It is indeed expensive to get out there. Data point: I've lived in ANC for 15 years and have never been out there. Whether by plane or ferry, it's a minimum of $600rt to get there from here.

Actually, it's almost easier and more economical for people from outside of Alaska to visit the Aleutians than those of us here--at least if you're booking with miles, since you can usually fly to ADK or DUT with a stopover in ANC for the same number of miles as just a trip to ANC.

Some remote places on the Chain or other island groups are not served by scheduled aircraft (PenAir, Alaska, etc.) and require air taxis or the like. It gets even more expensive, but some people who are super serious into birding and wildlife will pay the equivalent of a small trust fund to get to these places to get a glimpse of a single specimen.

As I recall, missydarlin spent some time in Adak...

Also, you'll be posting your schedule in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/commu...up-thread.html, right? If you've got the time, don't go straight out to the Aleutians and back home--if you can swing a stopover in ANC, there's tons to see and do on the mainland of Alaska!