Trip Expectations

PA12DRVR wrote:

mabynack wrote:
I travelled to New Mexico last year with a group of GIs. When we were trying to decide where to eat, two of us wanted something local and the other three wanted to go to Hooters. I always like to try the local foods, beers, and wines when I travel. It's all part of the experience. I can get overpriced chicken wings anywhere.

Why not have lunch at a local place and then have the after lunch beers at Hooters? :)

Seriously, for Alaska, what I'd suggest:

- The absolute best time to see wildlife is when you've saved enough $$ to allow you to take all the flightseeing trips you can, including those the stop at Spot XYZ to see the bears/moose/whales, etc.
- FWIW, while I don't photograph too much while flying, I can see more moose/bear/caribou...and certainly sheep...in 2 hours flying than in a weeks worth of driving.
- Waterborne trips can get this done as well
- Without setting that aside, generally, if you can go to salmon streams during the runs, you'll have better chance of seeing bears than otherwise;
- I'm not sure how it works nowadays, but if you can stay for a while in Denali/McKinley and take the bus quite a few times, you'll have a good chance of seeing quite a few animals; there is a direct relationship between the number of days away from the visitor center and the chance of seeing animals;
- If this is within your ability / interest, do the drop off thing in Denali/McKinley: get dropped off, hike/camp away from the road for a few days, return to the road, get pickedup. Even being a few miles away from the road, you're likely to see more animals.
- Your point about towing in snow is noted, but if you can visit Alaska after hunting season (generally that means late September) you'll have a slightly better chance of seeing animals from the road system than earlier in the year....one reason being that there are fewer leaves if nothing else.