Just got back Tue. from Alaska. After a nightmare flight , and 30 hr door to door, I spent a fantastic week fishing the Kenai River in a float boat . Caught lots of rainbow, char, and salmon. Got chased off the river banks by a few BIG brown bears, you cant even hear them coming till you look up after you hear a twig snap!

Spent a weekend in Seward ocean fishing and just loved it.

Now the rest of the story...
Flight out of Boston ..get loaded on jet taxi out get ready to take off the jet shuts down and they take us back to terminal. 2 hours later they have another plane for us.(They forget to load drinks and snacks on new jet) Dallas weather in 103 degrees when we land and the are holding the aircraft for Alaska folks on my flight, take us off at the jet into a van and drive us to the Anchorage jet. Get up to check in area and we are told we have a failure in the jet. Broken jet # 2. 6 hours later and 3 broken jets we leave Dallas.(Thinking does AA have ANY planes that work?) Lost all my bags except my knapsack on my back with a change of jeans, shirt etc and my cameras, and my rain suit. Next AM still no bags and we are off to Kenai. 4 days later they send them up to me on the Kenai river via float plane . They landed somewhere near and found me as I was getting off the river one evening.
Weather was cold, so before I left Anchorage I had to buy long johns, socks , tee shirts etc.

The next worse thing was NO TOOTHBRUSH or TOOTHPASTE on the flight. My teeth, after 30 hour felt like they had fur on them. I have always carried toothbrush and paste in my knapsack.

Coming home ..not a problem and NO lost bags!
Planning to go back next summer. I liked it so much I may move up. Made some nice friends. Folks up there are very friendly.
Area reminded me of MAine with some of the Swiss Alps tossed in.

Cost wise, gas was only $2.74 a gal. food about the same as here in MAine, Boxed things were a big more.
What I found cost more was clothing. Oh well.Thanks American Airlines...

Animals I saw were lots of eagles, bears, whales> beluga,sheep, goats, and moose. Even saw a small plane land on the highway that had eng. trouble!
Took in the State fair as well.
Cant wait to go back.

Sue

I adore Alaska also. My next trip will probably be to the Kenai Peninsula or the Katmai bear preserve. I've been there twice before, both times on kayaking/camping trips. Only black bears in the regions I was in. LOTS of humpback whales, eagles, stellar sea lions, Dall sheep, and even a pod of Orcas making short work of a small sea lion. Alaska is one of the most breathtaking places on the planet.

P.S. I assume you were on American Airlines (AA) and not Alaska Airlines (AA)? Alaska Airlines has some of the best service around. Try flying them for at least part of the trip next time if you can.

Wow - you had one heck of a flight there! Nothing like two broken jets to give you confidence in the airline industry. Glad the trip made it worthwhile. I'd love to make it up there someday.