Denali, & Kenai Fjords Workshop
August 16 -23, 2019 – Beth Sexworth
$3675
We have again arranged and scheduled a workshop for 2019 in Denali National Park in Alaska and we will spend four nights in the park.. Denali is an unparalleled location. The beautiful splendor of the highest mountain in North America and wildlife like no other location in the world make this huge National Park a must visit item on everyone’s photography to do list. I have visited Denali several times and each time I come away with a greater appreciation of this spectacular place. Dall’s sheep, bears (black and grizzly), moose, wolves, and caribou are the large mammals that inhabit this park. The sunrise and sunset lighting on Mount McKinley and the entire Alaska range provide spectacular image opportunities. Late in August the tundra starts exhibiting its autumn color with vivid reds and yellows providing natural photo backdrops. The days start to get shorter now, so it is actually possible to be awake for sunrise and sunset without an extended nap some where in between the two. Although I am sure there is never a bad time, for me this is the perfect time to visit the park.
Visiting Denali has some inherent problems that must be overcome to make the visit the as memorable as possible. First, the park is situated in a very remote location between Anchorage and Fairbanks, the two large cities in Alaska. After flying into one of the major cities, you must either drive or take the train to visit the park. Secondly, Alaska is an expensive place to visit. Meals, rooms, and transportation will all be more than you are accustomed to spending. These two obstacles can be over come, but the driving restrictions inside the park are the most difficult of all. Only the first 14 miles of the park road are open to private vehicles. The road goes on for about another 80 miles but you cannot drive to that part of the park. The Park Service has shuttle bus service that travels the rest of the road through to Wonder Lake. These buses are school type and you must make reservations in advance to reserve a space on them. You can get off the bus when you want in the park, but then you wait for another bus hoping it has seat for you to get back on when you are ready to travel on. Most visitors spend most of a day riding the bus to Wonder Lake or the Eilson visitor center and back searching for wildlife and hoping to see the mountain. Many never get a glimpse of the mountain and go home disappointed. There must be a better way and the answer is stay at Camp Denali.
Located 90 miles within Denali National Park in the shadow of the mountain Denali, Camp Denali is a unique wilderness retreat for those seeking an in depth experience in the sub-arctic. Founded in 1951, Camp Denali is Alaska’s original vacation lodge and nature center, which strives to help visitors gain a personal knowledge and appreciation for the natural history of Denali National Park. Owned and operated by the Cole/Hamm Family since 1975 it is Alaska at its best. Accommodations at Camp Denali are individual cabins situated along a ridge with commanding views of Mt. McKinley. Each cabin is furnished with a wood stove, propane lights and hotplate, hand crafted quilts and Alaskan artwork. A central shower facility is located within a 3 to 7 minute walk from each cabin. The natural history resource center, complete with binocular microscope, herbarium, library and artifacts is available for guest use. In keeping with their mission of helping guests enjoy the natural history and wilderness of Denali National Park, Camp Denali provides daily, guided nature outings and hikes. The staff of knowledgeable naturalists assists guests in first hand exploration of the Alaska landscape; searching for wolves, moose and caribou as well as looking for nesting birds and wildflowers. Nightly programs focus on some aspect of Denali’s natural and cultural history, including birds, mammals, wildflowers, tundra ecology, geology, mountaineering, land use and natural resource issues. In addition to guided activities, mountain bikes, canoes and fishing equipment are also available. Camp Denali may not be for everyone, but if you desire an experience away from the tempo of modern living and enjoy the camaraderie of kindred souls, you will not be disappointed.
I have stayed at Camp Denali many times and I am convinced that is by far the best way to visit and enjoy the park. The Camp honors only a few of the many workshop requests that it gets each year and I feel fortunate to have The Nature Workshops accepted there. Since the Camp was annexed into the park many years ago, they have retained driving privileges through out the park and have several vehicles for daily excursions. We will have a dedicated vehicle and driver for our use each day while at Camp Denali.One of the best views of Mount McKinley is right from the porch of you cabin. Although there are never any guarantees, I have never visited Camp Denali without viewing the mountain and being able to photograph it. By living 90 miles into the park, under the mountain, we will be there when the mountain appears. We will spend four nights at Camp Denali, going in on Monday, August 20 and coming out on Friday, August 24.
A General Itinerary for the Workshop
Ø Arrive in Anchorage on August 15.
Ø August 16 – drive to Seward and boat tour of Resurrection Bay
Ø August 17 – drive back to Anchorage Ø August 18 – Drive to Denali & spend night outside park.
Ø August 19 – Meet Camp Denali buses and travel into the park.
Ø August 20 through 22 – Daily photo trips from Camp Denali. We have our own dedicated bus & driver.
Ø August 23 – Leave Camp Denali & drive back to Anchorage. Fly home on “red eye” or on Aug 24.
Cost is $3675 per person.
What is included: Meals, lodging, and transportation Aug 19-23 while at Camp Denali and road transportation for the entire workshop.
What is not included:
1. Lodging except when at Camp Denali.
2. Meals not noted above.
Single room options: Camp Denali has cabins designed for double occupancy. The only way to obtain a single is to pay their extra single fee, but this would mean an additional $2200 for your fee. Rooms in other locations (not Camp Denali) will have the same single options as our regular workshops.
Payment Schedule
$750 deposit due at registration
Balance due Apr 01, 2019.
Due to the remoteness of the location and the inability to attract the last minute traveler, Camp Denali has the following refund policy:
Date Penalty
after registration $150
after Nov 1 $325
after Feb 1 50% of workshop fees
after Apr 1 100% of workshop fees
All penalties are payable by you, if your space is not refilled, If it is refilled, the only penalty is the original $150. Trip insurance is available at most travel agents and is strongly recommended for a trip such as this.
Alaska offerings fill up very quickly. If you want to go on this trip, I encourage you to register early.
