Last updated: November 25, 2020
Itinerary
What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.
Day 1
Arrival in King Salmon where we rendezvous at a local lodge. You can spend the afternoon fishing on the Naknek River for salmon of just relax and enjoy being in Alaska.
Day 2
Weather permitting our flight across the Alaska Peninsula departs in the morning. We fly over the great volcanic spine of the Peninsula and then into the steep fjords of the Pacific Coast. After a bit of reconnoitering, we land on the beach near to where we plan on camping. The mountains are close, vegetation lush, and (with luck) there are bears everywhere.
Day 3 and 4
We have 2 full days to explore and enjoy the Pacific Coast and the bears who live here. We may see bears fishing the creeks, grazing the sedge meadows, or scouring the tide flats. When not entranced by the bears, we can hike up the valley, explore down the beach, or pick a nearby promontory for views of the rocky coast and storm lashed Pacific.
Day 5
Wake to the sound of breakers and Kittiwakes. After breakfast we pack camp and await the return of our pilot. Weather permitting, we fly back over the peninsula, through the crater of a volcano (still smoking) and back to the comforts of King Salmon. A hot shower and a meal at a table are welcome, but you may miss the solitude and the bears we’ve left behind.
Day 6
The day will start with breakfast at the lodge before we board the now familiar bush plane. We will make our way down the Bering Sea coast and land in the sand 3/4 of a mile from the walrus haul-out. Walrus can be observed from the beach or we can climb to the top of the bluffs for sweeping views up and down the Alaska Peninsula. Below, the walrus should be resting and bellowing. After a nice afternoon in the company of these one ton beasts we will wing back to King Salmon for one more night.
Day 7
After a week in the wilds and a great many wildlife sightings there is still time for one more experience, this one not so far off the beaten path, but just as compelling as the rest. We will spend the final morning of the trip at the famous Brooks Falls watching bears snatch salmon from the river and negotiate with each other for the best fishing spots. We won’t have the place to ourselves but it makes a great way to end the trip and the photos will be unbelievable! We arrive back in King Salmon in the afternoon in time to catch a flight back to Anchorage.
