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Alaska from North to South
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| June 7 | Arrive in Prudhoe Bay |
| June 8 | Prudhoe Bay |
| June 9 - 10 | Dalton (Wiseman) |
| June 11 | Fairbanks |
| June 12 - 14 | Denali National Park |
| June 15 | Anchorage |
| June 16 - 19 | Aboard the MV Discovery in Prince William Sound |
| June 20 | Homer |
| June 21 - 22 | Bears in Katmai |
| June 23 | Anchorage |
| June 24 | Homeward |
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June 6, Sunday Travel day, if necessary, or arrange a pre-trip extension
Choose the best route to Anchorage, Alaska, to arrive for the early afternoon flight to Prudhoe Bay on June 7. An overnight in Anchorage on June 6 may be necessary if you cannot get a flight that arrives early enough on June 7. See "Flights and Extra Nights" at the end of the itinerary for hotel suggestions. Arriving early will allow time to explore downtown Anchorage and its fine museums, especially the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, which contains excellent exhibits of Alaskan history, culture, geology, flora and fauna. Various references on these subjects can be examined or purchased at the Center. For a city its size, Anchorage has an amazing diversity of wildlife. Loons, ducks and Red-necked Grebes are frequently observed on lagoons in parks within the city limits, such as at Westchester Lagoon, a 20-minute walk from the inn. Anchorage is the largest community in North America with a population of breeding loons. The loud resonant yodeling call of a loon late in the evening across a still lake is an unforgettable experience, especially in an urban setting. Wolves and Brown Bears occasionally venture inside city environs from their more permanent habitats in the adjacent Chugach Mountains. Moose are considered pests by some gardeners and are involved in traffic accidents during winter periods of heavy snowfall and icy roads. Other avifauna found in the local area include Hudsonian Godwits, Alder Flycatchers, Common Redpolls, Rusty Blackbirds, Boreal and Black-capped chickadees, and several species of warblers.
Lodging: on your own
June 7, Monday Travel to Prudhoe Bay
Catch the early afternoon Alaska Air flight from Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay where Hugh will meet you on your arrival. We begin the arctic part of this amazing Alaskan adventure here. Check in at the lodge before heading out into the field to seek the mammals and birds that make their home on the arctic coastal plain during the brief summer season. Weather permitting this afternoon or the next, you may choose to do an optional "flight-seeing" trip over the arctic coastal plain ($150 extra, subject to change). During the flight there may be opportunities to see Muskoxen, Caribou, Grizzly Bears, Gray Wolves and other wildlife, as well as the Arctic Ocean, pack ice, and the magnificent coastal plain. Flying over Prudhoe will allow you to see the extent of oil development in this fragile ecosystem. After a welcome dinner we will either drive to a location to walk amongst arctic birds or walk directly from the hotel and watch the midnight sun dip towards the horizon, but never set.
Lodging: Prudhoe Bay Hotel
June 8, Tuesday Prudhoe Bay
After an early breakfast at the Inn, we will head out for another adventure. We will spend our day searching for birds in the unlikely environment of the Prudhoe Bay oilfields. Another optional activity is an "Oilfields Tour", which takes participants on a two-hour drive through the Prudhoe Bay oilfields ($40 extra, subject to change), showing the processes behind oil extraction in the Arctic and giving people an opportunity to view the many different species of birds that nest amongst the development in the arctic coastal plain. The trip ends at the shores of the Arctic Ocean. This is the only option for access to the Arctic Ocean from land on this trip and affords people the chance to dip their toes in the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean. Birding and photography are spectacular here with Pacific, Common, and Red-throated loons all in breeding plumage and regularly seen in this area. Other species, such as Spectacled, King, and Common eiders, Baird Sandpipers, and 125 other species of birds, are seen in this birding paradise. Arctic Fox and the native Red Fox are also common visitors. A short drive down the Dalton Highway in the afternoon may afford us looks at all three species of jaegers (Long-tailed, Pomarine, and Parasitic), Arctic Warbler, Muskoxen, Grizzly Bear, Caribou, possibly Bluethroat, and maybe wolves.
