In June of 2005 I led a group of friends and relatives on a two week "Alaskan Ambiance" tour of southcentral Alaska. Everybody was impressed. We had good weather. Some of the days were nothing short of spectacular; light breeze, high 60s, warm sun, clear sky to the distant horizons. When the weather is good I think that Alaska is more beautiful than anywhere else in the world.

The tiny thumbnail images below are not clickable links, but you can view medium-sized photos in the *simple album. I have photos from Fran, Paul & Andi, Jeff, Patric, Mary & Dave. If you want full resolution image files of any particular picture please send me an e-mail, and I will see if I have them or can get them from the photographer.

Our expenses were on the order of $100 / day / person excluding airfares. Much of the time we bought food at the local markets and cooked it at home in our lodgings. We ate a lot of very good fresh Copper River red salmon; the same salmon which recently was selling for $26 / lb in our local fish market.

In November of 2004 Alaska Airlines had an advance purchase sale, and most of us bought our airline tickets for about $450 each. We flew from California to Cordova via Anchorage. For this very low price Alaska Airlines allowed us a "stopover" in Yakutat "on the way back" even though Yakutat is not on the way back. Yakutat is really a side trip that could cost quite a bit if we bought the tickets separately. One can get some real bargains on Alaska Airlines.

The yellow highlighter on the map above shows our itinerary:

• Wed 6/15 Arrive Mudhole Smith Airport, Cordova; overnight at Orca Adventure Lodge, which provided free pickup at airport.
• Thur 6/16 In Cordova, Orca Adventure Lodge
• Fri 6/17 In Cordova, Orca Adventure Lodge
• Sat 6/18 In Cordova, Orca Adventure Lodge
• Sun 6/19 Take 5:45 AM Alaska Ferry across Prince William Sound to Valdez. Arrive about 11 AM. Rent van from Valdez U-Drive. Overnight at L&L B&B (7 people) and Patty Levasseur's B&B (4 people).
• Mon 6/20 Drive inland to Chitina. Overnight at Chitina House B&B and Native Corporation cabin.
• Tues 6/21 Overnight in Chitina.
• Wed 6/22 Drive back to Valdez; overnight at L&L and Patty's
• Thur 6/23 7 PM ferry to Cordova. Unscheduled stop in Tatitlik. Arrive Cordova about 1:30 AM. Overnight at Kings' Chamber for 11 persons.
• Fri 6/24 Cordova, Overnight at Kings' Chamber for 11 persons.
• Sat 6/25 Cordova, Overnight at Kings' Chamber for 10 persons.
• Sun 6/26 Fly Cordova to Yakutat. Overnight @ Ryman's Cabins for 10.
• Mon 6/27 In Yakutat area, Ryman's Cabins
• Tues 6/28 In Yakutat area, Ryman's Cabins
• Wed 6/29 Fly Yakutat to Anchorage and on to lower 48