BEARS, WILDERNESS & ADVENTURE all within Lake Clark National Park! When you think of viewing wild bears you probably picture that classic scene of huge Grizzly Bears devouring brilliantly colored Salmon. If you have ever wanted to experience this brief annual wonder called hyperphagia, it simply does not get any better than Redoubt Mountain Lodge! Try to envision thousands of red-bodied Sockeye Salmon schooled up in knee deep water in an area roughly the size of a football end-zone. Add North Americas largest predator with an overwhelming hunger and a competition for who gets to sit at the dinner table first. An absolute feeding frenzy ensues and you are less than 50′ away filling every memory card you have. Hillsides of blooming fireweed & wildflowers compliment the back ground while teaming black berry bushes tempt the bears’ sweet tooth. It’s just you, your guide & the bears.After you’ve worn out your shooting finger, leave the tripod at the lodge for a day and choose from our smorgasbord of activities. Hike to a nearby waterfall or conquer one of the surrounding mountain peaks. Kayak the shoreline following a momma bear and her cubs while counting bald eagles perched atop the cottonwood trees. Throw on a pair of chest waders and walk amongst the spawning fish to fly or spin cast for trophy trout or just soak up the beauty of the last frontier with a good book on the main lodge deck. Choose from a 2 – 5 night stay and cross Alaskan Adventure off your “Bucket List”. We suggest you inquire soon. Remaining availability for 2012 is already limited to early-mid August!The DVDs have arrived. If you would like to add Redoubt Mountain Lodge “The Movie” to your library, please take a moment to fill out our Request a DVD Brochure. This video was captured during August of our 2011 season. Special Thanks to the Morrison family for their participation.

Make-A-Wish 2012! For our 3rd consecutive season Redoubt Mountain Lodge along with Trail Ridge Air will be working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. These families exemplify strength & perseverance and are an absolute inspiration. Also planned for 2012 charitable contributions: ‘Caddies for the Cure’, ‘Taller San Jose’ and ‘Wounded Warrior’. To say we are excited to be a part of such great organizations would be an understatement.

Lastly, we would like to introduce our newest staff member, Charlie! K’eyush will now have a partner in bear patrol around the lodge. Check out our FACEBOOK Page for more pictures.

We always appreciate input & reviews from past, present and future guests. Please do not hesitate to contact us to share any photos or suggestions!

 

Right about now Mama Bear is sitting in her Santa’s chair welcoming all the cubs of the Crescent River Valley to sit on her lap and tell her what they want for Christmas. Besides maybe a turn in the new sauna or some left over salmon bits from our smoker, they can’t ask for too much more than what they received this past year. There was a historic number of Sockeye and Coho Salmon & hillsides of wild berries; plenty to fill their bellies for the long winter months. Most exciting, many of them had starring roles in the upcoming Redoubt Mountain Lodge “Movie”.Halfway through the summer RML welcomed Rick Dancer Media Services to capture a small portion of what we get to experience every day. If you have never visited us and are debating a vacation to Alaska, this video will assuredly seal the deal in your decision. If the guests’ excitement doesn’t whet your appetite then the sheer beauty of this area will. The crew filmed for a week giving breadth to the amount of activities offered here. Coming in January 2012, take a look at what nearly every guest says is the best vacation they have ever had. Click HERE for a sneak peek.

Of course, if you were to see the lodge now it would be unrecognizable under the caked layers of ice and snow. It is a beautiful time of year in which nature is preparing for the bounty that is to arrive once again during the summer. The newly born salmon from this year’s run are getting used to their new home, Crescent Lake, for the next two years before they make the journey to the ocean. The bears are dreaming of plump Salmon swimming the river banks and the eagles are nesting in their treetop lodges. The trails to the (now frozen) waterfalls surrounding the lodge would require ice skates and the once sun-kissed Crescent Lake looks like the world’s largest hockey rink.

