Joe Kishazy takes a pie in the face from Colin Burrows / Photo courtesy Princess Lodges

The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge hosted its annual benefit for the Copper River Emergency Medical Services on Aug. 18. The Pie in the Face event encouraged lodge staff to purchase pies to throw at a supervisor, manager or fellow employees, with proceeds benefiting the local emergency service.

The pies sold at four levels: whipped cream ($5), whipped cream with chocolate ($10), whipped cream and other oddities ($20) and the mother of all pies ($50). The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge raised $610.

“It was a lot of fun and quite messy. There were many smiles and it was just a great way for the staff and Lodge to offer some support to our volunteer emergency medical response team,” said Tracy Smith, general manager of the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge.

Princess employees pose for a photo after the Pie in the Face fundraiser. Standing, L-R: Donny Whitehead, Rebecca Martz, Rob Hansen, Nicole Gardner, Ashley Howlan, Justin Prince, Marcus Green-Hatcher, Jason Muck, David Horn, Jermaine Brown, Kayla Saitta, Joe Kishazy, Sarah Schoolcraft, Tony Courts, Lauren Miller. Seated, L-R: Colin Burrows, Mac Sheridan, Melissa Johnson, Tracy Smith. / Photo courtesy Princess Lodges

The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge / Photo courtesy Princess Lodges

To get a better idea of what activities are popular from the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge we spoke with General Manager, Tracy Smith.

The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge is situated on 200 acres at the junction of the Klutina and Copper Rivers, right by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the United States. Fittingly, Smith said one of the area’s most popular attractions is the park’s visitor center.

“There are presentations through out the day and Ranger-lead walks and talks,” Smith said.

Another nearby attraction is the George Ashby Memorial Museum. The museum is housed in two rustic log cabins and offers a glimpse into Alaska’s past with photographs and artifacts

“They learn about the gold rush history of the area. It’s really neat,” Smith said.

Visitors looking to learn more about Alaska and its indigenous populations also enjoy the Ahtna Heritage Foundation Cultural Center.

The center has displays of traditional Native crafts, including moosehide and birchbark items and beaded objects. There is also a large fish wheel that was a collaborative project with Princess Lodges.

For more ideas about activities at the Copper River Princess Lodge, check out this blog post about lodge excursions and also read about nearby Kennecott Mine.

The ruins of the 1900-era Kennecott copper mine in Wrangell-St Elias National Park. Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage.

Located in Eastern Alaska, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest national park in the United States. Its 13.2 million acres form an area larger than Rhode Island and Vermont combined.

Amongst the mountains and wilderness are the historic towns of McCarthy and Kennicott and the Kennecott Mine (a clerical worker misspelled Kennicott). The town is being preserved by the National Park Service, with rangers leading tours past the huge mill, bunkhouses, a train depot, worker’s cottages and a power plant. Kennecott was designated a National Historic Landmark since 1986 and is considered the best remaining example of early 20th Century copper mining. From 1911 to 1938, nearly $200 million worth of copper was processed in the area.

The Kennecott mine produced 591,000 tons of pure copper before closing in 1938. Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage.

The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge is perfectly positioned to be part of your trip to see the Kennecott Mine. Located near milepost 102 on the Richardson Highway, the lodge is situated on 200 acres at the junction of the Klutina and Copper Rivers. From the Copper River Lodge, it’s about 50 miles to Chitna. Travel to McCarthy and Kennicott from Chitna requires driving a 60-mile gravel McCarthy Road built on the Northwest-Copper River Railroad bed right of way. The road was known for being rough in the past, but was designated a scenic corridor and major upgrading began in 2006. Those uncomfortable driving can easily arrange to take a flight or shuttle into town.

Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Kristen Kemmerling

The world famous Kenai River king salmon fishery closed July 31, but there are still plenty of fish runs around the state that don’t even start getting hot until August. Here’s a roundup of great fishing excursions near some of Princess’ lodges.

Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

With six different major fisheries less than an hour and a half drive from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, bank fishing excursions are the perfect getaway. The Kenai River, known for its King (or Chinook) salmon and early Sockeye salmon run, is flooded with silver (coho) salmon during the month of August.

