Monthly Archives: March 2010

Alaska Travel Recommended Reading

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Here are the list of great books that we like to recommend any Alaska travelers to read before coming to Alaska. These are also great companion books that you can read when you are on your way to Alaska or even while traveling in Alaska.

ALASKA TRAVEL AND MEMOIRS:
Denali: A Literary Anthology, edited by Bill Sherwonit.
A wonderful collection of 23 stories on Denali Park area. The sections include Native Sacred Stories, Early Explorations, Mountaineering, Natural History, and Modern Adventures.
Alaska, Reflections on Land and Spirit.

The Great Land, Reflections on Alaska, Robert Hedin and Gary Holthause.
Both books are diverse and comprehensive collections of writers who have traveled, lived in, or are native to Alaska. The books include accounts of early explorers, natives, naturalists, and many others.

Coming Into the Country, by John McPhee.
An outsider’s view of Alaska that offers a superb introduction to the state.  Through describing personal experiences, John McPhee blends an informative array of history, issues, and facts.

Alaska, by James Michener.
The author has displayed a masterful placement of imagined characters among genuine participants in events of history in Alaska.

Two In the Far North, Margaret D. Murie.
A woman’s version of life during the frontier days of Alaska. She recounts her childhood in Fairbanks and then her adventures as a young wife, traveling through the wilderness  with her husband, famous biologist Olaus Murie.

ALASKAN HISTORY AND NATIVE PEOPLES
Where the Sea Breaks Its Back, by Corey Ford.
Excellent story of Vitus Bearing’s second voyage to Alaska. Ten years in the making, this voyage was plagued with difficulties, including shipwreck.  Naturalist Georg Steller was aboard, and made numerous discoveries about the natural history of Alaska.Collection of essays, stories, and pictures of the women who played key roles in the Alaskan Goldrush.

Make Prayers to the Raven, by Richard Nelson.
A blending of ethnography, personal reflections, and natural history, Make Prayers to the Raven is a moving account of the Koyukon people, who follow a traditional lifestyle of hunting, trapping, and fishing in remote villages scattered across the Alaskan boreal forest.

GLACIERS AND GEOLOGY
Blue Ice in Motion, The Story of Alaska’s Glaciers, by Sally Wiley.
An excellent well-illustrated introduction to the glaciers of Alaska, how they form, why they move, and the landforms they create.

WILDLIFE FIELD GUIDES:
The Birds of North America:  A Guide to Field Identification, by Chandler Robbins.
The best general field guide to the birds of Alaska and North America. A great companion to traveling and birding anywhere in North America.

Guide to the Birds of Alaska, by Robert Armstrong.
Photos and short descriptions of over 400 species of birds found in Alaska.

If you have some suggestions, be sure to point them out in your comments. Happy reading…. and happy journey to the North….

Alaska Travel Packing List

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Weather in Alaska can be unpredictable, so adequate outdoor clothing is essential. Generally, temperatures in Alaska will be in the 50’s and 60’s. It is not uncommon to have temperatures in the 70’s during the middle of summer. The first week of June, the last two weeks of August, and September can be even more unpredictable, with a chance of snow and freezing temperatures. The layering technique works well in Alaska, so you can shed or add more clothing as the weather changes (and it will!), we can deal with any weather situation and have a great experience.

Most of the items listed below can be found through local sporting good or outdoor recreational stores. If you are interested in purchasing outdoor gear, we recommend these stores (call for a catalog or browse on-line): R.E.I. (800) 426-4840, www.rei.com; L.L. Bean (800) 221-4221, www.llbean.com; Travel Smith (800) 950-1600, www.travelsmith.com; or Patagonia (800) 638-6464, www.patagonia.com.

  • RAIN GEAR: A good quality two-piece rain suit (pants and a jacket with a hood) is a must. It should be made of coated nylon, with factory-sealed seams. Please do not bring a plastic poncho or vinyl rain suit.
  • HIKING BOOTS: Comfortable, lightweight, and water repellent. Nike, Hi-Tec and Merrell all make lightweight, moderately priced hiking boots.
  • PANTS: Comfortable and durable. Include a pair of shorts, just in case.
  • SHIRTS: T-shirts, flannel shirts, lightweight long sleeve shirts, and turtlenecks are all good options.
  • WARM JACKET/SWEATER: A pile jacket, vest, and/or a wool sweater are great layers for extra warmth.
  • LONG UNDERWEAR: DO NOT bring cotton. Synthetic fiber tops and bottoms are best and keep you drier.
  • SOCKS: Wool socks and synthetic liners are a good combination for hiking.
  • WARM HAT/GLOVES: You won’t be sorry you brought these! Lightweight wool or fleece is best.
  • BRIMMED HAT: For sun protection.
  • DAY PACK or HIP PACK: This will come in handy for day hiking and bus travel.
  • QUART WATER BOTTLE: Great for day hikes.
  • INSECT REPELLENT OR MESH CLOTHING: The higher the percentage of DEET, the more effective it is against mosquitoes, however, high concentrations of DEET may damage synthetics and plastics such as camera parts and watches. Natural repellents containing Citronella are less effective, but are gentler on your skin. Mesh Clothing (head nets, jackets with hoods and face nets, etc) are also great for people who dislike insect repellent.
  • OPTIONAL: BINOCULARS (highly recommended), CAMERA (extra film and batteries), TRAVEL ALARM CLOCK, SUNSCREEN, SUNGLASSES, FIELD GUIDES TO LOCAL FLORA AND FAUNA, FLASHLIGHT (August and September), HIKING POLES (telescoping kind).

