We'll start in the port town of Seward with personal charter boat bound for Aialik Bay. As we cruise the rich waters of Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park, we’ll keep an eye out for breaching humpback whales, playful dall porpoises, the telltale dorsal fin of the orca whale, and mountain goats perched on the sheer cliffs of the towering mountains above. After unloading our kayaks and setting up camp on the shores of Holgate Arm, we’ll spend the next three days and two nights exploring the nooks and crannies of these magnificent waters in a fashion that only sea kayaks can afford. We’ll paddle through a jumble of miniature icebergs that have been cast off from the surging tidewater glaciers. We’ll scan the shores for bears working the tidal flats in search of a shellfish lunch, and enjoy Kenai Fjords in great style with gourmet meals of our own.

Our journey will then take us to Whittier where we'll hop aboard the Alaska ferry bound for Valdez. We’ll enjoy scenes of icebergs as we pass the massive Columbia Glacier – the largest tidewater glacier in North America.

From Valdez we head north on the Richardson highway. At Thompson pass we’ll stretch our legs next to the Worthington glacier, one of the many glaciers in the vast bulk of the Chugach Mountains. Further north, we’ll turn off the main highway and head for the town of Chitina where we’ll pile ourselves and our gear into a Cessna 206. We’ll then rumble down the gravel airstrip popping into flight-bound for the remote town of McCarthy/Kennicott. The backdrop for this funky and storied settlement is the 13 million acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park – home to prehistoric glaciers, 18,000’ peaks, some of the mightiest rivers in North America, and historic site the world’s richest copper strike during the early part of the 20th century. We’ll enjoy McCarthy by taking a guided hike on a glacier and exploring the Kennicott copper mill and mines in this spectacular, and incidentally, our Nation’s largest National Park.

On day eight, we’ll return by air to Chitina where we will continue our journey towards Denali. Along the way we’ll skirt along the Copper River, enjoy views of the Wrangell and Chugach Mountains and descend into the Matanuska/Susitna River Valley. Perhaps our first glimpse of Mt. McKinley might be from Talkeetna; the funky, one-street town that acts as the jumping off point for mountaineers and sightseers alike wishing to get a bit closer to the highest peak in North America.

Denali National Park, our final stop and the jewel of Alaska, is steeped in mystery and revered for its wild nature. In addition to the 20,320 ft. summit of Mt. McKinley, this six million acre site offers a complete sub-arctic ecosystem teeming with an abundance of wildlife. Healthy populations of bears, wolves, caribou, moose, dall sheep, and a wide variety of birds and small mammals make Denali a wildlife viewers dream. Our finale in Denali will include a 50 mile journey to the Eielson Visitor Center and an exciting river rafting adventure down the wild Nenana River.

This trip originates in Anchorage, Alaska. Getting to Anchorage is a snap. Alaska Airlines, your travel agent, or the carrier of your choice can easily arrange roundtrip airfare from the lower 48.  Once you land in Anchorage, your adventure really begins.

Transportation: Alaska's sheer size requires the implementation of a wide variety of resources to reach it's most amazing destinations.  We'll travel by van, water taxi, ferry, small airplane, bus and train during the course of the itinerary.  For the majority of the adventure, we will travel in Ford E350 passenger vans. These vehicles and are equipped with air conditioning, heat, and comfortable seats. Instead of using roof racks, like many tour operators in the state, we tow fully enclosed trailers. These trailers keep our gear and luggage accessible, clean and dry. 

Accommodations: We stay in a mix of hotels, B&B's, historic lodges and amazing campsites. Lodging on night one will be at the Inlet Tower Hotel and Suites, which is located in downtown Anchorage: www.inlettower.com. This excellent hotel is clean, comfortable and very accommodating. All price are double occupancy. A single supplement fee of $375 will be added if you specifically request your own room for this trip.  Additional details regarding specific accommodation names and telephone numbers will be sent in your final packet.

The Experience: After checking into the Inlet Tower in Anchorage, you’ll meet your guides by early evening before an orientation dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Anchorage.  Upon returning to the hotel, we’ll pour over maps and discuss the route.