Lodging: Prudhoe Bay Hotel
Northern Hawk Owl
©Hugh Rose
June 9, Wednesday Dalton Highway - the stunning Haul Road!
After breakfast in Prudhoe Bay, drive south down the Dalton Highway. Also called the Haul Road, this is the 500-mile long road that stretches from Fairbanks to Deadhorse. Travel half way today, to arrive at Wiseman for a two-night stay. We drive south across the arctic coastal plain to the distant foothills of the Brooks Range. This first 130 miles is wildlife rich, taking us through an alien landscape of flats and low rolling hills, devoid of any trees but covered with a brilliant green carpet of tundra vegetation. All types of wildlife flock to the coastal plain in the summer to partake of this brief but intense bloom of life. Caribou, Moose, and Muskoxen are seen browsing on willows and sedges, while predators, such as wolves, fox, bear, Golden Eagle, Snowy Owl, and Gyrfalcon, come to the tundra in search of a meal. Ascend the foothills of the Brooks Range with the climb culminating in the highest mountain pass that any road crosses in Alaska, Atigun Pass. The Haul Road climbs to 5,000 feet over this stunning mountain pass where we will stop for a small hike and picnic lunch. At this time of year, wildflowers carpet the tundra here; it is not uncommon to count as many as fifty species of wildflowers along the road in the high alpine of the Brooks Range. As we descend from Atigun Pass onto the south side of the Brooks Range, enter the scenic Koyukuk River Valley and the northern edge of the boreal forest. The next 75 miles is a spectacular drive down the Koyukuk Valley through craggy peaks of 400-million-year-old limestone and dense spruce forest. Here we may see Grizzlies, Grey (Timber) Wolves, Moose, and even Lynx. At the end of an unforgettable 250-mile drive, arrive in the historic gold mining town of Wiseman to stay overnight at the Arctic Get-away Bed and Breakfast or "Igloo #8." The Igloo Club, a group like the Elks Club, originally built this historic lodge. It is a real log cabin where you can feel the true Alaskan wilderness off the beaten track. Many of the historic log cabins still stand today, housing residents or small businesses such as Arctic Get-away and the Wiseman Museum.
Lodging: Igloo #8
June 10, Thursday Wiseman
After breakfast in the comfortable kitchen of Igloo #8, set out for a day of exploring and photography on the south side of the Brooks Range. Take a picnic lunch and stop to eat on a carpet of wildflowers that we hope will be stretching in all directions. This will be an excellent opportunity to explore the town of Wiseman. Settled in 1903, most of the buildings in this town are older than the oldest surviving buildings in Fairbanks. Several old log cabins, a general store, and many historic gold mining artifacts can be found within a short walk of our accommodations.
Lodging: Igloo #8
June 11, Friday Fairbanks
After an early breakfast, we depart for Fairbanks, located 250 miles south of Wiseman. The drive traverses boreal forest and ascends mountain peaks of windswept tundra. A crossing of the Arctic Circle, 60 miles south of Wiseman, will be celebrated with good cheer. After another 60 miles, we cross the mighty Yukon River and continue through the White Mountains to Fairbanks. An afternoon arrival in Fairbanks allows us a chance to relax and enjoy Fairbanks in the summer. Well known for warm summers and cold winters, high temperatures can be in the 90s this time of year, but average 65 to 70°F. Dinner is on our own this evening. A choice of dining in Fairbanks allows you to try the cuisine that appeals most to you. Finish this exciting day with the night at Grandview Lodge.
Lodging: Grandview Bed and Breakfast
June 12, Saturday On To Denali
After a relaxing morning in Fairbanks with time to explore the "Golden Heart City of Interior Alaska," drive south to the entrance at Denali National Park with time to enjoy the east side of the Park. Our night will be at the wonderful Earth Song Lodge on the edge of the park, arriving in time for dinner.
