Lodge at Whale Pass news BLOG

As we update our blog here at the end of August, surrounded by the most beautiful little yellow, black and red catepillars that seem to have taken over the low lying vegetation, and enjoying the damp Southeast weather, our thoughts wander back to Rowland Shelly and his graduate assistant who stayed with us several weeks ago.  Rowland is one of the foremost academic experts on Milipedes.  Hailing from the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences where he serves as Curator of Terrestrial Invertebrates, Rowland came to Alaska looking for new discoveries, including hopes of finding the “missing link” of millipedes, the Asian connection.  That would be proof of the creepy crawly things making their way across the Bering land bridge, following in the footsteps of our Alaskan natives.  OK, so perhaps we overstate the scope of the research, but you too would be swept up in Millipede madness if you spent some time with Rowland.  Unfortunately, the visit corresponded with one of the driest stretches of the summer.  We do get graced on not so rare occasions with seemingly endless days of sunshine.  And while there’s a temptation to view that as lucky, Roland’s trip reminded us of how crucial the rain is to the nature that we emerse ourselves in every day.  The millipedes were digging deep for wet, and thus harder to find.  And for the rest of us, the creeks were trickling and warming up, which makes the fish a bit more lethargic.  And finally, the sun promotes a rapid bloom on the saltwater, that can sap Oxygen and make the fish a bit less active for the angler.  Now you know why we love the rain in Southeast Alaska.  Fortunately, mother nature is so strong here, almost untouched by human development, that our fun perseveres in every kind of weather.  So Rowland – we’ll keep digging and call you when we find the Asian looking multi-legs.

“I want to do things that I know I could die trying, but let’s not get too physical about it.”  Those were our marching orders with the arrival of Scott Saklad to the Lodge at Whale Pass.  And he was definitely up to the task.  We know that every day just being in this remote part of the inside passage challenges life and limb.  What with the brutal summer cold of the ice fields of LeContes, the raging 20 foot tides of Clarence straights, and the wild Pacific Ocean, just visiting our little corner of the world offers unique risks.  Fortunately, we’ve taken all the fear out.  Extensive safety precautions, highly trained staff, and four star comfort take the worries away.  But for Scott, we wanted to uncover that worry.  He thought a 4×4 jeep ride bombing around our gravel logging roads was just the ticket.  Little did he know, it was the stop at the Naukiti Connection that exposed him the most.  Alaska is home to some of the greatest people on the planet, but when us “Americans” step into their world, far removed from what we think of as civilized society, we’re best advised to use a certain level of respect and caution.  Of course, I jest, we’ve enjoyed the support of many of our friends in Naukiti since the beginning.  For guys like Scott, their’s plenty else to push the envelope.  We’ll take you up 2,000 feet for a heart pumping downhill mountain bike and awe inspiring view.  Or chose to challenge the rapids over at Stephenson island, where monster tide swings squeezing through a little spit can create a 4 foot standing wave.  And if that’s not enough water for you, hop on a jet boat to travel up the Stikine River, the fastest free flowing river in North America.  For Scott, the extreme days were just the precursor to nights, when  conversations turned to great books, institutional food service (you need to ask us about Scott if you’re in that business), and pop psychology about the Lodge staff.  Between Bill Cowart, who joined us earlier this year with Tommy Tompkins group, and Scott, all the crew has been analyzed and categorized.  Those who know us know we love to trade services for lodging.  We’ll have to think of adding those two to the benefits as staff psychologists to be paid in fishing and playing time.