The contrast in life could not be more pronounced than what it is right now. Once the spring hits and the 24-hour daylight arrives, the valley and lake turn back into nature’s paradise. Mama Bear will take off her Santa’s hat and the fun will resume for all those that visit us this coming year. For now, though, we want to wish you a very Happy Holiday season & a New Year of health, happiness & adventure!  We look forward to bringing life to everything you see in the video and what you have dreamed Alaska could be.

 

The 2011 season at RML is proving once again that it’s a good thing there are no boundaries on fun because we would be pushing them this year. With six returning staff and two future all star guides in the making, we are showing guests the true versatility of the playground in which we work and you play. Hiking continues to be a favorite activity amongst our guests and only Mt. Redoubt has been safe from the bottoms of our hiking boots. We have added two more kayaks to our armada, which have all covered their fair share of Crescent Lake. Waterskis, wakeboard & tube have all been wet. Bear viewing has been ridiculously good with “Chuck” being added to the payroll (finally). Then there are all the wild fish swimming around us….

It can be said that seasons in Alaska are often determined by the species of salmon returning to the rivers and the quantity of which they arrive. If that is true, then this Sockeye season has been one to remember at RML. With an early appearance and huge numbers of “Reds” showing up daily, the fishing season started ominously. Eleven-year-old Eddy and his dad picked up fly rods for the first time and took home their limits every day. Mixing in a 20lb. Mackinaw on light spinning tackle rounded out their stay along with a few comedic gems by the bonfire at night. Trips like theirs were book ended by the same with heavy pushes of fish throughout the month. In fact, an incredible three-day surge of nearly 37,000 Sockeye passed through the radar at the mouth of the Crescent River in mid July. We are all waiting anxiously to see if the Coho will follow suit and match the precedent set by their tasty counterparts. The guides are still talking about this year’s run and making people envious they missed out on such an epic fishing experience.

Our guests have plenty of time to hear all of our ramblings during one or all of the many hikes we have pioneered at the lodge. So far this year, two groups have seen the summit of every hike we have to offer. The Vauthey family pushed their limits and were happily rewarded with views of Mt. Iliamna on a crisp, clear afternoon on the very difficult “Pyramid” hike. Tuxedni Bay & Glacier and the extent of the valley leading to RML were all visible from the top of another one of our inspiring peaks that surround us. Treks like these are not the norm of course. We have our more subdued trails like the new “Moose Meadow” hike that is quickly becoming a favorite with a reward of wild blueberries at the end of the trail and the occasional bear and moose sighting along the way.

Bear sightings have not been a problem with the infamous “Chuck” returning from a long hibernation. Once again, she has posted up in a bay only a short boat drive from the lodge. Her daily show of diving for fish and belly scratching begins and ends sporadically but is always a treat if you catch her between naps. The lake’s edge has seen some fresh faces with a few new sets of cubs following close behind their proud mommas. The once mighty Sockeye have begun to hit old age and are easy targets for the ravenous brown bears they teased only weeks ago. Bring your fast glass to take insane pictures of these 600lb behemoths chasing protective Sockeye out of their shallow spawning grounds. Truly an amazing sight to see. Bring your cameras, but remember this is one thing that can only be translated with your eyes.

Cooperating weather and fish have made all of us wonder where the time has gone. The season is nearly half over and we have had barely anytime for reflection. The guests that have been here so far have been exceptional and have engaged us with every activity we have to offer at RML. With a hot tub waiting after a long day its hard not to walk away from here inspired by Alaska’s beauty. We all look forward to making your trip a memorable one!

Redoubt Mountain Lodge does not compromise when it comes to staff. Ensuring each guest receives a high level of personal attention is the commitment we make to you. Each member of the Redoubt Mountain Lodge team brings with them a passion to make each guest’s experience one they will never forget. Please enjoy this introduction to our talented staff. For additional information & pictures of each staff member, please check out our Staff page.

Ryan & Heather Richards: As lodge managers there are very few chores that Ryan & Heather do not tend to. But above all is their dedication to providing an unforgettable Alaskan Adventure. With years of experience in the executive service industry, Ryan & Heather go to great lengths to put the silver-lining on every stay.

