Alaska TravelGram

Wow. Those of us in Alaska still are in “shock-and-awe” mode over Sen. John McCain’s choice of our very own Governor, Sarah Palin, as his pick for his vice-presidential running mate. Here at the Alaska Travelgram, we know Gov. Palin as a fine woman who not only talks the talk…she walks the walk. In fact, we had no problem telling her to “Take a Hike!” last February when the folks at Alaska HDTV filmed her. Check it out:

Go, Sarah, Go! Continue Reading »

Mary T. in Anchorage is the lucky winner of our Knik River Lodge contest. She correctly identified to river in the photo we took out in Kamai National Park. It was the Ukak River that cuts like a hot knife through butter across the landscape of ash and pumice. The Valley of the 10,000 Smokes was the reason the park was created in the first place. Make sure you make plans to visit. Here’s a picture looking over the Ukak River canyon:

The Knik River Lodge  is a quick getaway (just 50 miles from Anchorage) with private cabins–in the shadow of the Knik Glacier. Take a tour to the face of the glacier–that’s what Mary and a friend will be doing, courtesy of Hunter Creek Adventures  .

Congratulations to Mary T. and thanks to everyone for playing!

Alaska Airlines is offering a great sale between Anchorage and Seattle, as well as between Anchorage and Portland. 

Just $149 each way, plus the taxes. It adds up to about $317rt.

Travel is valid only during September. 

Here is the discount code you need to get the fare on Alaska’s website:

ECFL07808 

USTravel also can make the arrangements for you. If you purchase your Anchorage-Seattle ticket at USTravel and pay them their $38 ticketing fee, you’ll receive a FREE copy of the Seattle TourSaver. That’s the 2-for-1 travel book that sells for $79.95. Included are 2-for-1 tickets for the VIctoria Clipper, Argosy Cruises, Tillicum Village, the Seattle Art Museum, Theo Chocolates, Homewood Suites (Pike Street) and much, much more. See a complete list online.

Call USTravel: 907 561 2434 in Anchorage. Toll-free 800 544 2217.

Special $149 o/w fares are available on these flights:

Anchorage-Seattle: 104, 102 (lousy times….but nice-n-cheap)

Seattle-Anchorage: 81, 115, 117

Anchorage-Portland: 30

Portland-Anchorage: 31

Again: Travel is valid ONLY during the month of September, 2008. Happy Jetting.

September is a great time to fly to Europe!

Laura and I were going over some dates for Condor’s nonstop flights between Anchorage and Frankfurt, Germany. Wow. 

I hope you have your passport handy! Leave on Aug. 30 or Aug. 31, returning on Sept. 7, Sept. 20 , Sept. 27 or Sept. 30. The cost? Just $784 roundtrip, plus USTravel’s booking fee. That’s a great rate! 

The same price is available on Condor’s nonstop flights from Fairbanks to Frankfurt, departing on Sept. 25, returning on Oct. 2, 2008. Just $784 plus USTravel’s booking fee.

Time to get up and GO! Here’s a shot of one of Condor’s jets on the tarmac in Whitehorse:

Call Laura or Giovanni at (907)561-2434 or (800)544-2217 to book your Euro-getaway today.

Right after returning from Brooks Lodge, I went to the owner’s funeral. Ray Petersen died on Aug. 12 at the age of 96. Here’s a picture of Ray flying for Bethel Airways in 1935 (Courtesy Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum):  

Ray started Brooks Camp back in 1950. It was one of five world-class fishing lodges established at “choke streams” between the many lakes in the Bristol Bay area. Ray and his team tried to get folks to develop some fishing lodges in the area to boost tourism. In the end, he built them himself. 

Today, Ray’s son Sonny Petersen runs the Katmailand operation, including the concession for the National Park Service for Katmai National Park, Katmai Air and the Grosvenor Camp and Kulik  fishing lodges. Also, Sonny’s business runs the daily tour up to the Valley of the 10,000 Smokes. Some of their guests have been returning for more than 25 consecutive years to fish the gin-clear waters in the Bristol Bay drainage. 

Ray was first and foremost an Alaska aviation pioneer, rising from pilot/operator of a small flying service to CEO of the state’s largest airline, Wien Air Alaska. Here’s a shot of one of Wien’s planes on the tarmac at BFI (Boeing Field) in Seattle. It’s the “Katmai Queen”. Norman Filer snapped this photo in 1978. We found it at Airliners.net .

He was inducted in the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum Hall of Fame in 2001. And to me, his funeral resembled a passing of one of the Knights of King Arthur’s Round Table. Lots of aviators from around the state were there: airline owners, chief pilots, friends and colleagues. Deacon Felix Maguire led the service at Anchorage’s Holy Family Catheral. Felix flew biz-jets all over the place in Alaska–and served as President of the Alaska Airmen. And presiding over the service was retired Anchorage Archbishop Francis Hurley. He, also, is an aviator.

Archbishop Hurley shared a brief remembrance: 

“There are many stories we can share about Ray Petersen. The one I recall is when he walked up and pointed his finger right at me, saying: ‘I want you to remember one thing: I’m responsible for getting more people closer to Heaven than you are.’ ”

Absolutely brought the house down. 

It is a distinct honor to have known Ray. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Petersen family as they continue the family tradition: serving anglers, bear viewers and explorers from around the world in Katmailand–which they call Anglers Paradise.