Summer Adventures in Alaska

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I need to get out and do more this summer.  I have lived in Alaska the majority of my life and I haven’t been on a day cruise, or even been farther north than Fairbanks.  I went snow machining once, but that scared the death out of me so I figure doing the really adventurous things isn’t for me.  Sure, it’s almost a rite of passage to go up Arctic Valley in the winter and sled down the mile long hill, but that’s not a real thrill unless you’re some of the first kids down after fresh snow.  I hiked up a mountain in middle school, but it was a field trip and every kid who went to school there was given the opportunity to do it.  Still, none of it was terribly exciting.

This summer I plan on making the most of the 20 hours of daylight.  I only live once right?  We all make promises to ourselves; only a few of them are realistic to keep.  I think that vowing to hike in Denali National Park, or even going on an Alaskan cruise is easily fulfilled.  I will commit myself to experiencing Alaska in new ways, ways that I should have seen my home years ago.  Be it taking the Alaska Railroad to Fairbanks, or going to the Seward Sea Life Center, I will have an adventure this summer.

Will you?

Family trip

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I’m from the Space Coast of Florida.  My neighbor was an astronaut and I lived close enough to the beach that it took me 8 minutes to literally walk down the street to it.  The area is f-l-a-t.  When I say flat I mean the most elevation you can achieve within a 10-mile radius is when you go up the elevator at Ron Jon’s.  My dad was getting tired of all the people, and the muggy heat that we were constantly engulfed in.  He decided that we would pack up for a week and head to Alaska for a little refreshment.

I blended in pretty well with the people there, not your usual bleached-blond tanned babe.  Of course everyone was just as friendly to my sister, who fits into every stereotype that is ‘Floridian’.  She had issues with the idea of Alaska; the woods, and the man-eating mosquitoes weren’t her in bag of “fun stuff to deal with on vacation”. I, however, loved the idea.  Out rocking it with nature, that was my style.  I do remember how enormous the mountains were, and the smell of pine.  It was a little different than my elevation-less and moldy-musky smelling home.

When we landed in Anchorage I was stiff and thoroughly surprised that it was still light out at two in the morning.  This trip turned out to be a lot more exciting than realizing that your parents couldn’t tell you to be ‘home by dark’.  We settled into our hotel, and were off to Denali by morning.  After an entertaining trip by Motorcoach to the Denali National Park entrance, we boarded the bus to Kantishna and the Denali Backcountry Lodge.  We saw three Grizzly bears.  Three! I couldn’t believe how HUGE they were.  We also saw a few moose, and just one caribou on our way in from Anchorage.

We stayed at the lodge for a night, then went hiking the next day, my sister’s moment of truth.  As it turns out there are no man-eating bugs or too many claustrophobic woods for that matter.  She won’t admit it, but she enjoyed being out in the wilderness.  Florida seems so crowded now that I’m home.  It was pretty humbling to realize how small we really are compared to Denali.  I’m glad I’ll be able to tell my adventures at school next year.

- Felicia & the rest of the Rae Family.

Getting To and From Denali

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When traveling to Denali you have three options.  You can drive a car; take the Denali Motorcoach, or the Alaska Railroad.  All three have advantages, but for the whole experience of the scenic drive we recommend the Motorcoach to Denali and the Railroad from the park.  With these two options you don’t have to worry about missing a turn, or other drivers.  You can simply enjoy the beautiful ride.  Along the road to Denali Park entrance you can see cliffs littered with rusty rocks.  The trip is beautiful, and rare is the drive that lacks wildlife.  The Motorcoach is comfortable, air conditioned, and features an onboard restroom.  The driver will stop when a photo-op arises, and will explain various areas of the trip.  They will tell you what rivers you are crossing, and any questions you have are answered.  Want to know why caribou don’t loose their horns? Our drivers have the answer. When you arrive at the park entrance you have around an hour to mull around and get a quick lunch before taking the bus to Denali Backcountry Lodge at Kantishna.  By taking the Motorcoach to the park you eliminate the need to stay a night at the park entrance.

On your way home you should take the rail.  The Alaska Railroad is a slightly longer trip, but it is well worth the comfort.  You have the option of booking your seat in a car with the elevated viewing deck to see as much as you can.  Alaska is a vast land and there is much to see.  By taking another route back to Anchorage you can see the other side of most of the rivers, and plenty of animals.  The friendly local guides on the train will answer any questions you have; they can even point out wildlife you may have otherwise missed.  Travel in luxury circa-50’s style railcars and enjoy the fine dining aboard the Denali Star Train. With stops in Wasilla and Talkeetna you are guaranteed the trip of a lifetime.
Remember on your vacation with Alaska Denali Tours the most recommended way to travel to and from Denali is by Motorcoach and Alaska Railroad; you can’t go wrong with the style and comfort offered by our first-class transportation.