Andrew Sells: A fourth-year veteran at Redoubt Mountain Lodge, Andrew serves as Head Guide. Andrew’s abilities are limitless, but his specializes in ’changing lives’. For those who have never met Andrew, rest assured his charisma is magnetic. We feel very privileged to have Andrew leading the Redoubt Mountain Lodge guides.

Josh Smith: Josh returns to Redoubt Mountain Lodge as not only a fishing & wilderness guide but also as Head Casting Instructor. If you have ever wanted to learn to fly cast or simply improve, Josh is a professor in the school of fly fishing. Good fisherman will imitate him, experts will respect him and all will enjoy their time with him

Danielle Hildebrand: Ensuring our guests have everything they need at RML, Danielle provides the ultimate customer service. Danielle is a specialist when it comes to creating a welcoming atmosphere. After a long days work it is not uncommon for Danielle to serenade guests on her guitar around the bonfire. Redoubt Mountain Lodge is proud to have Danielle returning for her 2nd season.

Adam Bernero: Back by popular demand, Adam brings with him a wealth of life experiences. An avid traveler, there are very few places he hasn’t caught fish or taken photos. As a former professional baseball player, Adam keeps his glove close by…in case guests want to play catch with a big leaguer. RML is fortunate to have Adam on our team.

Jess Dancer: To say Jess is thrilled to be a guide at Redoubt Mountain Lodge would be a understatement. Jess has the knowledge and talent to teach everything needed to know for an unforgettable experience in Lake Clark National Park. Redoubt Mountain Lodge welcomes Jess as an exciting part of our admired collection of guides.

K’eyush: She is an extraordinary security system working for a few treats and a belly rub. Serving her fourth season at RML, K’eyush has been chasing bears since she was a pup. Whether greeting guests upon arrival or joining guests for a hike, she’s always on patrol.

To learn more about each staff member, please click HERE.

This year, the Sockeye, also known as Reds, are rolling all over each other at Crescent Lake. They have returned to their traditional spots, as well as moved to new locations on the river to spawn. The plethora of salmon have made many a guest happy, including Brannon Napoleon Riddle. At age 83, he is still one of the best Sockeye fisherman this lodge has ever seen; bringing in limits of chrome bright fish in record time. Guests like die-hard fisherman, Brannon, spend the morning fishing to their hearts content, to return to the lodge for a wonderful home cooked lunch and then get right back on the boat for another round.

Whether your interest is battling with robust Sockeye, or developing your techniques with fly fishing on our plentiful Dolly Varden and lake trout; Redoubt offers a multitude of fishing experiences for all. Our waters beckon the seasoned fisherman and those who want to be taught by the best; our guides are here to make your trip exactly what you want it to be. The Kronshage family of Texas spent the morning catching Reds, and finished off the afternoon with each of the seven family members landing a King Salmon of epic proportions. Posing with a giant King, or Chinook Salmon, is quite a highlight and wonderful story to take home to friends and family. With the pictures to prove it, of course!

This year the lodge has also added new hikes created personally for our guests. The Bithell Family being the first to venture to our newest waterfall hike. With the high snow peaks melting, the fresh clear water runs fast to form beautiful waterfalls surrounding the area, inviting the adventurous to hike up and take pictures worthy of a professional postcard. There is also a new hike to the snow bowl that can be easily viewed from the Lodge’s large picture windows, or from your very own cabin. The enticingly smooth white scoop cradled in ragged peaks of the mountains beckons you to get a closer look firsthand. The hikes vary from intermediate to challenging, depending on one’s personal preference.

One of the best parts about Redoubt Mountain Lodge is the bear viewing. With the Sockeye piling in, the bears come a’calling after their long winter naps. When out on the water with one of our guides, you can hear stories about our “regulars”, see them frolic and take photos without even needing the zoom on your camera. The bear viewing experience at Redoubt Mountain is unique and wonderful. The bears are many and constantly in view as they try to fatten themselves up with the bounty of fish spawning at the shores. See a mama bear teach her baby how to eat on its own. A one year cub just bigger than an oversized teddy bear batting playfully at the fish makes for a great Alaskan experience, and one heck of a story.

