Alaska
4 Wild Animal Hotspots In Alaska
Alaska covers over 665,000 square miles and holds more national parkland and wildlife refuge acreage than the rest of the country combined. All of which matters when you’re planning a wildlife trip to this beautiful North American destination. Unlike other parts of the country, animals here have plenty of space to roam, so knowing where to find them takes a little more effort. But whether you’re looking to view bears gorging on salmon in Denali National Park or whales cruising the Kenai Fjords, Alaska is a wildlife viewer’s paradise.
Denali National Park And Preserve
Covering more than six million acres of Interior Alaska, Denali National Park and Preserve is home to 39 mammal species and 169 bird species. But most visitors come with a single goal in mind: the chance to spot the park’s so-called “Big Five” of grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep.
The park’s popularity stems from its consistently high wildlife-sighting rates, which are attributed to the fact that private vehicles aren’t permitted beyond Mile 15 on the 92-mile-long Denali Park Road. From here, only park buses and transit vehicles travel the road, resulting in low traffic… and lots of animal activity.
Grizzlies feed throughout the summer here, with Thorofare Pass near Mile 37 being particularly rich in sightings. The Denali Caribou Herd uses the park year-round, providing some of the more dependable wildlife sightings. Dall sheep tend to cling to the steep ridgelines visible from Polychrome Pass, roughly 45 miles in. Wolves are also present in the park but are rarely seen, preferring to avoid human traffic as much as possible.
Bus tours depart from the Denali Visitor Center at the park entrance and range from half-day Tundra Wilderness Tours to full-day trips reaching Kantishna at the road’s end. For the best chance of seeing all of the “Big Five” species, the longer routes reaching beyond Eielson Visitor Center at Mile 66 are recommended.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park, located on the Kenai Peninsula near the town of Seward, protects a spectacular stretch of coastline where glaciers descend to the water’s edge, creating ideal conditions for marine life to use as feeding and breeding grounds.
This meeting point of the Gulf of Alaska and the inland fjord system of Resurrection Bay supports five species of whale, large colonies of sea lions and seals, as well as sea otters. Other wildlife you might spot include Dall’s porpoises, tufted and horned puffins, and bald eagles. Mountain goats and black bears also inhabit the park’s coastal slopes and can sometimes be spotted from the water.
Day cruises out of Seward offer the most practical way to access the park’s marine wildlife. One of the best, Major Marine Tours, offers half-day cruises through Resurrection Bay as well as full-day trips into Aialik Bay, where the park’s tidewater glaciers are located. Kenai Fjords Tours travels similar routes with stops at the Chiswell Islands, part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, where puffins nest on sea cliffs from May through August.
Humpback whales are present in the fjords from mid-April through November, feeding on krill and small fish, and orca pods frequent Resurrection Bay from mid-May through mid-June
Katmai National Park and Preserve
Located on the Alaska Peninsula, 290 miles southwest of Anchorage, Katmai National Park and Preserve is where you’ll find one of the most dramatic wildlife encounters in North America. The action takes place in summer as sockeye salmon head up the Brooks River in enormous numbers, attracting brown bears to feast. It’s a remarkable site, especially around Brooks Falls, a six-foot waterfall that forces the salmon to leap out of the water to continue their upstream journey. Bears literally line the lip of the falls to intercept the leaping salmon.
Three elevated viewing platforms have been erected along the river: one at the falls itself, one downstream, and one at the river’s mouth where it meets Naknek Lake. Up to 43 bears have been recorded at the falls in a single day, with peak viewing taking place in July when sockeye is most active. A second bear surge happens in September, when spawned-out salmon weaken and die, making them easier catches.
Getting to Brooks Camp, the region’s ranger station, requires either a floatplane or a boat from King Salmon, about 30 miles away. But it’s well worth the effort and expense. Regular scheduled service connects Anchorage to King Salmon, from which charter floatplanes complete the final leg. Tour operators, including Rust’s Flying Service, run day trips from Anchorage that include the floatplane transfer, safety orientation at Brooks Camp Visitor Center, and several hours on the viewing platforms.
If you want more time here, Brooks Lodge on the shore of Naknek Lake offers multi-day packages. Reservations are hard to get, though, and are handled through a lottery system.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) covers a vast 19 million acres of northeastern Alaska, stretching from the Brooks Range south through the boreal forest all the way to the Beaufort Sea coast to the north. And for dedicated wildlife spotters, it’s a must-visit as it’s the only place in the United States where all three North American bear species (black, brown, and polar) share a single protected landscape.
