Dec 18th, 2007
Alaska’s parks
I just got a nice note from my friend Sonny Petersen and the staff at Angler’s Paradise. That includes Brooks Camp, which is your “base camp” for exploring Katmai National Park. This is a “must see” adventure for any Alaska junkie. Sonny and his dad, Ray Petersen, have operated the lodges for 58 years. OK, Sonny hasn’t operated them for that long–he’s grown up in Katmai. In fact, his son Sean Petersen, also is a pilot, shuttling anglers and adventurers between camps and lodges during the summer.
The fishing lodges, including Kulik and Grosvenor Camp, are designed with the serious angler in mind. Some anglers and their families have returned year after year for more than 20 years. Brooks Camp, a quick flight from beautiful downtown King Salmon, Alaska, is better-known for bear viewing. The bears congregate around the photogenic Brooks River Falls where photographers come from around the world to watch the giant beasts munch on salmon as they swim upstream.
Naturally, the Brooks River also is a great fishing stream (fly-only, catch-and-release). But another big attraction is the daytrip to see the Valley of the 10,000 Smokes. Start with a bus ride up the 37-mile road. You’re accompanied on the tour by a National Park Ranger, who gives you an overview of the geology around the giant volcanic explosion of Novarupta in 1912 and the subsequent fury with which Mother Nature reshaped the entire valley. In fact, you still can see big chunks of pumice on the shores of the Naknek Lake near Brooks Camp.
You arrive at the viewpoint overlooking the Valley at about Noon, just in time for your box lunch. It’s included in the tour. From there, you have a few hours to hike down to the valley floor and cross over the Ukak River. It’s amazing to see how the river cuts through the lava and pumice!
Oh, there’s a two-for-one coupon in this year’s Great Alaskan TourSaver for the tour. Learn more about Katmai. Click here: Katmai National Park