This season is already flying by, guests doing everything from fishing and kayaking to hiking and relaxing. A micro beer on tap and the cedar plank hot tub are an excellent way to end the day after battling salmon on the river. The experience at Redoubt Mountain Lodge is one of a kind; we await our new visitors and welcome back our old friends.

The Alaskan Summer Solstice is an astronomical event that happens once each year, as the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined toward the sun, causing the Sun’s apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost extreme. Translated from latin meaning “sun standing still,” the apparent movement of the sun’s path north comes to a stop before reversing direction.

June 20th – July 4th still has availability for those looking for an amazing Alaskan vacation. Soak up the midnight sun and exhaust yourself with endless adventure. Spend a day exploring the Chigmit Mountain Range through our numerous hiking options. Tour the lake and inlet river by kayak taking in all the sights & sounds of pure wilderness. Stand waist deep in pristine water casting for beautiful fish. Or just relax on the deck overlooking the lake with a glass of wine and a good book.

King Salmon on the Nushagak River and big Trout & Char at Redoubt! Take advantage of a 3-day/3-night package that includes a fly-out from RML to the most productive King fishery in Alaska, the Nushagak River. Please click here for details

For those interested in photography but unable to attend either of the professionally held workshops, rest assured you will be taken care of by RML guides Daniel Wood & Adam Bernero. Both very passionate and skilled in photography, spend your days with either of them and capture all that Lake Clark National Park has to offer.

With a recent cancellation, peak Sockeye Salmon days have become available for (2) people July 20th – 23rd. Also available are a few slots for dynamite Silver Salmon fishing. All the Cohos are extremely fresh and very irritable creating constant action and acrobatic displays. Available dates include: August 17 – 20, 29 – September 2.

If you have ever wanted to experience Alaska’s fall, join us September 20th – 23rd. The secret about fall is getting out and becoming increasingly popular. Hillsides bursting with color, ridiculous amounts of bears & wildlife and unbelievable fishing. The Silvers are still running strong while the Dolly Varden & Arctic Char continue to get huge gorging on eggs. Flesh patterns, beads, glo-bugs, yarn, spinners, jigs, bare hooks…you name it & these fish will hit it!

2010 is looking to be a great year at Redoubt Mountain Lodge. Numerous groups have already landed dates while a strong run of inquires are arriving daily. For those in search of an unforgettable Alaskan adventure, you will need to “set-the-hook“ immediately on remaining dates.

The 2010 bear viewing promises to be incredible largely due to the numerous sows with 1st year cubs in 2009. 2nd year cubs are so entertaining because this is when the cubs begin applying mother bear’s lessons. Bears’ 2nd year of life is arguably the most important by virtue of it being the last year with mom. A lot of learning & maturing takes place and guests at RML are fortunate enough to be able to observe this. Watch as they clumsily pursue salmon and confront other bears. Remarkable photo opportunities are available due to the bears’ overwhelming curiosity.

We’d also like to let you know that in 2010 Redoubt Mountain Lodge will have a new addition to our fleet of boats. An 18ft pontoon boat will be available providing another option when on the water. Whether viewing scenery & wildlife, photographing bears or simply enjoying an evening cruise around the lake, we are certain you’ll delight in its comfort.

To improve our fishing program, RML is now outfitted with numerous fly rods including 5 & 6 weights for the Trout & Char and 8 weights for the Salmon. For ease of travel and packing, breathable chest waders are also available at the lodge. If you are more comfortable with your own gear, please feel free to bring it along.

Please inquire for special packages currently being offered for 2010! For your exclusive Alaskan adventure call or email and we can begin putting together a trip of a lifetime.

From all of us at Redoubt Mountain Lodge, best wishes for a joyous Holiday Season and New Year of health, happiness & adventure!