Denali and Kenai: Glaciers, Grizzly Bears and Spectacular Vistas
Alaska Range from Denali Highway (F. Davis)
DATES
JUNE 8 – 16, 2010
JUNE 9 - 17, 2011
COST (PER PERSON 2010)
DOUBLE: $3650; SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $550
DEPOSIT: $500
INCLUDES
From Anchorage: 8 nights lodging, all meals from 1st night dinner through final day’s lunch, pelagic boat trip, transport, guides, taxes, tips.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Easy, most birding along roads.
OVERVIEW
Denali (F. Davis)
Our trip to stunning Denali National Park and the Denali Highway is as much about large mammals, including some of the great predators, as birds. We expect to see bird species like Trumpeter Swan, Willow Ptarmigan, Gyrfalcon, Long-tailed Jaeger, Northern Hawk Owl and Smith's Longspur. We will also, however, most certainly see a number of Grizzly Bears as well as Caribou, Dall Sheep, Moose and, if we get lucky, a Wolf.
Our small boat trip will take us through Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the most spectacular parks in North America. Highlights will be thousands of alcids, such as Tufted and Horned Puffin, Parakeet and Rhinocerous Auklet as well as breeching Humpback Whales, Orcas, Steller’s Sea Lions and many other sea mammals.
We will see magnificent Mount McKinley or Denali (The Great One) and spend two nights just outside the Park, taking the park shuttle 60 miles and getting off at some places if we wish to spend more time looking for birds. We’ll also spend a couple of days on the little-traveled Denali Highway, staying in comfortable cabins on a creek in the Tangle Lakes region.
Glacier at Kenai (Marianne Phillips)
Many people believe the trip along Denali Highway is the most beautiful in all of Alaska.
Long-tailed Jaeger, Rock Ptarmigan, Arctic Warbler and many others should also be found in the area. A pair of Northern Wheatear is usually found either in the Park or along the highway. Smith’s Longspur breeds in very small numbers along the highway. On our Kenai Peninsula tour, we'll stay in very comfortable lodging and dine at several of Alaska's finest restaurants during prime season for salmon and halibut.
We should find a number resident species in the Anchorage area: Pacific Loon, Three-toed Woodpecker, and American Dipper. We will take an all-day trip on a small charter boat, allowing us to customize our journey through Kenai Fjords National Park and the Chiswell Islands. We should see Horned and Tufted Puffins, Red-faced and Pelagic Cormorants, Common and Thick-billed Murres, Pigeon Guillemot, Marbled and Kittlitz’s Murrelets, Parakeet and Rhinocerous Auklets and Black Oystercatcher. Ancient Murrelet, Fork-tailed Storm Petrel, Short-tailed and Sooty Shearwater and Northern Fulmar are possible as well. Land and marine mammals may include Sea Otters, Sea Lions, Seals, Dall Porpoises, and three to four species of whales, including Orcas, Humpbacked and Fin Whales.
Denali Highway (F. Davis)
Photographic opportunities will abound. We'll do a hike through Pacific Coastal Rain Forest looking for Chestnut-backed and Boreal Chickadee, Townsend's Warbler, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Grosbeak and others.
ITINERARY
Day One: We meet at the Coast Hotel at 6:00 PM for our trip to dinner. We will be dining at Orso, a favorite of Anchorage residents. After dinner, we’ll do a bit of birding around Anchorage, so be sure to bring your binoculars.
Day Two: We’ll start the day at 6:30 with Continental breakfast at the Coast. Then, we depart for Denali Park. We’ll have lunch in the town of Talkeetna, base for the Denali (Mt. McKinley) climbs. We arrive at our lodging outside the park about 4:00 PM. We’’ll have dinner in the little village outside of the park.
Day Three: Continental breakfast at the Inn at 5:00 AM, then drive to the Park Headquarters where we pick up our park shuttle. We’ll be taking the Eiselson shuttle, giving us plenty of time to view birds and mammals along the way. Box lunch along the way, and we’ll return about 5:30 PM. Dinner at the incomparable 229 Parks.
Day Four: Breakfast at 6:00AM, then hit the road for Denali Highway. We’ll make numerous stops along the 135 mile dirt road that parallels the Alaska Range. We’ll have box lunch along the way, arriving at Tangle River Inn about 4:30 PM. Check-in and have dinner at Tangle River Inn.
Day Five: Breakfast at 7:00 AM, then birding in the area. We’ll search for Smith’s Longspurs, and then we’ll drive back along Denali Highway to get into some high country for some of the birds more likely seen there. Box lunch. Return to the cabins about 4:30. Break until dinner at 6:30 PM. Dinner and overnight at Tangle River.
Kenai Fjords (Marianne Phillips)
Day Six: Breakfast at 7:00 AM. Depart for Anchorage after breakfast. Dinner in Anchorage.
