Bear viewing in Alaska is good in general but bear
viewing on Kodiak Island is some of Alaska's best bear viewing.
AlpenView's most intense opportunity
for the serious viewer/photographer is a stay at our Ayakulik
Out-Camp.
The camp is centered in one of the
most densely populated brown bear habitats on earth. Located on
the banks of the Ayakulik River and surrounded by the Kodiak National
Wildlife Refuge, bears are so frequent that it is necessary to
surround the camp with a 5000 volt electric fence.
AlpenView's out camp is a well appointed
tent camp with a six guest capacity.
All tents are pitched on wood floors. The main tent incorporates
the kitchen and dining areas. Sleeper tents feature two beds,
a light and heater. There is an enclosed toilet and a propane
fired banya (steam bath) for washing up. Some guests like to take
a swim between stints in the banya. This creates the possibility
of bare, bear viewing.
Viewing starts right at the camp and
continues via the river boats and hikes to different viewing sights.
The bears are primarily feeding on sockeye salmon which run up
the Ayakulik River in the hundreds of thousands. The bears share
the salmon with red fox and bald eagle. A wide variety of other
creatures share the scene on a daily basis.
AlpenViews's Out
Camp
Multi Day Kodiak
Brown Bear Viewing Program
General Information
Round trip seaplane transportation from the City of Kodiak, food,
lodging, guide and boat.
Price
Space is sold by the night (noon to noon). The first night is
$1,500.00 per person, two persons minimum. Each additional night
is $250.00 per person. Note: Singles are welcome if they book
with another party. See www.alpenview.com for out camp available
dates.
Itinerary
Depart Kodiak, 11:00 am. Arrive in camp at noon.
Enjoy lunch and an orientation on the area, its wildlife, and
the procedures used to experience them safely. Depart camp for
the short trip to the viewing site, 2:00 PM. Return to camp for
dinner about 6:00 PM. Optional evening activities include bear
viewing, fishing, hiking, and boat tours on the river.
Coffee at 7:00 the following morning, breakfast at 7:30. Depart
for the viewing sight about 8:00.
Departing guests return to camp at about 10:30 am to make ready
for their noon flight to Kodiak.
Remaining guests continue viewing activities with lunch served
in the field or at the camp depending on circumstances. Note:
Exact transfer times may vary slightly, depending on the availability
of charter aircraft at the time of the booking.
What To Expect
The primary viewing site is located about 30 vertical feet above
the valley floor. The immediate foreground is a confluence of
two rivers where large schools of salmon congregate and bears
come to feed. The background is about 25 Square miles of flat,
open and easily visible brown bear habitat interlaced with salmon
streams. A viewer should expect to have bears visible at almost
any given time from this viewing sight. A viewer should expect
to have bears within 100 yards at times during each visit, some
get much closer.
The primary viewing site is reached by a 5 minute boat ride and
then a 300 yard walk over gentle terrain. Several other viewing
sights are within 30 minutes boating or walking from the camp.
Many bears are seen while traveling the river by boat and from
camp its self. Viewers should also expect to see tens of thousands
of salmon as they migrate to their spawning beds. Red fox, bald
eagle and a variety of other wildlife also abound.
How to get here.
Your local travel agent can make arrangements for flights between
your home town and the City of Kodiak.
Round trip travel from the City of Kodiak to the camp is provided
as part of your trip. This travel is accomplished in chartered
float planes. Your charter flight will leave Kodiak for the camp
at 11:00 AM. You should plan to be available in Kodiak, either
at your hotel lobby or the airport lobby with your bags packed
and ready to go, no later than 10:00 AM on the day your trip begins.
As soon as you reach the City of Kodiak, contact Andrew Airways,
your float plane charter service at (907)487-2566. It is important
that Andrew Airways knows where to find you and they can inform
you of any last minute preparations. They will be expecting your
call.
