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TESTIMONIALS
Windsong
Wilderness Retreat was by far our best decision. If you are looking
for the true Alaskan experience away from the hustle and bustle of
society, then this is the real deal. Gary Titus has worked hard to
keep his cabin on Twin Lakes a singular experience for his guests,
where they can truly connect with the beauty of Twin Lakes and
experience it in the way it is intended. It's does not feel like a
tourist lodge, but rather a personal visit.
His cabin provides you with the safety and security of a clean and
tidy roof over your head, while allowing you to live off grid and
work for your comforts a little bit. You'll have the opportunity to
scoop and filter water from the lake, cook over a propane stove, and
hand wash your dishes like momma used to make you. I found myself so
much more mindful of my resources, waste, and habits. It was
refreshing to simplify the routine tasks of daily living.
Some may come to Twin Lakes to simply enjoy the beauty with a good
percolated cup of coffee, but if you are like us, you come for
adventure. Twin Lakes gave us all we could handle and then some. We
took daily hikes ranging in difficulty and level of danger, but
always beautiful! With access to the boat, we hiked Teetering Rock,
Emerson Creek, Falls Mountain, the Cowgill Benches, and the lake
shore from the cabin. Each offered us a different perspective of the
area and provided as much or little challenge as we wished to take
on for the day. It was as easy as the uphill hike to Teetering Rock
behind Dick Proenekke's cabin or the full scale summit of the
trail-less Falls Mountain peak.
When at the cabin, we had opportunities to fish off the dock, hand
feed the jays leftover pancakes off the front porch, or watch the
bears and wildlife through the spotting scope. On a rainy day you
can pick a book or compilation of local history from Gary's
extensive collection in the cabin while you watch the ducks tool
around the dock. There was not one day of boredom or lack of things
to do. In fact, we got fogged in an extra day, which we considered a
gift.
But the best part of a stay at Windsong has to be learning from
Gary's impressive life experiences as a "real" Alaskan. Arriving in
Alaska after college with only a backpack, Gary has lived the
Alaskan dream that so many seek. His vast knowledge of oral
histories, locations, and wildlife can't be quantified. Those who
are lucky enough to pick his brain for an hour or two will find as
much unique Alaska lore as any book or tv show could hope to
provide.
It was with great effort and resources that we got to Windsong, but
we certainly hope to return again one day.
Tom, Erinn, Ozzy
Jankowski 2020
https://www.hoosierhiking.com/lake-clark-national-park.html
Summer of 2019: “If you are at that point in life where you still
want to do adventurous trips but no longer want to carry a 50 lb.
backpack for hours hiking into back country and set up camp in the
dark - then Gary’s WINDSONG WILDERNESS RETREAT cabin is for you.
That’s what I and my High School buddies had decided for our annual
‘Guy Trip’. WINDSONG CABIN is ‘back country’ enough for anyone. The
only other person, beside Gary, that we saw in the week we stayed,
was one of the Park Rangers; and that was for about an hour while
visiting the famous Dick Proenneke cabin on the other side of the
lake. The guest cabin, built entirely by Gary, was well appointed
enough to provide basic comforts of a propane stove and
refrigerator, games, wood stove, and a short walk to the outhouse,
sauna and an outdoor shower. That left plenty of time to fish the
lake, hike into surrounding valleys of fields of blueberries (and
bear, dall sheep and moose) or up to the surrounding mountain peaks,
or just sit on the bench swing and read while the Grey Jay’s hovered
around looking for a handout. A perfect mixture of rustic comfort,
and wilderness appeal. Not to be missed."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KJIdORI2GM
Ron Bowman, Larry Griffith, Warren Kinney
A stay at Windsong Wilderness Retreat
is an adventure of a lifetime! The cabin provided all the perfect
amenities for backcountry relaxation- a fully equipped kitchen,
comfortable beds, and books and games for rainy days. The sauna and
picking fresh blueberries were special treats! Gary is a fantastic
host and meets you upon arrival. Though he isn't a guide, Gary can
make recommendations for where to hike, fish and see wildlife
through the spotting scope. I recommend this trip to anyone who
would like to truly get away and experience Alaska.
2019, Erica Curry (and David, Emily
and Vince)
In
August, my husband and I spent a wonderful three days at Windsong
Wilderness Retreat. Our host, Gary was fantastic. Gary personally
knew Dick for many years, so he shared several interesting personal
stories. Joe and Gary had a good time hiking behind Dick's
cabin. We had full use of Gary's boat to go exploring. On our last
night, Gary caught a beautiful lake trout for our dinner.
The cabin was immaculate with the added bonus of a propane
refrigerator and stove. The cabin was comfortable, serene and
beautiful. We would highly recommend Windsong to those travelers
who are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime wilderness experience.
Sherrie Temple 2016
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Four
of us (two couples) enjoyed a six night stay in the Windsong Cabin
on Twin Lakes in June 2016. My husband and I are long-time Alaskans
and have experienced much of Alaska. For example, we’ve kayaked on
the Wood Tik Chik Lake system, backpacked across Unalaska, and
canoed down the Ivishak and other “wild and scenic” arctic rivers.
