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

You and Windsong have become an integral part of our Alaska slide show that we share with anyone willing to sit through it!   I so love telling the stories of you and your wonderful retreat, your daily viewing of the Bear Channel (Funny but we don’t get that down here),the overall comfort of the cabin,and what a tremendous host you are.  You and your cabins are such a wonderful gift to those of us fortunate enough to have discovered them.  As we share our photos and tell our stories of our adventures there, our friends drool with envy.  

Lucky us  :))))). Mickey and Sue 2018

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

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 Pass. 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

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)