Home bound you will depart the camp at noon and arrive in Kodiak
at 1:00 PM. As flights are quite often delayed due to weather,
it's best not to plan departures from Kodiak until mid afternoon
(3:00 PM or later). Remember that Kodiak Island is a very remote
location and travel here may be quite different than it is where
you live. Please leave yourself as much time as possible when
booking your transfers into and out of Kodiak.
If your travel plans simply will not allow you to make the above
mentioned schedule, we may be able to arrange special charter
flights to accommodate you.
When your travel arrangements are complete, please send us a copy
of your itinerary including hotel reservations. This information
will help us to coordinate the services we provide and to spot
possible problems. Personal items to bring.
The following list is complete. If you follow it you will have
all you need to take full advantage of your stay. It is very important
not to over pack. You will be traveling in small float planes
so it is necessary to limit each person to 75 Lbs. of gear. Loads
will be weighed at the seaplane base in Kodiak. To comply with
FAA regulations and for your own safety, charter services will
not overload their airplanes. If you are having trouble coming
in under 75 Lbs. with your baggage, consider leaving a bag in
Kodiak. The charter service will be happy to store it for you.
You can leave your formal travel clothes, street shoes and other
items that will not be of use to you at the camp. Soft luggage
or duffel bags are preferred as they are more easily stored in
small or awkward baggage spaces.
If your necessary baggage simply will not allow you to make the
above mentioned weight limit, we can arrange extra charter flights
to accommodate you, at your own expense. Rain gear.
All excursions require that you be completely protected from both
rain and wind. This includes both pants and a coat. Shoes.
Trails around the camp can be muddy in wet weather so camp shoes
should be waterproof to at least ankle high. Calf high rubber
boots are ideal. Clothes.
It's best to dress in layers beginning with wick dry synthetic,
wool, or silk underwear. Add a warm long sleeve shirt or sweater,
then perhaps a sweatshirt. Top this off with your rain gear and
you'll be set. Remember, you can always take it off.
Gloves.
Even in summer, some people get uncomfortably cold hands. The
best way to battle this is with wool or neoprene fingerless gloves.
Both stay warm when wet and being fingerless they allow you to
operate your fishing and camera gear. Hat.
A baseball cap is nice. They fit well under a hood. The bill will
help to move your hood when you turn your head so you can see
better. The bill will also protect your eyes from bright sun or
light rain. Camera.
Photo opportunities abound for both wildlife and personal memories.
Think about weather/water protection. Reservations.
A 25% deposit is required to secure your reservation. Deposits
are not refundable. Final payment is due 10 days prior to arrival
and is non-refundable. If you are forced to cancel at the last
minute you may send someone in your place. Reservations made within
10 days of the trip require payment in full at the time of the
reservation. Liquor and beer.
AlpenView Wilderness Lodge, Inc. does not serve alcohol. However
guests are welcome to bring their own. Weather delays.
AlpenView Wilderness Lodge, Inc. assumes no liability for arrival
or departure delays due to weather. Guests who are delayed at
the camp will receive food and lodging at no extra cost. If an
entire trip is canceled due to weather after a client reaches
Kodiak, They have the option of re-booking other available dates
or a full refund.
Stay at AlpenView Wilderness Lodge, another
great viewing opportunity.
Viewing starts right at the lodge where bears are occasionally
seen walking the beaches. A short boat ride will place viewers
at a prime sight to see bears feeding on salmon and grazing on
vegetation. As at the camp, a wide variety of other creatures
share the scene on a daily basis.
During a lodge visit, viewers can choose
between several wildlife viewing activities. Whale watching for
gray, humpback and orca whales, viewing seals, sea lions and a
wide variety of sea birds can all be accomplished in our boats
and kayaks. A hike to the high country back of the lodge provides
opportunities to see black tail deer, mountain goat, bear and
other animals.
Last, but not least, a client partaking in any of our sport fishing
trips will enjoy several opportunities to view bears and other
wildlife.