Lodging: Earth Song Lodge
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Beautiful Alaskan Scenery © Hugh Rose
June 13, Sunday Denali National Park to Kantishna
Depart at 6:00 am to drive at our leisure through the best part of Denali National Park to mile 92 at the end of the road. Hugh has a vehicle permit, which is only possible because we will be staying at the small, private Skyline Lodge in Kantishna. There are only 100 miles of gravel road within the 9300-square-mile park. In order to protect wildlife viewing opportunities, the use of non-permitted private vehicles is restricted to the first 15 miles of road. Only specially sanctioned park shuttle buses and those with special permits for private lodging (as we will have) are allowed on the remaining road system. This is probably the best park in North America for viewing wildlife and wildflowers from early June through August. Moose, Grizzly Bear, Dall Sheep, Caribou, Red Fox, Arctic Ground Squirrel, Marmot, and Pika are all seen from this road. Even Wolverine and wolves are occasionally seen from the road. A total of 37 species of mammals have been documented in the park. Interesting birds include Golden Eagles, Gyrfalcon, Rough-legged Hawks, Long-tailed Jaegers, Rock and Willow ptarmigan, Northern Wheatear, Arctic Warbler, American Golden Plover, and over 100 other species. One area of particular interest is the Stony Creek area where 132 species of wildflowers occur as well as wheatears, nesting shorebirds, Long-tailed Jaeger, and other birds. Hugh knows this area very well from his time as resident naturalist at Camp Denali. This is where we first met Hugh in 1994.
Denali National Park and Preserve (formally Mount McKinley National Park) lies 250 miles south of the Arctic Circle and 237 highway miles north of Anchorage. Spend all day traversing the gravel spur road through the center of the park. Stop to observe and photograph both large and small wildlife and incredible scenery. Large mammals, such as the Denali Grizzly Bears with their beautiful blond fur, may be found feeding very close to the road. Enjoy a picnic lunch while driving through the park and arrive at Skyline Lodge for dinner. A short drive down from the lodge this evening affords an incredible view of Denali, weather permitting. "Denali" is a local Indian word meaning "Great One" referring to North America's highest mountain, still often called Mount McKinley due to resistance to change from the former President's supporters in Congress.
The lodge consists of four large, clean and comfortable rooms in a large log cabin structure with bathroom and toilet facilities located in the adjacent main lodge building. Although bathroom facilities are not located inside the rooms, they are just a few steps away across a wooden deck and up one flight of stairs. The main lodge also houses the dining area and comfortable living room with library and couches for relaxing and absorbing the stunning view across the Moose Creek Valley. The privilege of exploring Denali National Park privately and at our own pace makes this rustic accommodation well worth our two-night stay. The meals at Skyline Lodge are excellent and include something for everyone. We have stayed at another lodge nearby with private baths, but found that the regimented activity schedule there did not fit with people who like to get going early in the morning and late afternoon for the best photographic light. Hugh, a professional photographer, can give you pointers and recommend the best compositions for excellent photographic results.
