Originally Posted by
Pausanias
Fabulous report, heroic effort. Were the lodges full . . . any guest interaction . . . were bear sightings only at Tutka Bay . . . and any midgee problems? Pleased to see the high level of rusticity at all the lodges rather than the Beverly Hills-style lodges in South Africa and some other parts of East and Southern Africa. I still have a hunch that given the right ship, a cruise might be the best way to see Alaska with wondrous scenic opportunities, heli-excursions, and wildlife spotting, especially birds and whales, and none of that checking-in and checking out and small flight hassle. However, the flights do give you awesome views if the insects aren't plastered across the windows.
The lodges were fully booked, except for one day at Winterlake where several guests departed one day but the incoming group were not scheduled to arrive until the following day. There was good guest interaction. At all three lodges, dining was more or less communal - at Winterlake and Tutka Bay, it was open seating but families were either separated from the adult guests or they chose to do so themselves (not sure which.) Both lodges also had a happy hour where everyone seemed to partake in and enjoy. Ultima Thule guests all dined in one large table, accompanied by their pilots/guides (this was not the case at the Within The Wild properties.)
We spotted bears at all three locations, but it was only at Lake Clark where we were able to get up close from ground level. No midgees. Mosquitoes were mostly not an issue, except in two instances (one at Winterlake and one at Ultima Thule), where they were out in full force in the woodlands.