I've been coming to these facilities regularly now for almost 20 years. On several of those occasions I've been there teaching photography workshops. As background, I should point out that I've been to quite a few of the current entrants and a several that aren't currently nominated but probably should be. That includes many sites in Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America.

The thing about Camp Denali/North Face Lodge that is unique is that they walk the talk, and always have. Every time I've been there I find new efforts on their part to reduce their impact while increasing their educational and first-hand experiences for visitors. I understand that this year they're experimenting with adding some solar collection, even though the extreme Northern location and finicky weather makes the payback equation very long term, at best. The point I'd make about that is that it shows their commitment to trying new approaches to reduce impact, even if there is little or no fiscal payback to the facility. Even though this is a for-profit organization, I've never known the Coles to put profit before doing the right thing. Indeed, it seems as if any profit they do make is put into making the facilities even more low impact and sustainable.

One little known fact is that North Face Lodge is actually a recycled building (well, at least the guest rooms). The guest rooms are actually worker trailers used in building of the Alaskan pipeline, brought into the park, placed together, and then a new roof and exterior paneling placed around them. You'd never know it from facilities: they look like a modern, regular building. But again, this just shows one of the many ways in which the Cole family has been thinking, and continues to think, creativity and with regard for keeping their overall impact low.

And don't dismiss those bikes they have available. A few years back I was teaching a photo workshop there and we decided to spend the day at a beaver pond a couple miles away. Normally, workshop leaders just ask for use of a vehicle to transport their group (which, by the way, Camp Denali and North Face Lodge generally DISCOURAGE--they try to keep the use of their vehicles minimized to keep both environmental and visual impacts down). But I had my group immediately grab the bikes (I, too, like to keep impacts down). And I have to tell you, we had more fun that day than I've had at any workshop, despite getting wet, muddy, and not getting very many pictures. Instead, we had a very close-to-nature and enjoyable experience that you often can't get at other so-called eco tourism lodges. Almost everything at these two facilities caters to just that: close-to-nature, educational, spiritually uplifting, and dedicated to keeping the experience personal and not the usual "Denali bus tour" most people experience at this park.

I wholeheartedly support this entrant, and I'll bet you that anyone else who's ever been there will, too.

Thom Hogan
writer/photographer
www.bythom.com

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Support for the Camp Denali and North Face Lodge

I have visited this place the very first time in 1996 in the age of 39. In that time, after “velvet” revolution in the Central Europe after many years of dreaming and planning I was enabled visit and study conservation and sustainable tourism management in US and Canada.

I was lucky man because I was able to stay in the Camp Denali and North Face Lodge as a volunteer for all summer. That experience shocked and changed my whole life. In a very first time I was able to see and learn how wilderness protection and sustainable tourism can be merged and marriage.

My specific position in the Camp Denali and North Face Lodge [I was there a very first volunteer from former Eastern Europe] enable me to learn full picture about philosophy, vision and long-term goals of this place. Simultaneously with this strategic information I learned during day-by-day hand on work about implementation of this philosophy into everyday life. I have learned that philosophy is not only on paper but deeply etched in the mind of owner and systematically disseminated to the mind of staff and guests. Simply I started to learn that wilderness protection and sustainable tourism can become way of life.

The impact of that experience on my soul was so strong that I did everything possible to take my all family to that place next summer [including two daughters in the age of 13 and 15]. Now after more than 10 years it's very obvious that this experience completely re-shaped they way of life. Both daughters graduated at Faculty of Ecology… and until now recalling that experience.

Combination of wilderness ethic and responsible approach to sustainable tourism in this extremely fragile environment stayed never-ending inspiration for my work. Even today I use experience learnt during two summers in the Camp Denali and North Face Lodge in my daily work. Currently as PAN Parks Foundation Conservation Manager I implement that experience in the network of the best-managed wilderness protected areas in Europe where nature conservation is married with sustainable tourism.

All elements of the Camp Denali and North Face Lodge philosophy together with small details of everyday management e.g. composting of suitable food and grounds waste for use in organic greenhouse or environmentally safer cleaned products, etc was strong inspiration to formulate the overall the PAN Parks wilderness conservation and sustainable tourism concept and strategy.

Commitment and contribution of owner of the Camp Denali and North Face Lodge to the protection of Denali wilderness is frequently used example and argument to motivate and inspire the members of PAN Parks network in Europe.

Particularly strong inspiration is partnership of the Camp Denali and North Face Lodge with the National Park Service and active involvement in order to preserve the park wilderness character. This experience together with a strong advocacy of concept a “leave no trace” in wilderness environment becomes a baseline of PAN Parks concept developed and implemented in the last 10 years in Europe.

I fully support this entrant on the behalf of PAN Parks Foundation colleagues, members of the PAN Parks network and obviously on the behalf of my family - wife Eva and both daughters Lucia and Vika - and myself.

Vlado Vancura

vvancura@panparks.org

PAN Parks Conservation Manager

www.panparks.org

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