The Cabin

There is one cabin available to the public on upper Twin Lakes. A fellow named Gary Titus rents his personal cabin out when he’s not there.

Dick Proenneke's cabin is right across the lake which will make for a good day trip. The cabin we will be staying at has the following website: http://www.windsongwildernessretreat.com

Here is a listing of details around the cabin

Cabin sleeps six
Propane cooking stove and lights,
cooking utensils
wood heat
One of Alaska's most spectacular views (According to Gary)
16 foot powerboat
Canoe

How long will the trip be?

10 days and includes a side trip out of Anchorage to Seward via the train.

1 day to Lake Clark NP
5 days on upper Twin Lakes
1 day Lake Clark NP to Anchorage. Grab a shower and check out downtown Anchorage.
2 Days train from Anchorage to Seward. Stay the night and back.
1 day from Anchorage to home

***Each person can feel free to go with the flow or make changes that make sense for them. For example, if you see a different excursion out of Anchorage that you are more interested in, go for it.

What is there to do?

1. Hiking

There are mountains around Twin Lakes. The guy who owns the cabin said the great hiking is why he bought the place. The open tundra allows a person to get around without bushwacking.
Wildlife: Dall Sheep, Moose, Caribou, Grizzly bear, Black bear, Ptarmigan and Fox

Hike up to the waterfall and then continue up Falls Mountain, behind the cabin. Follow the game trail that begins directly behind the lower outhouse and follow this trail until the waterfall drainage is reached. Then follow the drainage staying on the west side until the waterfalls are reached. Continue up the ridge just west of the falls to the "Big Pasture" where Dall Sheep ewes and lambs are common. An easy hike from here to the top of Falls Mountain rewards the hiker with stunning views of the Twin Lakes Wilderness and the Alaska Range mountain panorama. Moderately difficult hike: Takes 1-2 hours each way.

Hike up to Emerson Falls. Emerson Creek is the one flowing into Upper Twin Lakes near the connecting stream on the north side of the lake. Follow the stream up on the up-lake side until you reach a beautiful viewpoint to watch these falls. Moderately easy: takes 1 hour each way.

2. Fishing

Lake and Rainbow Trout
Dolly Varden
Arctic Grayling
Sockeye and Coho Salmon
Northern Pike

Paddle or boat down to the "connecting stream" to fish for grayling. Dry flies or small spinners work well for these feisty and aggressive fish.

Here is a site that shows someone's fishing trip in the Twin Lakes area on the Chilikadrotna river.

3. Canoeing.

4. A Visit to Dick’s cabin to see his handiwork.

5. Train ride from Anchorage to Kenai Fjords(Seward).

Some Seward excursions:

1. Hiking up to Exit Glacier

2. Boat rides to see the Fjords and sealife in Kenai Fjords National Park.

3. Charter a fishing trip to catch Halibut & Salmon.

4. Combo boat trip with sea kayaking near Glaciers.

5. Visit a Sled Dog Operation from a group that runs the iditarod every year.

A map of the train route.

Getting there

Leaving from home there is one layover in Chicago before the flight to Anchorage, AK. About 7 hours in the plane.

Once at Anchorage, a plane will bring us into the Lake Clark National Park. This flight is about 1.5 hours. We'll stop first in Port Alsworth. Switch planes for the remaining 25 minute flight into upper Twin Lakes. We will be going through Lake Clark Air out of Port Alsworth.

From Anchorage to Lake Clark National Park it sounds like the plane flies through an area called ‘Lake Clark Pass’. It’s supposed to be pretty scenic.

Costs?

In 2007 The plane ticket to Anchorage, AK is about $600 - $800 -In 2008 From Green Bay ended up being about $1200.

The flight from Anchorage to upper Twin Lakes and back is about $850. $650 if 3 or more people go. 2008 prices.
Food for a week – A guess would be $100-$200 per person
Train - Guess was $82. Ended up being $110.
Hotel in Anchorage & Seward- Guess was $30/person per night - $90. Ended up being $50/person per night = $150
Kenai Fjords tour - $129
If you plan to fish, $55 for a 7 day license.

Gear/supplies

Food

The plan is to ship in freeze dried food and also assume some of our meals will be fish. The company we're going with is http://www.mountainhouse.com/bkp_fds.cfm - click on Product List. They'll ship it right to Port Alsworth for us.

Gear

A sample list from an outfitter that brings groups to the Twin Lakes area (These guys are camping so it's a bit different but offers some good ideas)

Another list from Fish Alaska Magazine

Mosquito protection:

http://www.fcsurplus.ca/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=6855

If you have any gear that you do not want to bring on the plane to Anchorage you can ship it at least a month ahead of time. Let me know if you need the address to ship to:

Contacts We're using to get information and Questions answered

***Feel free to contact these folks directly. Otherwise, I can ask your questions as well. They all seem to be good guys who are open to questions***

The person who owns the cabin on Upper Twin Lakes

Gary Titus - Windsong Wilderness Lodge (Upper Twin Lake)
P.O. Box 513
Sterling, Alaska 99672
Phone: 907-260-5410
E-Mail: twinlake@gci.net

The float plane and a person who we can talk to about fishing the Twin Lakes

Glen Alsworth - Lake Clark Air
Email: GAlsworth@aol.com
Phone: 888.440.2281
If you want to ship something for our trip, send a note and I can give you the address - Send a month or two ahead of time to make sure it gets there in time):

Lake Clark National Park ( A person who has spent quite a bit of time in the Twin Lakes area - Edited the second book on Dick Proenneke's journals)

John Branson - Lake Clark NP
email: john_branson@nps.gov
Phone: 781-907-2134