After breakfast you’ll meet your guide at 8am in the lobby of the hotel. Our first full day will allow us to collect our senses, gaze at the surrounding beauty, and get a feel for Alaska’s vastness. You will quickly become acquainted with our style of Alaska travel and etiquette. Meals are planned to be sumptuous, filling culinary adventures of their own. Because space in our trailers is critical, careful consideration is taken in planning and packing the ingredients. You can be assured every Alaska Alpine Adventures meal will be something you may never have experienced in the wilderness. We use gourmet products and the very best ingredients available.   

What’s Included:

• All group camping gear (tents, stoves, fuel, etc.) and safety equipment
• 5 nights lodging, 6 nights tent camping
• 11 breakfasts, 9 lunches and 8 dinners
• Trekking poles
• Included transportation:
• Van transportation
• Roundtrip water taxi to Aialik Bay
• Ferry to Valdez
• Roundtrip flights from Chitina to McCarthy
• Train from Denali National Park to Anchorage
• Included activities:
• 3 days kayaking in Aialik Bay
• 4 hour Root Glacier trek
• Kennicott Copper Mill tour
• Nenana River rafting adventure
• Denali National Park bus tour
• Professional guide service at a maximum 6:1 client to guide ratio.

What’s Not:

• Lodging in Anchorage prior to and after your adventure
• Personal gear (sleeping bags, packs, rain gear, etc.) Please see gear list
• Trip cancellation insurance
• Alcoholic beverages
• Guide gratuities

Everyone asks:

What about the mosquitoes?
In case you've heard horror stories... the number of mosquitoes is greatly dependent on hatching season and annual weather conditions. While we are bound to encounter some mosquitoes during the course of our adventure, their numbers have not generally presented major problems on past trips in these specific areas. That said, please arrive prepared with insect repellent and a head net to fend off any mosquitoes that are present.

Will bears be a problem?
Alaska is bear country! There are both grizzly and black bears in most of the wilderness areas of Alaska we visit. We love seeing bears in the wild and it really is one of the most thrilling experiences common in Alaska backcountry travel. With that said, traveling safely and taking precautions to minimize a negative encounter are things we take very seriously. In addition to being subject to our thorough bear safety orientation, you’ll also see that we take many precautions when traveling in Alaska’s wilderness – 1 all of our food has been packaged to minimize odors – we vacuum seal most of our fresh ingredients and sauces, we pack our food in bear resistant food canisters, and we store our food well away from camp. 2 We make noise when we’re hiking in thick brush or when we’re hiking in windy conditions to minimize surprise encounters.  3 Our guides carry bear spray on all of the hikes throughout the adventures.

What kind of food might we expect?
Our food is excellent – in fact it is something that clearly differentiates us from our competitors. We have spent the past decade fine tuning our backcountry menu. Breakfasts include pancakes, scrambles, various homemade granolas and cereals, French pressed coffee, assorted teas and hot drinks. For lunch we enjoy foccacia sandwiches, bagels and Alaska lox, hummus and toasted pita chips, and assorted wraps. We also have homemade snack mixes both salty and sweet and energy and candy bars available throughout the day. Dinners could include lasagna, pad thai, beef mole’ tacos, penne pasta with a roasted red pepper pesto, wild mushroom risotto, etc. And we ALWAYS enjoy one of Derek’s home baked desserts after dinner.

When would you require a deposit? and how much? Trip cancellation insurance? Can we get it through you?
We require a deposit of $1000 per person to officially reserve a trip. Really the deposit is due as soon as you’d like to book. That way, we have the trip inked in on the schedule and can begin the effort to coax others into joining the adventure. When you decide to book, we then generate an invoice that we send by email. You’ll then have the option to pay the deposit by mailing us a check, calling us with a credit card number or by using a Visa, Master Card, or American Experss on our secure online payment system. As for trip cancellation insurance, Alaska Alpine Adventures is licensed to sell Travel Guard - an industry leading insurance product designed specifically for adventure travelers. Please contact us for details, or click here to obtain a quote.

Alaska Multisport:

Why have you chosen these specific destinations for your Multisport Adventures?
Alaska Alpine Adventures has been hiking, kayaking, rafting and exploring Alaska's national parks and wildlife refuges for over 10 years.  We feel that our Alaska Multisport Adventures visit the best of Alaska's road accessible destinations, giving our guests a fantastic sampling of Real Alaska has to offer.

