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Alaska Affordably?

Posted By: James Morrissey

Alaska Affordably? - 05/17/05 01:43 AM

I am debating going to Alaska in September. The problem is that I want to do BOTH the glaciers and Denali. Has anyone been out there? Was it possible to do it for under #3,000?

-JM
Posted By: rustin

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 05/17/05 06:49 PM

I lived in SE Alaska last summer working as a raft guide. I am having shoulder surgery tomorrow and if it goes well I am going back. Denali is pretty much closed down by the middle of September. All the bus shuttles stop around the 15th or 20th. There are a lot of nice B&B's. One option you may want to look at is the Alaska Marine Highway. You could take a ferry from Washington and cruise the Inside Passage without a cruise ship price tag. Haines has a Bald Eagle preserve with upwards of 1000 birds around that time of year. Lots of possibilities.
Posted By: Loopman

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 05/19/05 03:52 AM

I want to second the concept of the ferry services. They are much more affordable than the major cruise lines that go back and forth through Alaska.

Where are you flying in from? I think that depending on where you are flying from, you could do it on less that $3,000. How much time are you going to be there for? If you are a group, have you considered renting an RV and driving?

Lou
Posted By: James Morrissey

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 05/22/05 05:42 AM

The trip would consist of my father and brother and maybe my wife (she is not sure yet that she wants to come). My family and I will be flying out of Boston.

As for an RV and driving...I am afraid that the distances are too vast. We want to do this in 7 to 9 days.

The other alternative is Banff, which I have never been to. I am eager for more ideas.

Thanks
James
Posted By: James Morrissey

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 05/22/05 05:43 AM

BTW, Rustin, are you still in Alaska?

-JM
Posted By: Loopman

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 05/24/05 06:34 PM

Hi James,

I think that doing the glaciers and the parks will be difficult to do over 7 to 9 days. Alaska is very large and these areas take time to traverse - forget doing it properly.

The park is relatively 'small' not in size, but because it has very limited transport. It can be done in about 3 days from Anchorage though you may want to be there longer. My opinion is that the minimum time to spend what you are talking about is two weeks.

I have never been there in September, but I would imagine that this is the time of year when things are starting to wind down.

I was looking in my CostCo travel guide the other day. They have cruises relatively affordably for 1 week starting at about 1500 dollars. What you get with that, I do not know. It may be worth the look though.

Lou
Posted By: DavidRamey

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/06/06 01:54 AM

James,
Did you go to Alaska? If not, get in touch with me and I will help you plan your trip or... your next trip as the case may be. Alaska can be done for $3000 or less and yes you can do Denali and the Glaciers. Most of the Glacier Cruises are only a day cruise. Denali, well that depends on Denali, but 3 to 5 days is good for Denali.
Posted By: James Morrissey

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/06/06 01:02 PM

Hi David,

No, we did not do Alaska. We stuck to the tried and true. I am looking to do Alaska, but it is currently on the front of the back burner. I would really like to get some nice Grizzly shots.

-JM
Posted By: Tony Bynum

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/08/06 01:29 AM

James, you mentioned Banff as a possibility. I usually go to that area at least once per year. I cannot say you should do Banff or Alaska as they are very both are unique and different. If you go to Banff, for starters you are in another country (the exchange rate is so low right now that it really should not be factored in to your decision making). That said, if you go to Banff, you also could plan to see Jasper, and Waterton to the south. There are many great accommodations and photo opportunities. I would plan the trip for say mid September in order to capture the elk rut and color changes. For flowers you should hit it in August.

I cant say it’s better than Alaska and I cant say Alaska is better than Banff as each person has their likes and dislikes and there just are too many variables – what you want to shoot, how fare you want to travel, accommodations, etc. You could fly into Calgary and do the entire tour on your own with just a rental car. There's a decent photography shop in Calgary too.

You can rest assured that there are plenty of accommodations in the Banff and Jasper area and unless you get off the beaten path, you wont feel like your all alone, but the scenery is truly breathtaking.

Oh yea, one more thing, I think you must aquire a photographhy permit to photograph in Denali. . .
Posted By: DavidRamey

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/08/06 04:44 AM

Quote:

Oh yea, one more thing, I think you must aquire a photographhy permit to photograph in Denali. . .




You do NOT need a photography permit to photograph in Denali. You only need a photography permit IF you want to drive your own vehicle into the park.
Posted By: Duane

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/09/06 01:00 PM

Quote:

There's a decent photography shop in Calgary too.






Vistek? ( www.vistek.ca )
Posted By: RomanJohnston

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/10/06 06:54 AM

Im gonna keep my ear on this thread....I too want to do Alaska AND The canadian rockies parks (Banff/Jasper) Back burner, but 2006 material hopefully.

Roman
Posted By: Tony Bynum

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/10/06 03:00 PM

Make sure you guys keep me informed if your headed up to Canada to shoot. I'll be able to keep you up to speed on conditions and may even be able to meet you up there. I spend as much time shooting in canada as I do the states.

Think about getting a passport now, it's not yet required, but will soon be and it takes a few weeks to get one.

As per the permit, the recent issue of OP the article on shooting alaska states that a photo permit is neccessary. I'm away on business so I dont have the issue before me. Can somone look at that article, maybe it to is inncorrect? Or, I'll do it when I return. I stand corrected if I'm wrong.


Take care guys. Finalshot
Posted By: DavidRamey

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/10/06 09:02 PM

A photo permit is not neccessary if you take the buses. A photo permit is neccessary if you plan to use a private vehicle. Denali National Park
Posted By: Tony Bynum

Re: Alaska Affordably? - 01/12/06 06:10 AM

Thanks for the link.

The alaska article in OP is misleading in that it state that you do need a permit to shoot. I think they faild to claify that you need a permit to use a private vehilce.

OP article is in the Feb. 2006 issue on pg. 38 lower left corner, last paragraph.

Finalshot
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