A late sockeye salmon run during the first three weeks in August attracts anglers to the Kenai River. The Russian, Kasilof, Deep Creek, Ninilchik and Anchor Rivers are also known for great fishing during the late summer months.

Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

If you’re looking for a less well-known, but equally exhilarating fishing experience, check out the Copper and Klutina Rivers near the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. As the Sockeye run comes to an end midway through August, fishermen will begin to see runs of Coho salmon that will last through the end of September in both rivers.

Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge

The Tanana River, a tributary of the Yukon River, passes directly through the city of Fairbanks. Larger tributaries, the Nenana and the Kantishna Rivers, are within driving distance as well. During August and September the rivers are great places to fish for Coho and Pink (Chum) salmon. The Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge‘s location on the banks of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks provides easy access to the area’s fishing hot spots.

Tracy Smith, Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge general manager, along with Gregory Sports and Bob Chase of the lodge

Last month, members of the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge celebrated the completion of a fish wheel and diagram sign at the Wrangell St. Elias National Park’s Visitor Center. The two-year project was a collaboration between Princess and Ahtna Incorporated, an Alaska Native Corporation located in the area.

Gregory Sports and Bob Chase of the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

Copper River Princess staff donated the diagram and worked on research and development of it with Ahtna. The diagram describes how fish wheels are used as part of the subsistence lifestyle practiced in Alaska.

The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge adopted a mile of the Richardson Highway

In July, Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge employees supported their commitment to an adopted mile on the Richardson Highway. A group of eight employees volunteered their time (well, they did receive some ice cream) to clean up the mile. They had a great time and picked up a good amount of trash.

Vadim Bizga, Ile Taneski, Sarah Lafferty and Patrick Parriott (left to right) work to clean up the highway. Photo courtesy Princess Lodges.

Lodge employees (left to right) David Jonas, Dustin Ward, Patrick Parriott, Sarah Lafferty, Jessica Weaver, Vadim Bizga and Ile Taneski show off bags of the trash they picked up. Photo courtesy Princess Lodges.

Kennicott Glacier flows south from the Wrangell Mountains in Wrangell-St Elias National Park.

Located at the junction of the Klutina and Copper Rivers, The Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge is perfectly situated to take in the magnificent scenery of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Whether you want to spend your days hiking on land, floating on the water, soaring in a flight seeing plane or mushing behind a dog team, there are plenty of ways for you to enjoy the sights of America’s largest national park. Here are a couple popular activities at the Copper River Lodge:

WORTHINGTON GLACIER HIKE
The hike starts with a van through the spectacular scenery of Thompson Pass with Worthington Glacier dominating the landscape. At the Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site an experienced guide helps participants strap crampons on their shoes, then its time to hike and explore the crevasses and sculptured ice. After a lunch break, the hike heads further up the glacier to take in intricate ice formations and expansive views of the Chugach Mountains.

HISTORIC KENNICOTT & WRANGELL-ST. ELIAS FLIGHTSEEING
With over 20,000 square miles of roadless wilderness, flying is an incredible way to see and experience the wonders of the beautiful park. The tour’s first stop is the frontier town of McCarthy. The copper mines in the area produced over $207 million before they were abandoned more than 100 years ago. The post office, saloon, and many of the original structures still stand. Next, stop for lunch in Kennicott and tour the copper mine. Visitors will learn about one of the richest copper discoveries in history and hear stories of how people lived and worked in this remote, mountain wilderness.

SALMON FISHING BY RAFT – HALF OR FULL DAY OPTION
Novice or professional, take a half or full day floating trip down the scenic tributaries of the Copper River and fish for world famous, trophy-sized salmon. Your guide will take you to either the Gulkana or Klutina Rivers. Depending on the season, visitors can fish for king or sockeye salmon. The excursion includes fishing gear, a personal floatation device and food. Caught fish can even be processed, frozen and shipped.

SLED DOG DEMONSTRATION AND RIDE
Meet a local musher and his dog sled team and learn how dogs are kept in shape during the summer months. Native Alaskans used dog sleds to haul food and to pull heavy loads. During the gold rush, dog sleds brought much-needed supplies over mountain passes and glaciers. When winter’s over, mushers use wheeled carts to keep their dogs fit for winter sporting events and everyday transportation. After a brief demonstration, visitors can experience the strength and enthusiasm of the dogs and take a ride through the wilderness.

