Continue reading »]]> It seemed that everyone wanted to go to Petrof today. Luckily, the weather cooperated, was crystal blue skies and we could fly right over the Harding Icefield. Snow and peaks as far as you could see, accentuated by glacial blue ice. Petrof is a popular surfing destination when there is swell, and the lake in front of Petrof Glacier is perfect for a scenic stand up paddle trip. The Petrof area was sub-divided for a land lottery, and Steller Air provides charter access for people with cabins and land in the area. The mossy forests, mountains, glaciers, ocean, and lakes make this a spectacular setting.

Continue reading »]]> Made a gorgeous flight to McNeil River where the brown bears are already feeding on the first salmon run of the season. McNeil River is the highest concentration of brown bears in the world. The bears feed at a couple of creeks and rivers in the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary. Entrance to the Sanctuary is granted by state-run lottery and we will spend the summer flying lucky permit holders in and out of a great brown bear viewing experience. The experienced staff at McNeil River hosts and guides your camping and bear watching trip. Check out our McNeil River Bear Viewing page for more information.

Continue reading »]]> Steller Air dropped two plane’s worth of enthusiastic rafters on the glacial lake at the base of Wosnesenski Glacier for a three-day trip. This trip is the most popular rafting trip in Kachemak Bay State Park, and it can be done in a single day or turned into a multi-day camping trip. All the boats and gear were loaded up in our Cessna 206 and the seven rafters started their trip from the lake in decent weather that got better and better.Parties dropped off at the glacier lake can hike to the glacier and camp near the lake before starting their trip downstream.

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We made our first Katmai Coast trip of the year this Memorial Day weekend and are glad to announce that the bears are waking up slowly but surely. I am less thrilled to admit that after a winter in the garage, my hip-waders have developed a leak. However, when you slip and fall off the float of the aircraft into the Swickshack River and find yourself armpit deep in cold, brackish water trying to fish your cell phone out of your pocket, leaky boots are the least of your problems.

The sun shown on glaciers, volcanoes and bears for our charter drop-off to Katmai. Our clients were experienced wildlife photographers and their families. They wanted some time in Katmai to work on some Springtime footage of wildlife and Alaska scenery for a piece for PBS. The fact that they had done this before was iterated by their gear: with high-tech cameras, solar panels, life rafts and sat phones, these folks were prepared for whatever adventure one of Alaska’s rugged coastlines could throw.