In Alaska, savor the sight of the Wrangell Mountains reaching skyward, caribou in their natural habitat, and untouched wilderness stretching for hundreds of miles. Feel the exhilaration of running a 14-mile whitewater rapid, paddling near an orca, or following a river to its source. Experience the thrill of climbing a shimmering ice wall, hiking on an ancient glacier, or camping beneath the midnight sun. Trek through a kaleidoscope of wildflowers, and sea kayak to the far reaches of the unequaled Prince William Sound. For a journey beyond the extraordinary, Alaska still triumphs as the last frontier.
In the Shadow of Mt. McKinley
From Anchorage we travel to Denali State Park where we hike for five days along tundra covered ridges with panoramic views of the Alaska Range. Taken from the Tanana Indian word meaning “The High One,” 20,230-foot Denali (Mt. McKinley) rises in the center of our view. Bald eagles soar over our heads while Dall sheep, moose, arctic foxes, and caribou often cross our paths.
Backpacking, Rafting & Bush Planes
From Denali we head to the Talkeetna Mountains for an epic 13-day backpacking and rafting expedition. We follow glacier fed rivers, cross high mountain passes, and camp in wildflower covered meadows as we move toward the headwaters of the Talkeetna River. We welcome the bush planes (there are no roads) which fly in to meet us with rafting equipment, whitewater guides, and fresh food. We replace backpacks with paddles and for three days we raft this remote wilderness river. A highlight of the run is the “Sluice Box”, a nonstop 14-mile rapid — the longest in North America. After 75 miles on the river, our expedition ends in the historic frontier town of Talkeetna.
Glacier Travel & Ice Climbing
Braided glacial rivers, snowfields, jagged peaks and giant glaciers dominate the landscape during the next stage of our adventure in Wrangell St. Elias National Park. We learn to travel safely as we traverse these highways of ice. At night, we cook savory backcountry meals and sleep on islands of green. During this segment, ice-climbing instructors arrive via bush plane and land on the glacier to meet us. They teach us the art and technical aspects of ice climbing, beginning on moderate ice walls and later testing our skills on more challenging walls.
Prince William Sound & Sea Kayaking
Next we reach the blue fjords and gentle waters of Prince William Sound by ferry. The Sound’s 4,400 mile coastline is a labyrinth of bays and estuaries and plays host to one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. Countless islands sprinkle the seascape, and under the care of our professional sea kayaking guides, we spend our days exploring this extraordinary place. The Chugach mountain range reaches skyward from behind the Sound’s hemlock and spruce cloaked shores. Seals, otters, and whales play in these waters not far from our boats. Our adventure concludes in Anchorage with a farewell Alaskan feast.
