Blue Mountain Lodge

Tracy Vrem's Blue Mountain Lodge operates from a unique location on Alaska's Peninsula—an abandoned 1950s oil exploration road system accessible only by air. This isolation is the whole point: clients get genuine remote hunting and fishing without crowds or towns nearby.

Tracy holds Alaska Master Guide #96 and his team averages over 12 years of guiding experience each, with some guides working with him for 20 years straight. This isn't a revolving door operation.

The Alaska Peninsula holds one of the highest concentrations of brown bears in the state—roughly 3,000 animals across Becharof and Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuges combined. The bears have abundant food (salmon, berries, moose, caribou, ground squirrels, carrion) and range from mountaintops to seacoast.

The numbers: - Bears average 9+ feet - Success rate over 90% - Guides have harvested many bears over 10 feet from three different hunting concessions - Tracy's hunting areas span the entire width of the Peninsula: Bristol Bay on the west to the Pacific Ocean on the east - Island Arm of Becharof Lake (one concession area) hosts one of the highest densities of brown bears in the refuge - Alternating fall/spring seasons: odd years (2025, 2027) hunt fall; even years hunt spring. After spring season, the Peninsula rests 18 months before fall hunting resumes

The Alaska Peninsula has one of the best moose hunting opportunities in Alaska. The key difference: no timber. Moose can run but they can't hide—they'll eventually show themselves in willow thickets or alder patches.

Results: - Average bull size: 60+ inches - Success rate: over 90% since 1983 - Unit 9E has had the longest minimum size restriction in the state (50 inches or 3 brow tines since late 1970s) - Healthy population maintained by excellent biologists, good habitat, mild winters, and low snow coverage

All moose meat and capes are handled professionally. Over 600 lbs of meat per moose comes out on guides' and packers' backs. Clients take what they want in waxed fish boxes; the rest goes to coastal villages—nothing wasted.

Willow ptarmigan, duck, and goose hunts combine daily guided bird hunting with fly-out fishing excursions. The 5-day, 6-night package includes: - Daily guided hunts on old mining roads - Access to skeet and target shooting area for practice and sighting in - All meals, refreshments, and small game licenses included - New main lodge plus guest cabins with private restrooms and showers

• •Cost: $9,500 (2026)

The fishing is the lodge's original claim to fame. Bristol Bay-area salmon and trout in streams fished only by Blue Mountain Lodge guests. Clients fly out daily with a guide who knows every productive water—many streams are virgin or lightly pressured.

Fish available: - All species of salmon (abundant) - Rainbow trout - Char (Arctic char caught on dry flies and spawn patterns)

Flies are the norm. Lunch is shore-style, often cooking your own catch. Afternoons mean fresh water or moving to new locations. Evening fly-outs to Katmai National Monument and Brooks Lodge to watch brown bears on the falls are on the agenda.

Logistics: - Wheel and float-equipped Cessnas and Piper Super Cubs - Sunday arrival: fly into King Salmon (AKN) 5-7 pm, lodge pickup at 5:30 pm - Saturday departure: lodge departs 9-10:30 am for King Salmon, flights after 12 pm - 50% deposit required to reserve (nonrefundable, but transferable) - Refund available if cancellation occurs 120+ days before trip and trip is resold - Small groups: 2-6 fishermen max (no crowds) - Many clients return year after year since the mid-1980s

"I have fished all over North America and own a lodge myself. I cannot speak highly enough about Blue Mountain Lodge and Tracy. Everything is first class and the fishing is spectacular; the service and attention to detail is great." – Bill

Newly constructed main lodge with guest cabins featuring private restrooms and showers. Family-run operation hosted by Tracy and Linda Vrem. Home-cooked meals served family-style. The road system setup allows clients to hunt ptarmigan with pickup trucks flown in—a unique hunting setup not available elsewhere.

Rain happens. Good rain suit recommended. Wind can be strong but rarely prevents fishing or hunting. The remote location and experienced pilots (Tracy is an expert bush pilot) make weather manageable.

Serious hunters and fishermen willing to pay top dollar for low-crowd, high-success operations. All hunts are fair chase. You'll work with the same guide the entire trip. This isn't a cattle-call outfitter—Tracy limits clients strategically and books only from referrals (no paid advertising).

Contact: - Tracy Vrem - Cell: (907) 360-0541 - Email: [email protected] - Mailing: P.O. Box 771838, Eagle River, AK 99577