Alaska Travel Questions Answered | ALASKA.ORG - Ask Bob

Mt. McKinley: What is the best time of year to see it?

Q: I want to see Denali. Is there a certain time of the year that you are more likely to catch a glimpse of Mt. McKinley? --Dinah

A: For a mountain as enormous as Denali—over 20,000 feet—it still manages to be elusive for a lot of visitors, due to clouds and ever-changing weather conditions. The truth is, the skies around Denali tend to be clearer during winter and spring than during summer—unfortunately, the exact time that you and so many others are visiting. In summer, the odds of a completely clear day are only 33 percent. There’s another 40 percent chance of getting a partial view of the mountain obscured by clouds, and a roughly 25 percent chance of not seeing it all due to overcast conditions.

Alaska Shore Excursion Discounts

Q: I am about to take an Alaskan cruise soon and have a question: Why are the shore excursions priced so high? $179 for a zip line—are you kidding? How can I chop that price down? --Geri

A: Geri, I totally feel your pain. I now have a family of four, and to take an excursion that costs even $125 per person suddenly becomes a $500 experience for a few hours.

There are a couple reasons why these prices run high. First, some of these excursions are expensive to operate. Alaska has only a 120-day visitor season, so the company’s overhead costs need to be carried by basically a third of a year's worth of operations. Also, some of these companies have to carry a fair amount of insurance, another big expense. And, quite honestly, they're high because there hasn’t been a lot of downward price pressure from consumers in recent years.

The good news is that there are a few ways to manage costs on excursions:

Rent a car in Alaska?

Q: I want to visit Alaska in August and would like to just rent a car to explore the state. But is that really a good idea? What are the best places to go? --Olga

A: Olga, I think it's a wonderful idea! So many people think that a cruise is the only way to see Alaska, but the reality is that you can see and do so much more going by land. Renting a car gives you the ultimate freedom and flexibility. August is a great time to visit, too—temperatures in Alaska’s most popular destinations average in the 60s during that month.

Best Denali hikes and trails

Q: I’d like to do some hikes in Denali on my own, and plan on using the hop-on, hop-off Park Shuttle to explore. But how do I know when to get off—any good suggestions?

A: The National Park Service’s green shuttle buses make exploring the park pretty easy and very liberating: You hop off when you want, and then hop back on when another bus comes back through. (The only catch: the schedule varies, so make sure you know the return times from your driver before you hop off.)

Since there are few maintained trails in Denali, hiking here is pretty free-form. The challenge is not always distance or elevation but terrains: you might need to whack your way through brush, get your feet wet in creeks or bobble on the tundra (which some people have likened to walking on carpeted basketballs). One popular way to hike in Denali is along the river bars, which tend to be wide and fairly dry.

That said, there are a number of spots to get out that have had enough hikers to create casual trails.

Learning your camera for Alaska

Q: I’ve just graduated from a point and shoot to an SLR camera. I’m not sure what to learn about first. Any suggestions so I can practice before my visit to Alaska? --Jeannine

A: Jeannine, I would divide what you need to learn into two categories:

1. Use of the camera, and
2. Principles of art and composition

Use of Camera

Read your manual to learn the basic of your camera. When I buy a new camera, I read a few pages at a time, then practice and experiment with the ideas in those pages before moving on. It takes me a few sessions

Alaska shore excursions: Who should I book through?

Q: I’m taking an Alaskan cruise and want to make the most of the ports of call. Should I book shore excursions through my cruise line or on my own?

A: Getting off the ship is, ironically, one of the most important parts of an Alaskan cruise—whether you go hiking, whale-watching or take a sightseeing tour on a bus or even a helicopter. The cruise lines make it easy for you to reserve through them, sending you information on excursions from the moment you book the cruise to the day of the call itself. If you book on your own, on the other hand, you can potentially get more personalized trips, and perhaps with lower prices. Some guidelines: