A father at 85 trained, planned, and joined his child on a six-day bucket-list trip to Alaska’s remote Katmai National Park—riding a tiny seaplane, touring Brooks Camp and Brooks Falls, and even spotting brown bears and caribou along the way. The experience re
When the tiny seaplane finally approached Alaska’s remote Katmai National Park, the moment felt like more than just a getaway. From the seat behind me, my 85-year-old dad squeezed my shoulder—hard—like he couldn’t quite believe what was happening.
The roar of the engine swallowed conversation, but it didn’t swallow his excitement. He leaned toward the window as we neared the water. and his mood told the story: when he spotted a herd of caribou galloping along the river below us. he lit up instantly. Then, as the seaplane dipped closer to the water, we saw our first brown bear of the trip. It was half submerged in the river, swiping a fat, pink salmon with its enormous paw. We were awestruck, and for a second I couldn’t believe we were experiencing it together.
I knew the trip sounded—at least on paper—unimaginable and a little worrisome. Exploring the Alaskan wilderness with an 85-year-old is a leap. But my dad proved to me it was possible.
He loves traveling, but he had never been to a national park before. Still. when I invited him on a six-day excursion to Alaska—including a visit to Katmai National Park to see the famous brown bears—he didn’t hesitate. He immediately said yes. even though it meant trusting me to guide him in one of the most remote places in the country.
In the months leading up to it, my concern didn’t disappear. Yes, he was in amazing shape for his age. Still, I worried the wilderness would push him further than he expected. To get ready, he supplemented his regular workouts—weekly pilates and gym sessions—with long walks to build endurance. He also backed that training up with preparation for the trip itself: we stocked up on guidebooks. thoroughly researched travel options. made a packing list. and watched YouTube videos so we would know what to expect when we arrived in Katmai.
Once we were there. even all that research couldn’t fully capture what it felt like to step out of the seaplane when it landed. Exiting the aircraft was challenging for both of us. After we deboarded. I carried his new backpack so he could focus on balancing as we walked along the bobbing. narrow float until the water gave way to the beach.
Then the real tension arrived—not fear exactly. but that instinctive awareness when you’re walking into a place where the wildlife is not a distant idea. Along the sandy trail leading to the Brooks Camp Ranger Station, every sound made our heads turn. We kept wondering if it would be our first on-the-ground bear sighting.
After a mandatory safety lesson, we headed toward Brooks Falls, one of the best places to view and photograph the bears. When we spotted the first bear emerge from the brush, we froze. We watched in wonder as if movement might break the spell.
While we waited our turn to step into one of the area’s most coveted viewing spots. I noticed something that stayed with me the entire day: my dad was older than anyone else on the platform. Yet he didn’t act like it. He wore the moment the way you’d expect any seasoned traveler to—backpack on, curiosity fully engaged.
Once we were on the viewing platform. we laughed when we saw one particularly large bear lose its footing and tumble down the falls. The bear then popped up victoriously with a prized salmon hanging from its mouth. Laughing with my dad in that moment made me feel like a kid again. In my head, it erased the number I’d been worrying about for months. In that place, in that instant, what mattered wasn’t age—it was being there, together, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
As we explored deeper in the park, I found another quiet surprise. My dad stopped to admire the wildflowers more often than I expected. Normally, he walks quickly with a destination in mind, but in Katmai, he slowed down to photograph bright-pink fireweed and purple lupine along the trails.
Seeing him take on this adventure was inspiring—especially because it wasn’t just about enduring a destination. It was about opening up to it. And it left me with a specific thought I didn’t have before: I hope to have the same curiosity and sense of adventure as my dad when I’m in my 80s.
I feel lucky to have a father who still wants to experience firsts, even in his 80s. For him, getting older doesn’t mean his world is getting smaller. Watching him embrace a place as wild and remote as Katmai National Park reminded me that curiosity doesn’t have an age limit.
To me, he is proof that you never have to stop seeking adventure, no matter your age.
Katmai National Park Alaska travel brown bears Brooks Falls seaplane aging 85-year-old family travel caribou salmon fireweed purple lupine