Day Seven: Breakfast at the Coast Hotel at 7:00 AM. We depart about 8:00 AM for Seward. We’ll make stops at Potter’s Marsh and along Turnagain Arm, looking for Beluga Whales and Mountain Goats. Box lunch on the way then onto Seward where we’ll check into our hotel in Seward. If time permits, we’ll go to the Sealife Center in Seward. The exhibits are great, and they have lots of seabirds. Dinner at 7:00 Apollo’s.
Day Eight: Quick breakfast in town, then to Seward Boat Harbor to board one of Kenai Fjords’ small boats. We have the Captain’s Choice, so we’ll work out an itinerary with him. The only rough water might be a stretch of about 45 minutes into the Gulf of Alaska as we head to the Chiswell Islands, so if you need it, you should take motion sickness pills just after we board. The seas are usually moderate at most. We’ll spend about 9 hours on the boat, with lunch on board. Dinner at Ray’s for their exquisite cedar plank salmon.
Day Nine: Check out of cabins at 8:00 AM, breakfast, then depart for Anchorage where the trip ends
Tour Gallery
 Grey Wolf (Ardith Bondi) |
Grizzly Bears (Marianne Phillips) |
Horned Puffin (Colin Bradshaw) |
Kittlitz's Murrelet (Dr. Carl Sheely) |
Long-tailed Jaeger (Patrick Endres) |
Merlin (Patrick Endres) |
Northern Hawk-owl (Colin Bradshaw) |
Rhinoceros Auklet (Dr. Carl Sheely) |
Smith's Longspur (Colin Bradshaw) |
Tufted Puffin (Marianne Phillips) |
CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Temperatures and, more important, wind-chill factors vary widely, even in July. The boat trip can be very cold and wet at times. There is an inside cabin that’s heated, but if you really want to see a lot, you’ll want to spend much of your time on the deck. So, bring wet gear and some warm clothes. In mid-June, Kenai and Denali can also have temperatures approaching 70 or even 80 degree, so you want comfortable, lighter clothing as well. Layered clothing is best.
Many items below come in heavy, medium or lightweight. For boat trips, layers with medium to heavy weight will be helpful.
Suggested items
- Full suit (jacket and pants) of waterproof rain/wind gear for boat trip. Rain jacket makes good outer layer - hooded is preferable.
- Synchilla Fleece or Wool garments (Keep you warm and retains insulating quality when wet)
- Wool, capilene or polypropylene long underwear, tops & bottoms.(light-weight)
- Medium-weight, wool socks (Bring extras) (Goretex liners provide good protection & warmth)
- Warm hat & gloves
- Sturdy and Waterproof over-the-Ankle Hiking Boots
- Rain Hat (if parka not hooded)
- Hat with visor for sun
- Extra pair of prescription glasses, contact lenses, sunglasses
- Tennis, running or sturdy comfortable walking shoes
- Insect repellent (DEET 20% or more/ Itch Relief Cream) Note: Citronella is ineffective
- Sunscreen (sun is very bright when snowy and can produce significant sunburn)
- Jeans, Khakis for general wear
- Binoculars (Scope if you prefer to use your own)
- Day Pack/Fanny Pack
- Water Bottles
Some Recommended Field Guides and Books
Steller's Sea-lioins (Marianne Phillips)
North American field guides:
- Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth edition, National Geographic Society.
- National Audubon Society The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2000, David A. Sibley; Alfred A. Knopf (or Western Birds by Sibley).
- All the Birds of North America, American Bird Conservancy, 1997, Jack I. Griggs.
- Guide to the Birds of Alaska, Fourth Edition, 1995, Robert H. Armstrong; Alaska Northwest Books.
- Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest, 1993, Dennis Paulson, University of Washington Press.
- Mammals of Alaska, 1996, Alaska Geographic Society.
- Field Guide to Alaskan Wildflowers, 1996, Verna E. Pratt, Alaskakrafts, Inc.
- Guide to Marine Mammals of Alaska, 1997.
The Alaska Experience:
- Living on the Edge, Spike Walker. Wonderfully descriptive book about Dutch Harbor and crabbing in the Bering Sea.
- Arctic Dreams, Barry Lopez. Pulitzer Prize-winning non-fiction about the High Arctic. Beautifully written!
- Any book by Dana Stabenow, an Alaska mystery writer whose books are enjoyable a very informative about Alaska native life.
If you have some free time in Anchorage, don’t miss going to Wave books in Anchorage Store (5th Ave. or Northern Lights).. They have a great selection of Alaska fiction and non-fiction!
Above birding books can be obtained from Madison Audubon Shoppe, (888) 505-9056, with a 10% discount by mentioning High Lonesome Ecotours. ABA Sales and the various web book dealers are also sources.
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