Lodging: Skyline Lodge at Kantishna
June 14, Monday Flight-seeing, hiking and viewing at Wonder Lake
Our lodge owner offers "flight-seeing" excursions in a single engine aircraft operated from a small airstrip located at Kantishna. The flight is marvelous and is included in the cost of this trip. Denali's 20,320-foot summit is very close to Kantishna, only 30 miles from the North Face of the mountain. The vertical relief of this mountain, as measured from its base to its summit, is 18,000 feet - greater than that of Mt. Everest. Bring your wide-angle lens - Denali more than fills the window of the airplane! The mountain has its own weather and can be cloud-hidden as much as 60% of the time. Winter temperatures on the mountain can dip to -85°F and winds can gust to more than 150 miles per hour. Even summer temperatures on the summit can be severe. Permanent snowfields cover more than 50% of the mountain and feed the many glaciers that surround its base. Over 1,000 people now attempt to climb the mountain each year by a multitude of routes. The most popular route is not technically difficult, but low temperatures and awesome winds in upper reaches make this environment one of the harshest on earth, usually claiming the lives of a few climbers every year. The park exemplifies interior Alaska's character as one of the world's last great frontiers, offering an opportunity for wilderness adventure. Most of Denali remains largely wild and unspoiled, but there are many development pressures so constant vigilance is required to preserve this wilderness. You will have the opportunity to walk in the Kantishna Hills to look for birds, mammals and wildflowers or simply relax on the deck in front of your room and enjoy the scenic views of the Moose Creek Valley. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the banks of Moose Creek amid the magnificent scenery that surrounds this area. Also spend time at Wonder Lake, one of the best places to photograph Moose if one comes to drink in the late afternoon. A delicious dinner awaits us at the lodge at the end of our day.
Lodging: Skyline Lodge at Kantishna
June 15, Tuesday Denali National Park and Night in Anchorage
Take full advantage of the morning in the park with wildlife viewing, photographing, and birding. After a hearty breakfast at Skyline Lodge, we have an early departure for more great wildlife experiences traversing slowly back across the park. Arrive at the park entrance to explore this area and have lunch. Depart on the George Parks Highway south to Anchorage. The trip will take us through fertile Matanuska Valley farmlands, across high bridges spanning several Susitna River tributaries, and will provide spectacular views of Denali, weather permitting. Make a stop halfway at Denali State Park for a short hike and a chance to photograph and sightsee on the south side of the Alaska Range. We will arrive in Anchorage and drive directly to the Susitna Place Bed and Breakfast for the night. Dinner on your own this evening.
Lodging: : Susitna Place Bed and Breakfast Inn
The Discovery anchors in front of a
waterfall in Prince William Sound.
©Hugh Rose
June 16, Wednesday Prince William Sound
After breakfast, we depart for the dock in Whittier, where we rendezvous with the MV Discovery. Meet the captain, Dean Rand, and crew at the harbor for a warm welcome aboard the Discovery. It is owned and operated by Dean, a long-time Alaskan, who expertly pilots the ship through the Sound's narrow passages. The Discovery has six cabins with two baths and offers an adventurous yet comfortable means to explore this astoundingly rich wilderness seacoast. It is the ideal platform for exploring the thousands of miles of secluded bays and rocky inlets that make up Prince William Sound. At 65 feet in length, drafting six and a half feet and with a thick steel hull, the Discovery is able to navigate into small bays and ice-filled waters to get us close views of everything from marine and terrestrial mammals to calving glaciers and sea birds! Relax in the cozy lounge and enjoy a specially prepared lunch. Then depart for Prince William Sound, where breathtaking glacial scenery, blue icebergs, spectacular birdlife, Killer Whales, and other marine mammals await.
Lodging: Aboard the MV Discovery
June 17 - 19, Thursday - Saturday Price William Sound
Weather and wildlife will dictate our destinations but we will strike out on a route around Prince William Sound to maximize our marine wildlife and bird viewing and visit some of the most spectacular glacial scenery in the Northern Hemisphere, such as Icy Bay and Harriman Fjord. Prince William Sound is also the northern-most coastal temperate rainforest in the world. Each day will consist of excursions on shore to hike and view wildlife and scenery up close. The Discovery is equipped with Zodiacs, which make shore excursions easy and stable, and ocean-going kayaks for more intimate exploration of this rich marine environment (no experience necessary as Hugh and the crew can teach you how to paddle). Humpback Whale viewing should be outstanding, weather permitting.
