Pure, raw, unforgiving and humongous in scale, alaska is a place that arouses basic instincts. Best backpacking trails in chugach state park alltrails. Due to individual abilities and goals, as well as the demanding environment of alaska, all of our trips are customized as they unfold. The guide will constantly make decisions based on weather, logistics and group dynamics to. Around chapter from lonely planets alaska guidebook. Enjoy the long daylight hours of a northern summer. This 6 day trip leads us from forrested hills into alpine tundra and small lakes on the kesugi ridge. If you have a choice, begin the trail in such a way that it starts out easier and finishes with the more difficult parts because your pack will lighten with each day as you eat your food. Elias will provide a treasure trove of memories for years to come.
The backpacking checklist 27pound, 7day backpack is essentially, a full three season, backcountry gear checklist configured for the cascade mountains. Find out why alaskans consider this one of the best hikes in the state. Things to consider maps to plan access, takeoff and return points, route of travel, approximate camping areas and points of attraction to visit. X ncoae core curriculum x leave no trace training x gain experience in expedition planning, wilderness risk management, environmental studies, backcountry navigation, leadership in the wilderness, outdoor technology skills, and more x fly in backpacking and remote alaska trekking why take this course. This summer, set off on an unforgettable adventure in the rugged northern backcountry. Add to your outdoor wilderness skills arsenal with expert advice and survival tips from backpacker magazine.
Travel alaska things to do in alaska guided camping. Backpack across the tundra and over high mountain passes. While there are plentiful sources of water along the route, it should be purified before drinking. Its a moderatestrenuous hike and is fairly steep over uneven terrain for the first half mile 0. Alaska nature guides denali state park backpacking trips. Join us for a 4day backpacking trip on kesugi ridge in denali state park. Dixie pass trail pdf format 928 kb hike along a creek to a high alpine pass. Check out our clothing, hiking, backpacking and skiing guides, as well as our primer on alaska weather.
Backpacking gear checklist this gear list should answer most of your gear questions so please read through this carefully. If you still have questions just send us an email or give us a call. It is vast tundra plains, rugged peaks, and gorgeous mountain valleys with wild rivers and forests of spruce and poplar. Rei is a registered seller of travel in the following states. Backpacking the talkeetna mountains hatcher pass talkeetna mountains 4day backpacking adventure email. This is truly a dream trip for anyone interested in backpacking andor landscape and wildlife photography. Elias national park is locate in the south east corner of alaska just above the panhandle. Alaska basin is surrounded by the towering cliffs and summits of the teton range. Let us help you plan the most epic adventure to alaska.
Alaska is filled with endless possibilities for hiking and backpacking around the state. Our trips run from point a to point b, and do not consist of trekking back to where we started. The pdf map see link below shows a lot of detail of wrangellst. Alaska hike search a guide to many of the trails in southcentral alaska. Elias national park is home to the majority of our backpacking trips. Alaska hiking and backpacking trails explore alaska. Peters hills, in the foothills of the alaska range features alpine tundra that borders both denali state park and denali national park and.
Hiking is an inherently dangerous activity, and alaska is an inherently dangerous place. Backpack through alaskas famed mountain ranges and lush green valleys. With scant phone coverage and a dearth of hipsterfriendly coffee bars to plug in your ipad, alaska is a region for doing rather than observing. Online versions are available from 1978 to present. Alaska backpacking guide service hiking sea kayaking. Home forums general forums general lightweight backpacking discussion backpacking and kayaking juneau alaska viewing 7 posts 1 through 7 of 7 total forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry feathered friends. Read our stepbystep guide to planning your backpacking trip carefully before you arrive in denali. Spend a week backpacking through untouched wilderness in a remote corner of alaska, and hike through spectacular alpine tundra in the talkeetna mountains. The most popular trails are lost lake, eagle river valley and historic iditarod crow pass trail. Kenai backcountry adventures alaska backpacking is one of our most popular activities for adventurers in alaska. Detailed itinerary the following is a sample itinerary for this trip. Anchorage isnt simply a big city on the edge of the wilderness, but rather a big city in the wilderness, and it manages to mingle hiking trails and traffic jams, small art galleries and big oil, like no other city. Advice and on a 30 day solo backpacking trip of alaska. Permits are issued only in person no telephone or email reservations, and no more than one day in advance of your trip.