Reflecting on the season’s most memorable moments, perhaps none were stronger for Captain Norm Degner than his time in the Glacier with Dr. Donald Hart and Donna Wilcox.  Pushing through thick floes of ice while admiring the scenic wonder of LeConte Fjord, Norm warned his passengers that going farther into the ice and towards the face of the glacier may result in missing the floatplane back at the mouth of the fjord.  Those of you lucky enough to have spent time with Norm on a glacier run know that few can get you more safely back into the ice than him, but also that the massive amounts of ice and the unpredictable flow can create exciting challenges on the exit.  Sharing his experience with Don and Donna, he asked them, “what would you like to do.” Don and Donna reflected on the choices, and probably a bit on the great trips and times the two had been sharing in the last year, and certainly a moment on the noble battle Donna is fighting with cancer.  With very little thought, and in respect for the mysterious pull from the massive LeConte ice field, Donna gave Norm a big hug and a kiss, and said with a twinkle in her eye, “push on Captain, what the heck, you only live once.”  And Donna is living large.  Every day she spent at the lodge inspired the crew.  And it seems, in some little way, Alaska inspired Don and Donna.  Don spends most of his working time around his home on the Yucatan peninsula, studying the ancient Mayans and other early peoples.  So it was no surprise that he acted like a kid in a candy store when hopping along the rocks at Petroglyph beach.  We started the day biking around the little town of Wrangell, admiring the totems and Chief Shakes long house and visiting the impressive new museum which houses a large collection of artifacts from the ancient peoples of Southeast Alaska.  After powering up with lunch at the Diamond C Café (where Norm’s wife serves the meanest crab salad in Alaska), we pedaled over to the beach.  With scores of rock carvings estimated at thousands of years old, Don hopped from rock to rock admiring the hidden wonders.  No one knows who carved these intriguing designs at the mouth of the mighty Stikine River, but we’re glad they left behind a piece of their art.  On the trip back from Wrangell, we spotted a pod of Orcas feeding in the 1,000 foot deep waters between Zarembo and Wrangell Islands.  Bright sunshine, calm waters, and spy hopping killer whales seemed an appropriate ending to a magical trip.  Keep on fighting Donna, we love you and will feel your impact for a long time to come.

The Konkal Family with a nice rack!
Visit this link to see more of the Konkal family trip visit this link KONKAL-ALASKA

Or, to see his professional work John Konkal Photography

Another Long Islander (that’s New York for all you West Coasters) graced us at the Lodge in mid-August, bringing more of that striper experience and New York attitude we love so much.  Don’t talk politics and religion, that’s the rule, right.  But there was no way to avoid it with Tony Barbiero.  We could have spent hours debating the finer points of the war, and enjoyed every minute of it.  And I most say, after several nights, I started to believe that the US would indeed be better off with a benevolent dictator, as long as it was Tony.  In between the discussions, Tony and his wife Susan, along with their dynamite grand kid Alex, participated in just about everything we have to offer at the lodge.

When we talk about the great people of Alaska, we can’t help but remember the one day visit by Captain Norm’s friends, Gene, Mary and Andrew.  Gene and Norm have been knocking around saw mills in Southeast Alaska for many years, while wife Mary has been keeping people straight with Alaska Airlines, where she began working in the earliest days of their presence in Ketchikan.  Neither Gene nor Mary, nor their son Andrew, ever had the chance to tour LeConte, and Norm was happy to oblige.  A great day was followed by an equally great meal, where Pete and Carol got the rare treat of feeding Norm in the main dining area.  When you’re flying through Ketchikan, make sure to ask after Mary at the Alaska Air counter and her time in Whale Pass.

Fifty years ago CB and Martha were married and have been inseparable ever since.  This last Christmas, they offered their prized products of those years (3 children, spouses and 5 grandchildren) the trip of a lifetime.  Starting in Anchorage and the interior of the state, they ended their stay with five days on the shores of Whale Pass.  We couldn’t feel luckier that they chose to share their lovely family with us.

From the mass fly fishing class held on the beach on day one to the shore lunch of salmon and chocolate mousse cooked to order on day 4, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves beyond compare.  Few extended families have enjoyed each other as much as this group did, and fewer still were more consistently pleasant to have around.

CB was perhaps the biggest sport, having been lulled into a “manageable” hike to Hatchery Falls in search of some big silvers.  The hike turned out to be a bit harder than expected and the silver’s had been made lethargic by several days of sunshine and warmth.  Nonetheless, he hung in there and was ready the next day to hike to Red Bay where the Salmon were much more cooperative on the fly.