Lodging: aboard the Discovery
Tufted Puffin ©Hugh Rose
June 20, Sunday From Prince William Sound to Homer
Awake to some of the world's most spectacular scenery: corridors of breathtaking beauty, sprawling glaciers, and a panoramic skyline of mountain grandeur. Harbor Seals hauled out on the flotillas of ice watch closely as the Discovery navigates the icy blue waters of Barry Arm. The enveloping mountains of this inlet stretch skyward to nearly 10,000 feet, with glacier after glacier descending the terraced mountain valleys. Alaska's lush rainforest vegetation drapes the hillsides in green as streaming waterfalls fall from the rocky cliffs. Listen to the cracks, pops, and thunderous roars of the Cascade, Barry, and Coxe glaciers while the Discovery, dwarfed by blue and white walls, drifts silently by these actively calving rivers of ice. Enjoy a beautiful buffet lunch while the Discovery exits this magical place for the Whittier Harbor. Disembark in Whittier this afternoon then drive to Homer for overnight at the Driftwood Inn on the shores of Kachemak Bay. Dinner is on our own this evening.
Lodging: Driftwood Inn
June 21 - 22, Monday - Tuesday Hallo Bay Bear Camp in Katmai
After breakfast, depart from Homer on a 45-minute flight (included in the trip cost) across Cook Inlet to the Hallo Bay Wilderness Lodge. The scenic charter flight, with takeoff and landing on the beach at Hallo Bay Wilderness Lodge, will be a unique and exhilarating yet safe experience. As you approach, the pilot will fly over the camp and surrounding terrain to give you a great perspective on the immense and incredibly rich coastal ecosystem below. On arrival, you will marvel at the sweet sedge grass meadows surrounding Hallo Bay Bear Camp located in the Hallow Bay Wilderness of Katmai. These flats attract bears from May through June, up to
15 bears at once in the smaller meadows and 20 to 30 in the large meadows. Bears will be seen aggressively digging clams at low tide and grazing on the inter-tidal sedge flats. Mother bears with spring cubs are often present and their fur is very attractive at this season. It's an excellent time to view action between bears; from May to early July, the Brown Bears are engaged in fascinating mating behaviors. The group size at the Bear Camp is limited to twelve people in six cabins, so this is an intimate experience for a very small number of people at a time.
Also on arrival at Hallo Bay, Hugh will provide more information on safety precautions in bear country. The rest of the day, with time out for a hearty lunch, and all the next day will be spent bear viewing and becoming familiar with the surroundings. When we come upon bears, we will stop to observe and photograph them in a manner so as not to disturb them. Hugh will answer any questions you may have and provide clear instructions on appropriate behavior around the bears. Alaska Brown and Grizzly Bears are considered one species (Ursus arctos), but the coastal Brown Bears are larger. Mature males may weigh in excess of 1,000 pounds. Cubs are born in the dens in mid-winter, up to four cubs weighing a mere one pound each at birth. Cubs stay with their mother for two or three years during which time she does not reproduce. Brown Bears dig a new den each year, entering in November and emerging in April. About half of their life is spent in their dens.
Hallo Bay provides hearty, family style meals. They even request that guests bring environmentally friendly products for soap, shampoo, etc, to keep the water quality pristine. (A list of what to bring will be provided with your trip materials.)
Lodging: Hallo Bay Bear Camp
June 23, Wednesday Hallo Bay and back to Anchorage
Enjoy the last morning of bear viewing and photography. Depart about noon, depending on tides, from Hallo Bay via floatplane and back to Anchorage. The Susitna Place Inn will be our destination today. A farewell dinner at a fine local restaurant will be planned.
Lodging: Susitna Place Inn
June 24, Thursday Return home or continue on with a post-trip extension
After breakfast, depart for the trip home with transfers covered to the airport this morning. Alternatively, stay on for an extension to other parts of Alaska. Please contact Hugh or us if you are interested in extending your stay. Hugh's contact information is below. By your departure, you will have experienced Alaska from the High Arctic seacoast to the highest mountain, Denali, and the Southwest seacoast in Prince William Sound, a very wonderful itinerary indeed!