Alaska is home to popular national parks and backpacking destinations like denali national park home to denali, formerly mount mckinley, the highest peak in north america at 20,310 feet as. Hiking is one of the best ways to discover what makes the alaskan wilderness unique. You should have 5 layers for your top and 4 for the bottom. Last august crystal and i took a group of nine hardy souls on an epic backpacking trip across alaskas katmai range. Subscribe to one or all of julia engels newsletters and follow along with her adventures.
Even if you are very athletic, we recommend walking as often as possible with 25 30 pounds in your backpack, wearing the boots you plan to hike in. Alaska alpine adventures has a maximum guest to guide ratio of 4. We also guide backpacking trips in the brooks mountains. Backpacking equipment list for arctic wild backpacking trips. Our professional mountain guides have been busily making preparations for your trip and are excited to get to know you. Denali national park hiking and backpacking trails backpacker. Work your way up rugged peaks, pausing to admire sweeping views at the summit. Alaska basin is a favorite among many jackson hole locals. Paddle alongside tidewater glaciers in alaskas famed coastal fjords, keeping your eye out for whales, porpoises, sea otters, seals, and sea lions. This is the alaska chapter from lonely planets usa guidebook. Well end the day around a campfire with a hearty backcountry dinner, and later a muchdeserved night of sleep. I saw moose, a wolverine, a bear, and almost no other people with the exception of another group far in the distance and the occasional bush plane. Jun 11, 2015 feminine fashion, travel, beauty and home decor from charleston, south carolina.
We cover it all, from pretrip planning to backpackerfriendly recipes to how to raise backpacking kids and more. Ams instructors introduce you to the unique tundra ecosystem underfoot, teaching essential wilderness skills to achieve safety and comfort in the backcountry. Alaska is the ultimate destination for outdoor adventure, from hiking to kayaking, glacier walking to flightseeing. In some cases, i have lighter, less rugged gear, but im not confident that it would keep me reasonably comfortable in harsh weather, during a long distance, multi day outing. The certificate is a nine month intensive humanities program designed to develop skills and characteristics that are essential to success as an individual, a group member, and a leader in outdoor and adventure settings. Did this one back in september and really enjoyed the views. Chugach state park offers a halfmillion acres of the most accessible backpacking, camping and wildlife viewing in alaska. About twoandahalf hours drive south of anchorage, kenai fjords national park is the states smallest, but offers some of the best opportunities to explore alaskas rich glacial landscape. Denali national parktoklat river drainageglaciersgrizzly bearscaribou duration. It was warm and nice at the trailhead but got colder and was snowing on the top, so do not let the weather fool you.
Alaska backpacking adventures kenai backcountry adventures. Chugach state park 4day backpacking adventure the experience just 15 minutes from anchorage, alaskas largest city, lies the third largest state park in america. To those who have hiked or dream of hiking in alaskas 6millionacre denali national park, 20,320foot mt. Hi folks, having trawled through books blogs posts and raised eyebrows, im still finding it impossible to decide wether earlymid may 2017 wilderness backpacking is pheasible in southern alaska come in shoulder season they said, avoid tourists and rain in may the books told me.
Hello alaska travelers, im new to the forum, and i dont really know a ton about alaska. Once in camp well relax and enjoy some rest in one of the most beautiful settings in the rockies. This is truly one of the best ways to see the real backcountry of alaska. Theres nothing that guides like to discuss more than gear. Outdoor wilderness skills backpacking safety skills. Dont worry about the gear, alaskas got you covered. Im mainly thinking of going to either lake clark, wrangell st.
Backpacking and kayaking juneau alaska backpacking light. The town of mccarthy lies in the heart of the park and is accessible by teh. Hiking alaska hiking and backpacking in the last frontier. Guided camping tours in alaska allow you to experience alaskas wild lands and wild places firsthand. From car camping to multiday backpack adventures, let our experts help you find the perfect trails. Enjoy the long daylight hours of a northern summer as you hike across the tundra and. Traverse alaskas owner, joe and his local team can help facilitate stays in lodges, cabins, tents or yurts, and provide the necessary gear and instructions for anything from hiking to packrafting, sea kayaking to glacier trekking, on an independent or fullyguided trip. As one of many visitors in the backcountry, a carefully planned trip can help to protect yourself as well as the environment. Arctic wilds schedule for alaska river adventures, guided backpacking adventures, and alaskan wilderness vacations. All of our backpacking courses are customized to accommodate and build upon whatever backpacking and camping experience you already have. She had over 20 years experience guiding in alaska, and had a wealth of knowledge both in her backpacking skills and in the local terrain. Besides alaskas meandering coastline, the alaska interior is marked by rivers such as the yukon river, as well as arctic tundra land and shorelines. A reference for several great alaska hiking trails, with photography, descriptions, and directions for each trail. Do you want the ultimate denali wilderness experience.
Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in alaska. Chugach state park offers a halfmillion acres of the most accessible backpacking, camping and wildlife viewing in. In general, alaska backpacking requires carrying a wider range of clothing than you might pack for a summer adventure in a more southern locale. Double booking a single night in two different units or a unit and a campground is not allowed. We cant over stress the importance of keeping your load as light as possible. Rootsrated explores the best camping and backpacking in anchorage. Our destinations are chosen by outdoors experts who live and play in anchorage, so youre sure to find the top adventures and maybe even a few local secrets. Alaska hiking best guided hiking trips, lodges and guides. Your trip in alaska will be very different than any trip in the lower 48, as services are less developed and infrequent, trails are nonexistent in many regions, the land is wilder and often very remote, help, if needed, is farther away and.
Arctic wild offers guided backpacking trips in the arctic national wildlife refuge, gates of the arctic national park and across arctic alaska. More than a guided hike, this is a chance to experience the wonders of denali with the people who know it best. Guide to denalis backpacking units denali national park. Maps of the park guided alaska hiking and backpacking. Backpacking in the alaskan backcountry has been one of my favorite outdoor adventures to date. The heaviest pack i ever had was for my eight day backpacking trip in alaska, which started out at about 45 pounds. Backcountry backpacking adventure alaska department of fish. Expeditions alaska offer guided alaska backpacking trips for individuals and small groups group sizes are limited to a maximum of 5 participants in various wilderness regions in alaska.
Dive into an unforgettable adventure in the northern wilderness. Pack rafting equipment list for arctic wild packrafting trips. Backpacking in lake clark national park with alaska alpine. Backcountry backpacking adventure alaska department of.
This hike is road accessable and gives you a good idea. A solo operation, i guided all the trips by myself. Ive been much, but that was a cruise with my grandmother. This is alaska, and it snows every month of the year. Elias national park but it is a fairly large file and may take a while to download. The better shape youre in, the more you will enjoy backpacking.
The most heavily trafficked trail ive done in alaska, i think we met 1015 people there. In 2002 i started expeditions alaska offering guided backpacking, hiking trips, rafting and sea kayaking trips. Whether taking advantage of some of the wonderful camping spots with an overnight trip, or simply going out for a long day hike or run, youre sure to find something to suit your fancy in this gorgeous wilderness area. Alaska backpacking trips guided backpacking tours alaska. Home forums gear forums gear general shelters for alaska viewing 25 posts 1 through 25 of 26 total 1 2 forums are supported by our merchant partners disclosure rei coupons zpacks hyperlite patagonia arcteryx rbtr drop backcountry feathered friends campsaver. Best backpacking trails in chugach national forest alltrails.
This is the best way to experience the incredible variety of terrain that wrangellst. Subscribe for exclusive content, inspiration and insights from gal meets glam. Expect to have wet boots much of the time while backpacking the scenery alone is worth it. Trail was almost snow free, but very muddy and busy. Whatever the season, these active adventures can be customized to a variety of skill and comfort levels. The route we took led us from the valley of 10,000 smokes across katmai pass to the pacific ocean on the far side. Today is a sustained uphill hike but we are richly rewarded with stunning mountain scenery along the entire length of our hike. I am a big backpacker, but the east coast trails arent really wilderness enough for me.
Hatcher pass talkeetna mountains 4day backpacking adventure. Elias, or denali, but gates of the arctic is also a possibility. Physical education pe catalog university of alaska. Guided backpacking, rafting, and alaska river adventures.
Hiking across arctic tundra, alpine meadows, sand dunes, glacial outwash plains, glaciers, temperate rainforests, tussocks, alderchoked valleys, boreal forests, abandoned mines, ancient trade routes, and even beaches, are all possible in alaska. Covers selection of personal, group, and safety equipment, and introduces contingency plan concepts. Alaska basin trail backpacking hike wildland trekking. This tetons backpacking trip begins with pick you up at your hotel in jackson hole, after which we proceed to the trailhead. Nugget creek trail pdf format 1 mb 15 miles to a cabin, mine, and glacier. After a final packfitting well begin our hike up the trail toward alaska basin. Subscribe for new posts, quick reads and daily looks from gal meets glam. Trends is a monthly publication with articles on alaska s economy, population, cost of living, occupations, industries, and more. Road access backpacking begin with a 2hour van drive from ams, in the north western talkeetna mountains, denali state park, or peters hills. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the state of california.