Q: Do we have to be in an actual tour group to stay in Denali National Park?

A:  Absolutely not! You can stay in Denali National Park with or without a group and experience all the wonder that makes up this wonderful state!  Book as a group or an individual, it doesn’t change your status as a guest with us in the park.

Q: Is the Denali Backcountry Lodge open year round? Can we take the Denali Backcountry Adventure in December?

A: The entire towns of Denali and Kantishna shut completely down from around September 15- May 15th.  The traffic lights even shut off.  There is no lodging in or around the Park Entrance during this hiatus.  The Denali Park Road goes unmaintained after the first snow, and the wildlife in the park get a well deserved reprieve from human visitors.  There are plenty of other activities you can partake in while you are staying in this winter wonderland though.  One of the most treasured is seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Fairbanks.  There are also plenty of winter sports to enjoy including snowmachining, dog mushing, and skiing!

Q: My family is traveling to Alaska next summer (2011) and we’re interested in seeing some Alaskan animals other than the usual Bear, Moose, Caribou etc.  Do you have any Suggestions?

A: We have a lot of interesting bird species, Golden Eagles are a beautiful example. So are the sea mammals that litter our coasts.  A great place to see those are in Seward at the Alaska Sealife Center.  They have sea lions, baby otters, octopus and a massive variety of other unexpected Alaskan wildlife.  Another option is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  They have the regular Moose, Caribou, and bears but they also have some surprises.  They have Lynx, Bison, and Musk Ox!  There is also the Alaska Zoo, in Anchorage.  The zoo hosts Polar Bears, wolves, llamas, moose, birds of prey, and even Snow Leopards!

Q: What is my elevation in Seward? (Or Anchorage, or Fairbanks)

A: This is a pretty common question. To answer it shortly, you are at Sea Level in Seward, 100 ft in Anchorage and 400 ft in Fairbanks.  All are roughly sea level, Fairbanks is at the same elevation as a 40 story building.  It’s not really spectacular the way Denver is. Denali Cabins are at a rough elevation of 1,300 feet, while the Denali Backcountry lodge is roughly at 1,600 ft above absolute sea level.  What you may have meant is latitude.  Latitude is how above (or below) the equator you are.  I’ll give those to you also!

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Q: I have been looking at salmon fishing in Alaska, and I keep hearing a lot of names for all the different types that are common.  Could you explain them?

A: Sure thing.  This is a fairly common confusion among residents and visitors alike.  Heres a basic break-down of the salmon, their names, and their basic ‘value’ as food or sport fish.

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