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MV Discovery
MV Discovery is meticulously fitted to combine the finest blend of luxury, comfort and utility, the 65 foot classic working yacht gently sails you into one of the world's richest marine environments. Named after one of Captain Cook's ships, the Discovery's atmosphere is one of charm and style. The lower deck includes sleeping accommodations for up to 12 guests in 6 cabins, plus crew quarters, two bathrooms with hot showers, and stowage space. Guests can readily view and photograph the panoramic scenery and marine life from the ship's complete walk-around deck and expansive windows. Unlike the cumbersome cruise ship giants, the Discovery's size enables access to Alaska's lesser traveled, more intimate inside passages. Well equipped for travel in Alaska's wilderness, the Discovery safely charts the Sound's remote waterways. Review more ship details including the deckplan.
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Costs, Payments and Cancellations: Upon receiving your deposit, we will send complete trip materials. Deposits are refundable before the final payment date, except for $150. The $150 may go toward another tour if a reservation is made within six months of the departure date of this trip. There are no refunds given after the final payment date. Trip cancellation insurance applications are available. Trip options, if any, and singles are extra.
| Cost per Person | |
| Trip cost, double occupancy | $8,500 |
| Payment Schedule | |
| Deposit - to reserve your space | $750 |
| October 1, 2009 - second payment | $750 |
| March 1, 2010 - second payment | remaining balance |
Included:
Not Included:
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Reservations: Please contact us to assure space availability and to let us answer your questions. Then, fill out our reservation form, and mail it to us with your deposit:
Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
20800 Kittredge Road
Saratoga, CA 95070
Toll Free: (800) 527-5330
Local: (408) 741-5330
Fax: (408) 741-0358
Email: info@cheesemans.com
Hugh Rose
Leaders: outstanding resident naturalist and wonderful person, will guide throughout. Hugh has led Alaska trips since 1991, receiving unending praise for his amazing knowledge plus his attention to every detail and everyone's needs. He has a grasp on all aspects of Alaskan natural history, from in-depth bird behavior to geology. He is a professional photographer and is also on our Antarctica staff. Dean Rand is captain of the Discovery and knows Prince William Sound and all its special places well, with more than twenty years of experience on Alaska's waters.
Flights: Fly from your home airport to Prudhoe Bay (SCC), also known as Deadhorse, via Anchorage to arrive in Prudhoe no later than the afternoon of Monday, June 7. You need to arrive in Anchorage on the morning of June 7 in plenty of time to make the Alaska Air flight from Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay, scheduled for early afternoon of June 7. This Alaska Air flight costs close to $400 if purchased separately, so it's best to include it with your ticket from the "lower 48". Schedule your return flight home from Anchorage on June 24 or later. If you cannot get to Anchorage on the 7th in time for the Alaska Air flight to Prudhoe Bay, please plan to arrive in Anchorage on June 6 for an overnight. If you plan to arrive on June 5 for a two-night stay, we recommend the Copper Whale (www.copperwhale.com) or Susitna Place (www.susitnaplace.com) where the group stays on the last night of the trip on June 23. For a one-night stay, we recommend a lodge near the airport with free airport shuttle. A taxi to town is approximately $25. Please let us know if you would like to contact Hugh for extra nights and trip extensions. Plese plan ahead, since he is often in the field.
Travel Insurance: There are many types of travel insurance, including emergency medical insurance (cheap) and trip cancellation insurance (expensive). Be sure to compare benefits and exclusions carefully so you will purchase the policy that you desire and need. Read our recommendations and requirements.
Mailing List: If you would like to be on our mailing list or request information, please use our online information request form or send us your name, address, email address and phone number. Please note we will never share your personal information with anybody!
Responsibility: Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage, or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs, exchange rates and fuel prices and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Baggage is at the owner's risk.
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All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris.
All photos © Doug or Ted Cheeseman, unless otherwise credited.
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