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Itinerary

June 14. SAT Arrive Anchorage. We'll meet at 5 pm at our hotel, the Barratt Best Western. We'll meet each other, have a trip orientation and then go out to dinner at Gwennie's, a local institution. After completing any last minute preparations, we'll get to bed early. D

June 15. SUN : Today we leave Anchorage for Talkeetna. Along the way we'll visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where we'll learn about the past and present cultures of the native Alaskans that make up 16% of the state's population. We'll also visit with a traditional “Native Grandmother” who will give us a more in depth look at the traditional native way of life. Leaving Chugiak we'll stretch our legs with a stop at Thunder Falls, a short 20 minute walk to a very impressive waterfalls. We'll then hop back in the van and continue on to Talkeetna, the main staging area for Denali climbers and fascinating in its own right. Overnight in Talkeetna B, L, D

June 16. MON We leave Talkeetna for Denali National Park, stopping to hike the Coal Creek Trail in Denali State Park. This trail offers a gentle climb to the alpine tundra, starting in lush vegetation and then quickly ascending above tree-line to alpine country and amazing views of mountains and glaciers, tundra flowers, and perhaps some bears. Overnight at Denali Grizzly Bear Cabins, our home for the next two nights B, L, D

June 17. TUES We'll board the bus today (the only vehicle allowed inside Denali National Park) and take it to Eileson Visitors Center. More than just a bus ride, the bus provides an opportunity to see the interior of this magnificent park and lots of opportunity to see wildlife, including grizzlies, caribou, moose and dall sheep. The entire round trip is about 7 hours. Overnight at Denali Grizzly Bear Cabins. B, L, D

June 18. WED Denali- Today we leave open for you to choose what interests you most. How about a helicopter ride with a chance to walk on a glacier? Or perhaps river rafting is more your speed? If you want some more hiking there are lots of options you can choose to do with the guide: the Bison Creek trail which is mostly above tree line, or perhaps the Tri-Lakes trail which leads to three beautiful lakes; or Mt Healy Overlook with its magnificent views. We'll leave Denali about 3 pm and start our drive along Denali Highway, widely considered one of the most beautiful highways in Alaska. Overnight Gracious House Lodge, a modest and clean classic Alaska roadhouse. B, D

June 19.THURS We finish our drive to McCarthy today, possibly stopping for a short hike along the way. McCarthy was on the verge of becoming a ghost town until recently, when interest in Wrangell-St Elias park and the energy of some entrepreneurs revitalized it. It's still quiet though- the bridge across the river doesn't support autos so the town and the surrounding area are car-free. It's a charming town and we'll have free time to explore the area this afternoon, perhaps stretching our legs with a walk up to Kennecott. Overnight Ma Johnson's, the most charming place we'll stay. B, L

June 20. FRI In McCarthy On Friday we'll meet our local guide for a 4-6 hour hike out onto the Root glacier. We will learn how to use crampons (pointy spikes that we strap onto our shoes) to stay steady on the ice, and enjoy a walk around the ice to see features such as crevasses, blue streams and pools and moulins (holes drilled in the ice by flowing water). We'll have a picnic lunch and return to Kennecott by mid-afternoon. After a short break, we will spend 2.5 hours learning in detail about the history and mining processes found in Kennecott during its heyday as a copper mining town. We will go inside the 14-story mill building, where we will get a chance to see the original machinery used in the milling process and hear stories about the "good ol' days". B, L, D

June 21. SAT We totally change gears on Saturday! We will meet our rafting guides in the morning to get geared up and head down the river. The first part of the river-rafting trip is splashy and fast with spectacular views of the Stairway Icefall. After a big, hearty lunch, we head into the mighty Nizina Canyon, where the river is squeezed tightly between limestone cliffs that cause it to surge around the corners in an impressive show of power. At the end of the canyon we stop for a short hike near the banks of the Chitina River, then cross the river to where our bush plane will pick us up. For a spectacular ending to the day, we enjoy a flight back up the river and over the Kennicott and Root Glaciers with marvelous views of Mt. Blackburn, the Stairway Icefall, and the tiny towns of McCarthy & Kennecott. B, L, D

June 22. SUN We leave McCarthy today and drive to Valdez, a small but important port on Prince William Sound. We'll stop along the way to hike Goat Trail and Wagon Road, a moderate five mile hike. We'll also stop for a look at the Worthington Glacier before arriving at Valdez. B, L , D

June 23. MON Today we take the ferry across the spectacular Prince William Sound which became a household word with the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. There is no evidence of damage to the casual observer and the chance to be surrounded by wild beauty and look for wildlife, including whales and puffins, make it an unforgettable day. We'll spend the night in Whittier. B, L, D

June 24. TUES It will be about a two hour drive to drive to Seward so there will be plenty of time to visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, watch the movie about the tsunami at the local library, and wander this beautiful town while the guides get ready for the next three days. Overnight Alaska Saltwater Lodge. B, D

June 25 - 27. WED-FRI For the next three days we will kayak in Aialik Bay in Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the most beautiful places you'll ever see. We'll board our water taxi early in the morning, and head out of Resurrection Bay and into Aialik, the next fjord to the west. Usually we'll see orcas, humpbacks, and sea lions on the way, and we'll certainly stop for good viewing and photo opportunities. The water taxi will drop us off near the Ranger station in Aialik Bay where we'll pack our gear and cover all the basics of paddling before we leave the beach. Surrounded by towering mountains dotted with white glaciers and deep green forests, we'll spend the afternoon exploring the coast with its many waterfalls. We'll camp in Abra cove this first night: with its view of Aialik Glacier and the multiple waterfalls that tumble down the steep cliffs nearby, it may be the prettiest place you ever camp. B, L, D.

June 26. THURS: Today we'll see Aialik Glacier up close. Paddling trough chunks of ice that take many bizarre shapes, listening to the rumble of the calving glacier and watching harbor seals watch us, is completely magic. We'll gaze at the glacier for as long as we want before leaving to paddle along Slate Island, and to Pederson Lagoon. Pederson Lagoon is amazing: a haven for marine mammals, black bears, bald eagles, and the like. There is a population of over 200 harbor seals in the lagoon - and they'll sometimes swim close, checking you out with their dark, curious eyes. We'll keep our eyes open for black bears walking the beaches here, too. We'll paddle into the upper lagoon, where Pederson Glacier calves into the icy waters, leaving large icebergs. This is a magical paradise that will take your breath away.

After exploring the lagoon, we'll head out and find our nearby camping beach. Since we carry all our food in bear canisters - we can camp anywhere, and can get away from other people. Enjoy a quiet and secluded night - watching the otters and seals offshore, and taking in stunning views. B, L, D.

June 27. FRIDAY: After breaking camp we'll make our way toward Holgate Glacier. There are some great sights along the way, including a brilliant rock arch that you can paddle through (given the tide is right and the seas are calm). Sea stars cling to the walls, and jagged rock hangs above you as you pass through the arch and emerge to stunning views of hanging glaciers and waterfalls. It's magnificent. We'll stop for lunch on the beach in Holgate Arm, and then make our way toward Holgate Glacier. This giant tidewater face is pretty active and always impressive. We'll spend time at the face, hoping for a good show, and then paddle to meet our water taxi.

On the way home, again, we'll look for wildlife and whales and enjoy the pristine scenery of these remote areas. Once back in Seward we'll enjoy hot showers before going out for our final farewell dinner at the best restaurant in town B, L, D

June 28. SAT Today we drive back to Anchorage. Depending on scheduled flights out we may have time to visit downtown before getting on our flights home. B

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