McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

I had applied to many places for seasonal work through Alaska.  When Rick called to interview me for a housekeeping position, we talked for about a half hour before he asked me to come in a week earlier to fill a lead position.  more

Rick - Hotel Services Manager

I began working for Princess Tours in 1999 while in college. Truth be told, I was looking for nothing more than a fun summer job in an exotic location. Eight years later what I found was a career in one of the most beautiful locations on earth working with people I truly respect and admire.  more

Mindy - Human Resources Manager

While working as an associate academic advisor my final year at UW Madison, a fellow colleague was always sharing stories of her post college experience with Princess.  The lure of the backpack-able “Final Frontier” paired with her recommendation had me scanning the web for any positions loosely related to the field of recreation.  By April of 2006, I’d packed the car and hit the highway....more

Bella - Outfitter - 1st. Season

This is where my story begins...February 2007 Gold Canyon RV & Golf Resort, Gold Canyon, Arizona
 
"I'm thinking it's about time for a cruise this summer.  What do you think, Bella?" asks my sister, Karen.  We had just emerged from the swimming pool and doing our exercise routine.  Toweling off and ready to bask in the sunshine beneath the tall palm trees, it was hard to imagine needing a vacation from this beautiful cactus strewn environment.  Besides, I had been spending my retirement funds like there was tomorrow and now tomorrow was coming.  more 

Bella - Trapper Creek Homestead Tour

A mother could be proud of a daughter like Janelle.  Raised in the wilderness since age three, Janelle is the essence of what it means to be Alaskan.  Although there is power and water in the original homestead which her parents built with their own hands, she herself now lives simply without these amenities by choice.  more

Bella - Working at Mt. McKinley Wilderness Lodge

The total Alaskan experience just couldn't be better!  Just let your jaw drop in amazement at this news, because I have lived alone for five years...more 

Bella - Tokosha Denali RiverRide and Homestead Adventure

What are my expectations?  My expectation slate is blank.  One moment at a time the picture begins to form and take on breath-taking shapes.  Imagine it is like the changing images before your eyes when gazing into a magical kaleidoscope.  The clouds overhead swirl and shift, casting light and shadow on the cascading river below.  Precarious banks stretch beyond our sight, while the trees' roots cling tenaciously to their moors.  The original shoreline has succumbed to the rigors of raging winter storms and receded from somewhere near the center to its present state.  The waters spread its strands narrow and wide and from the air resembling a braid.  It is a living entity, moving, devouring, recreating, expanding, flooding, and receding in awesome power.  It provides the source of sustenance for the wildlife that dwells within it and those along its shores.  Men...more

Bella - Byers Lake Paddle Trip

Craig, the driver for the River Guides, picked up a couple and me at the Tour Desk, escorted us to his van and off we drove to Byers Lake.  He was friendly and welcoming and shared stories of last Augusts’ flood damage.  We even saw a...more

Bella - Land of the Midnight Sun

We are living long with 19 hours of daylight at the moment.  I think I actually have more energy from the sun!  But when it goes down, so do I.  One of the trails here has been...more

Bella - Devil's Canyon River Boat Tour

I had the best day off on Tuesday.  The enclosed river boat had 18 passengers heading out for a five hour journey on the Susitna River, 130 miles round trip.  It traveled at 35 mph wending its way through thickly forested shorelines.  Eli was the young native pilot, and the two naturalists, Angela and Megan, very pretty young girls, also were mixed Eskimo and Athabascan native Alaskans.   more

Derrick - Front Desk Agent - Plant City, FL

I had initially planned a large scale trip across Canada in order to celebrate the completion of my formal education. Somehow, when planning this trip I came across an ad that gave me the idea of pursuing seasonal work. Working and living in Alaska would give me the opportunity to thoroughly experience interior Alaska while not draining my bank account in the process. Having nothing to lose, I submitted my application online for various positions at three random properties across Alaska. Less than a week later, I was surprised to... more

Carmello - Sous Chef

I came to Alaska last season as a student on my externship for school. I had no plans for Alaska on my list but when the window of opportunity opened, I jumped... more

Robert - Food & Beverage Supervisor

As a supervisor, I have been able to develop my management skills here at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. . Since my arrival, I have felt like I was part of a family. I have found many life-long-friends and even...more

Cody - Social Coordinator

My name is Cody and I am the Social Coordinator for the 2008 MPL Season. I come from Tiffin, OH, where I spent the last 3 1/2 years attending Heidelberg College, majoring in Music (Voice Performance) and Psychology. I began my search for summer employment in mid-November when I decided that I would like to take the next semester off school and focus on some...more