For more information on these activities, visit our Copper River excursions page or call 1-800-426-0500.

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Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Fishing gear – if you plan on fishing with a guide, they will supply the gear but if you already know the ropes, don’t forget to pack your pole, tackle, waders, fishing license and of course a big ice chest. Red and king salmon are running right now in the Russian and Kenai rivers and when fall hits, get ready to fish for some silver salmon.
• Rain gear – the weather on the Kenai Peninsula can be a little rainy from time to time so if you pack raingear, it’s guaranteed not to rain (or so the saying goes).

Plan ahead for:

• Traffic – it’s no secret that the area near Cooper Landing has some of the best fishing around so if you’re driving on a weekend, be prepared to share the road with fellow travelers. Luckily, Cooper Landing is just a short two-hour drive from Anchorage and has plenty of pull-offs to stop and enjoy the scenery.
• Reservations – if you’re going to book a fishing charter or rafting trip at the tour desk at this time of year, plan ahead to be sure you get a reservation during peak times.

Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Binoculars – whether you take a flightseeing trip, go on a hike, experience a jet boat ride or take off on an ATV adventure, the views are astounding.
• Your appetite – if you come to Talkeetna, the list of must-try eateries is long. Between the restaurants at the Princess Lodge, the bake shops, pizza joints and a brewery in town, it’s a good thing there are opportunities to walk it off.

Plan ahead for:

• Weather – if you plan on going flightseeing, give yourself an extra day in case weather prevents the trip. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.
• Time to relax – with the Great One right outside the windows, take a seat once in awhile and just relax. Schedule some time to sit in the Great Room, featuring cozy sitting areas, tables and enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.

Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Camera – it sound obvious, but when a brown bear or bull moose crosses your path, you don’t want to be kicking yourself for forgetting the camera at home.
• Good walking/hiking shoes – I’m not suggesting you climb Mount McKinley, but when you’re staying at a location just one mile from the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, your feet will want to explore the grounds (or shop along the promenade).

Plan ahead for:

• Taking the train – we Alaskans are reliant upon our cars (they didn’t invent auto-start for nothing!), but once in awhile, it’s nice to sit back and enjoy the ride. Princess Rail Tours combine the thrill of traveling the Alaska Railroad with one or more nights at either the Denali or Mt. McKinley Princess lodges.
• A trip into the park – at the tour desk, ask about the Tundra Wilderness Tour or Natural History Tour to travel into the park for opportunities to spot wildlife. A long bus trip may sound daunting, but well worth the journey.

Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Sunglasses – with upwards of 20 hours of daylight in the summer, Fairbanks makes you want to stay up and play long into the nighttime hours. The Midnight Sun Dinner and Float trip combines dinner with a late-night float trip down the Chena River.
• Gold mining spirit – with a rich mining history, Fairbanks is packed with opportunities to roll up the sleeves and explore. From the El Dorado Gold Mine Tour to a visit to the Museum of the North, it’s easy to embrace yourself in all that glitters.

Plan ahead for:

• Special events – there is no shortage of things to do and see in Fairbanks, and many weekends are packed with special events like the Tanana Valley State Fair (Aug 6-14).
• A return trip this winter – the only one of Princess’ lodges open all year round, the Fairbanks Princess is available to serve your lodging needs whether you’re coming to enjoy the midnight sun or the northern lights.

Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• An extra large cooler – located at the confluence of the Copper and Klutina rivers, this area is prime for some of the best fishing in the state, only not as many people know about it so there will be plenty of elbow room.
• Road map – if you haven’t been to this area of the state before, there is more to do and see then you might think. Take advantage of the close proximity to Valdez, the Mat-Su Valley and Copper Center regions.

Plan ahead for:

• A trip to McCarthy and Kennicott – one of the most treasured adventures in Alaska, this trip will reveal a location that sprang from the wilderness to support the nearby copper and gold mines. You can book a day trip by air or combine a fly/drive adventure from the Tour Desk.
• Driving time – depending on where you’re coming from, this lodge is a true wilderness escape. It’s located at milepost 102 of the Richardson Highway, approximately two hours north of Valdez and five hours east of Anchorage.