On the day preceding the start of your float trip, you will need to make arrangements to arrive at the Alaskan bush town of Bethel. There are several flights a day into Bethel from Anchorage - any one of them will work, as you'll need to overnight in town anyway. Upon booking, they will make reservations at Papa Bear Adventures' Lakeside Lodge in Bethel, where you will overnight. The cost of this lodging is not included in the package - you may pay the B&B directly upon arrival with credit card, check or cash. Lakeside Lodge will know you are coming - upon arrival in Bethel there will be a representative from Papa Bear Adventures Air Taxi (the flight service that will fly you out the following day to begin your float trip) waiting for you, and will transfer you to the hotel. You will still need to pay for this room (typically less than $100), as it is not a part of your package price. Should they be full, they will find another B&B in Bethel and book you a room – this will cost considerably more, normally between $150-$200.
On the morning of your arrival to the river, Papa Bear Air Taxi will pick you up at the Lakeside Lodge and drive you to where your charter flight is scheduled to depart at approximately 9:00 a.m. In the unlikely event of marginal weather, the flight will be delayed until it is safe to fly. Upon arrival at the upper reaches of the Kanektok (Pegati Lake, the headwaters), you'll be loaded into top quality rafts with custom built floorboards and rowing frames, and begin fishing immediately. You'll split your day between casting to the banks - with your guide keeping you in position with the oars - and wading some of the most productive riffles and runs. Remember, days are long here at this time of year, and each night's campsite is chosen to offer prime fishing for anyone wishing to extend their fishing day after dinner, and before breakfast! For the next week, you'll be floating through some of the most wild, beautiful country Alaska has to offer, catching rainbows, dolly varden, arctic grayling, arctic char and whichever of the seasonal salmon that are migrating- often some combination of kings, chums, silvers, sockeyes or pinks. Each night the crew will have your "sandbar chalet" (top notch, comfortable tents) assembled and waiting. After a hot shower, you'll be treated to the incredible Dutch oven cooking and California wine selection that are a hallmark of these floats. Following dinner, relax, enjoy the incredible country all around you, or re-wader and catch a bunch more fish- it's up to you!
On the seventh day, you'll reach a native village (Quinhagak) at the terminal end of the float, where you'll catch a truck shuttle (at approximately 1 pm) to the local airport. Here there will be a charter flight with Papa Bear Adventures waiting (included in the package price), to fly you back to the town of Bethel, departing Quinhagak about 1:30 pm. You'll need to have arranged a commercial flight from Bethel to Anchorage in advance, departing Bethel in the early evening. You may choose to overnight in Anchorage, or connect to a "redeye" flight back home.