The Robertson family attended en masse two informative sessions presented by GM’s Don McCulley and Gretchen Weeks on conquering the elements in Alaska.  Gretchen shared pictures of her 8 ascents of Mt. McKinley and mesmerized the crowd with stories of summiting at over 20,000 feet.  The next night, Don and Gretchen collective shared lessons from their nearly 30 cumulative years working on the Juneau icefield.  Having seen the Outhouse conditions faced at both, the group felt fortunate to have their own private baths to return to that night.  A crab boil on the final night seemed to be the exclamation point on a wonderful Alaska odyssey.

The Bowdens (Martha, Marshall, Ned, Harrison and Clay), the Farmers (Neil, Ann Preston, Will and Molly) and brother Rob all were glad to share in CB and Martha’s anniversary celebration.  What a great way to do it.  We were sad to see the group leave on a Beaver and an Otter (two beautiful old floatplanes prevalent in these woods for those who don’t know), but felt good knowing that we’d found another great family to share many more years of vacation experiences.

The Lewis family (Richard, Cathy and son Justin) brought a distinctly Southern California attitude, and a copy of the seventh and last installment of the Harry Potter series, to the lodge.  With our marooned staff sneaking peeks at the final chapters, the family enjoyed a relaxing vacation full of a wide range of activities.  Richard flew out on day one to Luck Lake to scratch the Fly Fishing itch, finding some accommodating trout and some local color in a pick up truck for a ride partway back.  Meanwhile, Justin stayed back at the lodge to devour the Wizard book (which had just been released the day before).  With half the book read, the whole family was ready to venture out on bear sigtings, excursions to Wrangell and Petersburg, whale watching, sea kayaing and on to the open waters for unforgettable sportfishing.

Richard seemed to be enjoying the time between wrapping his latest movie (Austin Nash – www.augustrushmovie.warnerbrothers.com) and working the release circuit.  Cathy seemed simply to be enjoying it all.  One night over dinner and a glass of wine Richard let it slip that they had a little winery in Napa.  Located in an area noted for its fine Cabs and Merlot, we just had to try some.  The Lewis’ were kind enough to send a few bottles our way.  We’re watching the barge deliveries with great anticipation.  You’ll have to ask if we have any to share next time you come to Whale Pass.  If your lucky, you’ll be here when the family returns for future trips.

One of the best things about being in the lodge business is the chance to learn things from guests that bring interesting perspectives from all over the world.  Bob Sywolski, with wife Karen, and grandkids Hunter and Alexander, shared his thoughts on business during a short stay.  As Chairman of Double Click, a leader in the internet advertising space recently sold to Google for a lot more dollars than we catch salmon every summer, we couldn’t help but listen closely.  Here we’ll only share with you the value of balancing the stakeholder’s interest.  But we’ll also let you know that the Sywolski’s learned the art of balancing activities while at the lodge: bears; whales; halibut; salmon; bikes; hikes; and glaciers (not to mention scotch and soda).  Best of luck to Bob under the Google umbrella, and to the whole family under the enduring glow of an Alaskan vacation.

The story of the Hanley family is not that unusual, they have it all: great professional success, 3 young kids and a comfortable life.  But sometimes those kids you love so much start to feel like their getting in the way of the To Do list of Fun Activities.  How do mom and dad take that dream Alaskan vacation, get some much deserved relaxation, and yet bring the baby and toddlers along.  It’s simple, you come to the Lodge at Whale Pass.  In four years operating our family friendly destination, we’ve learned how to structure our days to make everyone happy, and make sure you don’t feel like your kids are interfering with that guys group of fisherman and the couple celebrating their 50^th anniversary.  And the Hanley’s took advantage of that.  Our kid’s program allows the parents to enjoy the full range of activities offered, keeping the little one’s entertained and informed, out in Alaska’s nature.  And there’s always someone fighting for the chance to hang out with the baby all day.  Come cocktail hour and meal time, our expansive lodge provides plenty of space for adults to wine, dine and celebrate in one place, while the kids chow down on chicken fingers and salmon bites while rompering around the air hockey and foosball tables.