Lake Clark National Park has been on our radar for years as another
special Alaskan region we wanted to explore. We are now older and
want to be in wilderness but also enjoy a few more comforts. The
Windsong Cabin on Twin Lakes was perfect. Compared to other
backcountry lodging options in SW Alaska, the cabin is an excellent
value. We flew in from Anchorage because of convenience, but could
also have flown in from Soldotna. The owner of Windsong Cabin, Gary
Titus, greeted us when we arrived and provided a helpful
orientation. Gary Titus is a retired federal game warden and the
author of a book about Andrew Berg, one of the first big game guides
in Alaska. Gary’s in-depth knowledge about the history and geography
of Twin Lakes greatly enhanced our experience.
The propane frig and stove in the cabin were luxuries for us. Cabin
arrangements were well thought out, with good natural lighting and
seating to take advantage of the wonderful view. The outhouse was
recently constructed, with absolutely no odor. The skiff provided
allowed us to explore the country around the
upper lake. Our primary interest was hiking. We took five different
day hikes--to Teetering Rock behind Dick Proenneke’s cabin, Emerson
Creek, the “Bear Mountain” drainage, and up Low and Birch Passes.
This is cross country hiking (no trails) at its best. The terrain
is generally open, with good visibility.
A
highlight on one of our hikes was watching a grizzly plowing like a
bulldozer through mounds of dirt, unearthing an arctic ground
squirrel. Although other visitors to the cabin in the past have
mentioned black bears in the vicinity of the cabin, this was not a
concern during our visit. None of us are avid fishermen, but we
caught enough grayling for one dinner and prided ourselves on
leaving lots of fish for others to catch. We fished because,
unusually for June, we were weathered in for one night.
Fortunately, I had booked a refundable ticket for the return leg of
the flight from Anchorage to our home in SE Alaska. Windsong Cabin
is a comfortable way to experience a breathtakingly beautiful and
wild location in Alaska. Anyone who experiences it is indeed
fortunate!
Mary Therese Thompson and Peter Gorman 2016
From September 10
until September 15, 2016 my two brothers, my brother in law and I
stayed at the Windsong Wilderness Retreat, Twin Lakes, Lake Clark
NP. Having traveled around the world, including many parts of
Alaska, this is the most gorgeous place I have ever visited. The
mountain scenery, the autumn colors, the blue water of the lakes, it
was absolutely breathtaking! The cabin was excellent and considering
the remoteness of the place, a 5 star accommodation. Gary has a true love of nature and knows everything
about the wilderness. And beside this, he is a very nice person and
we all appreciated his company. Walking in bear
country in a trail less wilderness we felt safe with him. Dall
sheep are our favorite animals and we were able to watch them from a
very short distance. This was not a vacation, this was a life
experience. All four of us recommend the Windsong Wilderness Retreat
from the bottom of our hearts!
Amsterdam, Tony (Ton), Josh (Jos),
Albert/Alfred (Arpad) and Art (Ad)
I have been lucky
enough to travel all over the world, but I don't think I have ever
seen a prettier place than Twin Lakes. We spent five days there last
summer (2013), and wished we could have stayed much longer. The cabin
is great, and the scenery stunning. We did a lot of hiking and a fair
bit of fishing. I have never tasted anything as good as the
fresh-caught lake trout we fried up in the cabin - unless it was the
blueberry pancakes, made with wild blueberries we picked up on the
Cowgill Benches overlooking the lake. We hardly saw a soul the whole
time, unless you count the bears! It is a truly magical place, and I
look forward to going back.
Phyllis Dawson
My brother and I
visited
Windsong Wilderness
Retreat in August of 2012 and I can't say enough great things about
the experience and the service Gary provided before and after the
trip. Our primary goal was to fish and we
lost track of the number of fish we landed. We only needed to keep one
fish per day to feed us both. We ate like kings!
The accommodations
offered a wonderful balance between the right about of "roughing it"
and all the comforts of home. We didn't miss electricity for a second!
The quiet and stillness of this remote place was just what we needed
to reset our internal batteries and to take stock of the important
things in life.
I have to say, having
the only boat on the lake was a thrill for us - coming from areas of
the country where fisherman are elbow to elbow at times, it was great
to experience the solitude of the wilderness (from the boat as well as
from land).
My brother and I hope
to be back some day as soon as our schedules permit. (If it were up to
me, I would spend a month there every summer)
Stan Sparrow,
Phoenix Arizona
http://stansparrow..com/Twin%20Lakes%20AK.html
Hi Gary,
We had an awesome time at Wind Song
(2013) and can't wait to come back. We hiked every day and decided
Emerson Falls was our favorite hike. We really enjoyed the use of the
boat as well and taking a tour around Dick's cabin. We saw a Lynx up
close our very first hour at Twin Lake, very exciting!
The little jay bird was a cool touch to the place as well. Thanks
again, can't wait to return.
Patti and Jason
In August 2012 my wife Roberta, our two sons
Carlo Alberto 8,and Lorenzo 5, and I visited Windsong Wilderness
Retreat . 1 hour after we were left on the shore by the plane, a
female black bear with her cub come and visited us. I still have in my
eyes the excitement of the kids, coming from a big industrial Italian
city and finally experiencing what they have been seeing for long in
TV.
We still have great memories and I firmly believe that thanks to
diving form the pier, fishing, feeding the jays, playing with the
squirrels, it was the best holiday they ever spent so far!
Hope to be back sooner or later.
Giovanni- Torino-Italy
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