When we left for this trip there were 59 National Parks, when we got back there were 60. What? The Gateway Arch is a National Park, not sure it should be but it’s now on the list.
We saw a movie about Katmai and the Valley while we were stuck in Kotzbue due to a cancelled flight. We agreed at the time to go, did not know it was going to be so soon.
We took a commercial flight to King Salmon and then got on the float plane to Brooks Camp, you can only get there by boat or plane.
Of course Leann is up front and chatting up the pilot.
http://www.nps.gov/katm/planyourvisit/brooks-camp.htm
There is a lodge at the camp if you prefer not staying in a tent. There is a lottery for reservations and it is $850/night, extra for food. There are three main attractions in Katmai: bears, salmon and the valley. People come from all over the world to fish the Brooks River. Major rule if fishing: if you land a salmon and a bear wants it, you let the bear have it
This is the famous Brooks Falls. Bears come down when the Salmon are running and gorge themselves in preparation for winter. Bears were just starting to come down while we were there, in another few weeks there would be a lot more people and a lot more bears. Apparently the board walk is packed, elbow to elbow. Below is a link to web cam looking at the falls. Full disclosure: I did not take the picture on the right.
http://explore.org/livecams/brown-bears/brooks-falls-brown-bears-low
The campground had a feature that we have not seen before. The arrow is pointing to an electric fence that keeps bears from entering. I have to say knowing this was here made for a better nights sleep
These shelters were a great place to cook your meal.
Our first bears of the trip. A female brown bear and 2 cubs
The only way to see the Valley of 10,000 Smokes is with a guide and a bus trip. We were talking to the driver when all the sudden he jumped up and slammed the door.
This is why he slammed the door, he said they would have just gotten on the bus with us.
Hard to believe but we had to cross this river in the bus, what? This was scarier than the bears. The trip the day before was cancelled due to high water but we made it across
The Valley of 10,000 smokes was beautiful but we did have our first experience with Alaskan bugs, they were swarming us like crazy. We had our bug nets to keep them off us but the sound could drive you crazy.
Last view of Katmai, back to the float plane and Anchorage.
Red marks Lake Clark Pass where you fly beside Glaciers. Our first stop was Port Alsworth where we would got a float plane to Twin Lakes in Lake Clark National Park
Glacier working it’s way down the valley. We learned that glacier’s are growing in Lake Clark, same as in Glacier. Who knew?
Coming into Port Alsworth
We picked up a float plane in Port Alsworth, next stop Twin Lakes.
I was a huge fan of this show when it ran on PBS and always wanted to visit the cabin. On this trip I learned that he was not quite alone. friends had a cabin nearby and apparently he was very popular with the ladies and had frequent visitors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Proenneke
When he headed outside for an excursion, he placed a pin in his destination so people would know where he went. There were a lot of holes in the map
I have to agree with him on this one
This is the iconic picture of Proenneke, we are such tourists.
Day hike above the cabin
We took turns taking pictures of each other with another couple at the sign. They were also on a NP hunt and we enjoyed sharing stories with them
We did this park as a quick stop on the way to Fairbanks. We have to go back and do it justice. It is a massive park.
MOOSE! Nice way to end our visit to Wrangell.
HAPPY TRAILS, STEVE