It’s also home to the Porcupine caribou herd, one of the world’s largest at around 200,000 animals (calving season is in June). Other wildlife you’ll want to look out for include Dall sheep, muskoxen, wolves, and wolverines, which all inhabit the mountain ranges and river corridors inland. The refuge is also home to more than 200 bird species from four continents that come to breed, feed, and rest during the brief Arctic summer.
While access to the ANWR requires serious planning (there are no roads, trails, or facilities within the refuge), it’s doable via charter plane from Fairbanks. River rafting trips are a great way to travel through the interior refuge, with adventures typically taking six to ten days. Polar bear viewing is also popular, with groups like the Northern Alaska Tour Company running day trips from Fairbanks to Kaktovik, combining a floatplane flight over the refuge with a boat tour to the bear viewing areas.
Your Alaska Wildlife Experience
Getting to the best wildlife hotspots in Alaska does require plenty of planning, but it’s worth the effort. The practical window for most of these experiences runs from late May through September, with those wanting to visit multiple sites in a single trip typically basing themselves in Anchorage, which is within easy reach of the Kenai Peninsula and is the main hub for flights to Katmai and other remote parks. The ANWR is the most challenging (and expensive) destination, requiring advance planning, guide arrangements, and flexibility for weather delays, but it’s the most rewarding if you can swing it.
Two US soldiers were wounded by a brown bear during a training exercise in Alaska on Thursday, the US Army stated.
Anchorage Daily News reported that the soldiers were from the 11th Airborne Division, and that the exercise had been a “land navigation training event” near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
State wildlife officials said that the bear attack seemed to be a defensive one, from a bear which had recently emerged from its den. Staff members from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game collected evidence at the scene in an attempt to learn more about the bear, such as its species and gender.
“The incident is currently under investigation, and we are working closely with installation authorities and local wildlife officials to gather all relevant information and ensure the safety of all personnel in the area,” the 11th Airborne Division said in a statement, reported ABC News.
ABC News also cited an 11th Airborne Division spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Jo Nederhoed, who said that the two soldiers had been seriously wounded, but were receiving care at a hospital in Anchorage, and had shown improvement by Saturday morning.
“We hope both individuals have a full and quick recovery, and our thoughts are with them during this time,” Fish and Game Regional Supervisor Cyndi Wardlow said in a statement reported by Anchorage Daily News. “In this case, having bear spray with them in the field may have saved their lives.”
Both of the soldiers reportedly had and used bear spray during the attack.
The bear’s condition and whereabouts are currently unknown.
Up, up and away … that’s where most travel prices are going.
It’s true. Not only are our nation’s geopolitical thrusts in the Mideast affecting the cost of your fill-ups, every component of your trip from airfares to car rentals and hotel stays are subject to price hikes.
Imagine filling up a jetliner with jet fuel that’s doubled in price. It’s enough to melt your credit card, regardless of the number of points you get for every dollar spent!
Because the price of oil affects everything, higher prices are eating away at your travel budget in many ways.
Bag fees
There’s lots of press on this. All airlines are increasing their checked-bag fees because of the jump in fuel prices.
Back in 2009, Alaska Airlines instituted a $15 fee for the first checked bag and $25 for the second bag. At the time, there was no charge for the first bag and a second bag was $25.
Last week, Alaska Airlines, along with other major airlines, increased its fees to $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second bag. Delta Air Lines charges the same.
Even if the cost of oil comes down, I don’t expect bag fees will ever be reduced.
Travelers who live in Alaska are somewhat insulated from the new hikes because both Delta and Alaska Airlines offer two free checked bags, with conditions:
1. Alaska offers two free checked bags for travelers flying to or from Alaska who are enrolled in Club 49. This does not affect other flights on Alaska. Separately, ATMOS credit card holders can get a free checked bag. Also, elite members of the ATMOS scheme get one or two free checked bags systemwide.
2. Delta offers two free checked bags for travelers flying to or from Alaska who are SkyMiles members who live in Alaska. Again, this does not apply to other Delta flights. Separately, Delta American Express cardholders can get a free checked bag.
3. Elite-level travelers with the oneworld airline cartel, including Alaska Airlines, can get one or two checked bags on American, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Qantas or other oneworld carriers.
[Anchorage’s international airport rolls out self-driving wheelchairs]
Main Cabin vs. Basic Economy
The spread between the lowest available price, Basic Economy, and a more flexible ticket, Main Cabin, has increased. While the difference used to be $20-$30 each way when the Basic Economy scheme was introduced in 2018, the round-trip upcharge now can exceed $100.
