach in late June Mike What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Mike ----- vicvanb gave you good advice, go in September. Two reasons, no kids and max color on the tundra. If you want to see land animals Denali is the only place to do that, unless you spend big bucks with planes and guides. Water animals you will have to do with boat tours. I have hunted many times, been on the trains and planes, yes you can see pretty country, but for animals go to Denali and take the longest bus ride there and get on the front right side of the bus for max opportunities for viewing animals and picture taking. Good luck and good shooting. phurley | |||
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We were lucky enough to go Alaska in September 2010. We drove north from Anchorage to Denali , and south to Seward and did the Kenai Fjords tour. After travelling half way around the world, we were not disappointed. We saw puffins, whales, orcas, sea otters ,seals and a heap of other birdlife. In Denali, travelling in their bus, we saw sheep, caribou, moose, ground squirrels, bears, a fox, even a wolf ! and once again heaps of bird life. Not to mention unforgettable scenery ! You'll need a big memory card on your camera. Loved Alasaka and it's people. I want to go back ! John | |||
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And I want to go to the Great Barrier Reef mate! | |||
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