For example, the lowest Basic fare to Portland is $337 round-trip on Alaska Airlines. The upcharge to Main Cabin, with full loyalty points, pre-assigned seats and more flexibility on changes and cancellations, is $447, a 33% upcharge.
This trend is not specifically attributable to the new Iran War. It’s just a cost that continues to rise.
New fees
I’m impressed at the creativity of airline people who dream up new fees. Here are some of my favorites from Alaska Airlines:
1. Phone reservations: $15
2. Partner award booking fee: $12.50
3. Pet travel fee: $100 in the cabin, $200 in the baggage compartment with a kennel
4. Left on board item return fee: $20
On Condor Airlines, operating the only nonstop service from Anchorage to Europe, travelers can choose from four different bundles in economy class. The least-expensive, Economy Zero, from $840 round-trip, features fees for travelers:
1. Carry-on bag fee, up to 8kg: $35; a small bag like a purse always is included for free
2. Checked bag: $75
3. Airport check-in: $30
All three of these fees are included in the next-highest fare bucket, Economy Classic, from $900 round-trip. It’s cheaper to buy the bundle than it is to buy the components a la carte. Seat assignments are additional, from $25 for economy.
Airfares on the rise
There are a few good deals available for travel to select West Coast/Intermountain destinations in May, including:
1. Anchorage-San Francisco on Alaska Airlines, from $307 round-trip. Fly May 15-28 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main cabin.
2. Anchorage-Los Angeles on Alaska Airlines, from $317 round-trip. May 15-25 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main.
3. Anchorage-Phoenix on United, Delta or Alaska, from $267-$287 round-trip. Fly May 8-June 9 only. Add $90-$100 for Main.
4. Anchorage-Denver $357 round-trip on Delta. Fly May 8-June 9 only. Add $90 round-trip for Main.
For travel to other destinations, or later in the summer, be prepared to pay more.
Flying to Hawaii? Alaska Air’s nonstop prices out at $706 round-trip between May 30 and June 6. Add $110 round-trip for Main.
Nonstop flights from Anchorage to Salt Lake City start at $669 round-trip with Delta on May 17. That’s $100 more than the cost for the same flights last month. Add $90 more for Main.
Hotel costs continue to rise, accompanied by pesky resort fees.
The Outrigger on the Beach in Waikiki is a very nice beachfront hotel. It’s not plush, or the nicest property. But it’s solid. The cost is $334 per night.
But there’s more: a $50 per night resort fee, plus a variety of taxes and charges, totaling $112.55 per night.
Down in Seattle, the Sound Hotel in the Belltown neighborhood is marketed by Hilton. The discounted rate for “Honors” members — it’s free to join — is $313.34 per night for a king room in late May. Taxes and fees add an extra $56.40 per night.
There’s no appreciable bump yet for hotel rates as a result of the oil price surge. Yet. But if these hotel rates seem high, they’re in line with hotel rates in Anchorage this summer. At the Sheraton in Anchorage in June, it’s $450 per night, plus $54 in taxes and fees, when booked at Expedia.
Car rentals are not cheap
My go-to site for car rentals is the Costco site, which compares major brands and automatically includes Costco discounts.
In Las Vegas, for a one-day rental in May, Budget charges $67 per day, which includes taxes and fees of $22.77. In Anchorage, the same kind of car, medium SUV, costs $92.97 with Alamo.
The biggest differences so far in car rental rates seems to be the bill you’ll pay when you fill up the tank before returning. There’s no appreciable jump in prices because of the new war.
When it comes to making travel arrangements for the spring and summer, it’s more risky making completely non-refundable arrangements.
I made the decision to purchase most of my summer travel plans in advance, but only after determining I would not need to change the dates. Particularly with airline tickets, it’s expensive to change your dates.
There’s lots of uncertainty regarding travel arrangements, particularly international travel. As fuel prices go up due to oil shortages, travel companies will look for ways to recoup the increased costs. In most cases, those higher costs will be borne by travelers.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a decrease in oil prices nationally, but Alaska’s senior senator said the state faces a different situation that could threaten rural communities.
“If you can’t produce power because you don’t have the diesel or you just can’t pay the prices, your little communities can collapse,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said at a Friday press conference at the Arctic Encounter Summit in Anchorage.
The price of oil has been a double-edged sword for Alaska. On one hand, the increased price of North Slope oil brings more revenue to the state, but consumer prices can also rise.
North Slope oil prices were $106.36 a barrel on Thursday.
“This is a very precarious time,” Murkowski said. “Our state has enjoyed a bounty because we have benefited from the higher prices of oil that goes into our treasury, but it’s the Alaskans in … the off-road communities that are threatened to be hit most hard.”
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