What national parks will we be visiting?
You will visit Kenai Fjords, Wrangell-St. Elias and Denali National Parks.

There is a significant distance between each destination, how will we get there?
Alaska's sheer size requires the implementation of a wide variety of resources to reach it's most amazing destinations.  We'll travel by van, water taxi, ferry, small airplane, bus and train during the course of the itinerary.  For the majority of the adventure, we will travel in Ford E350 passenger vans. These vehicles and are equipped with air conditioning, heat, and comfortable seats. Instead of using roof racks, like many tour operators in the state, we tow fully enclosed trailers. These trailers keep our gear and luggage accessible, clean and dry. 

Is transportation included in the price of the trip?
Absolutely, our trips are all inclusive from Anchorage. All you need to do is get yourself to Anchorage on Day 1 of your itinerary.

Where will you meet us?
Your Alaska Alpine Adventures guide will meet you at 6 PM at the B&B on the evening of night 1 for an orientation dinner and gear check.

Are we likely to see wildlife on our Multisport Adventure?
Absolutely.  Wildlife viewing is a major component of all of our adventures, and the destinations visited durning our Multisport Adventures are home to grizzly, coastal brown, and black bears, dall sheep, caribou, moose, wolves, as well as dall porpoises, harbor seals, sea lions, whales and tremedous seasonal populations of migratory birds.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Today you are free to arrive in Anchorage on your own. We’ll be staying at the Inlet Tower Hotel, which is located close to the airport and adjacent to downtown Anchorage.  After checking into the hotel, you’ll meet our guides by early afternoon in the hotel lobby. Tonight we’ll do an orientation dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, and upon returning to our hotel, we’ll pour over maps and discuss the trip and the route. Dinner included.

Day 2: After an early breakfast; depart for Seward. Meet with Sunny Cove Sea kayak guides and board personal charter bound for Aialik Bay (3 to 3 ½ hrs). Once on shore, we’ll set up camp and ready our boats for an afternoon paddle of Holgate Arm. All meals included.

Days 3-4: The next two days will be spent exploring the wonders of Pederson Lagoon or Quicksand Cove. The calving tidewater glaciers, cascading waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs, and abundance of wildlife define Aialik Bay. Humpbacks, orcas, porpoises and harbor seals cruise the food-rich waters. Black and brown bears work the lush tidal flats feeding on clams and nutrient-rich sedges. Mountain goats seemingly cling to precipitous walls of rock searching for a meal. At noon on day four, our water taxi will pick us up and return us to Seward. Lodging provided at Harborview Inn. All meals included.

Day 5: Depart for Whittier to meet Valdez-bound ferry. Our crossing of Prince William Sound sails right along the face of the Columbia Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America. Lodging provided at the downtown B&B. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 6: Today we’ll drive the Richardson Highway to the small town of Chitina. We cross Thompson Pass, the snowiest place in Alaska, stop at the Worthington Glacier to stretch the legs, and learn how this living carpet of ice has helped to create the magnificent Chugach Mts. before our eyes. We then board an afternoon flight with Wrangell Mt. Air to the funky town of McCarthy in the heart of Wrangell/St. Elias National Park. Accommodations provided at the Backpackers Hostel. All meals included.

Day 7: After breakfast we take the shuttle bus up to Kennicott for an interpretive walk through the historic Kennicott Copper Mill before strapping on a pair of crampons and heading out on to the Root Glacier with St. Elias Alpine Guides for a full four hours of glacier hiking. If time allows, we’ll take an afternoon hike to the Jumbo Copper Mine. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 8: By noon we make the return flight to Chitina and continue on with our journey across Alaska. We’ll pass under the shadows of Mts. Sanford, Wrangell and Drum as we head for the Matanuska Valley along the scenic Glenn Highway. Tonight we camp along the Matanuska River. All meals included.

Day 9: We're bound for Denali National Park! The ultimate destination in Alaska is our final stop the drive to Denali is beset on either side with the anticipation of exploring one of the crown jewels of the National Parks system. We’ll stop for lunch and a brief look around in the funky, one-street town of Talkeetna. If time and weather allows you’ll get your first glimpse of Mt. McKinley! We recommend an up close and personal flight around the mountain with one of the local air taxis. We’ll then continue on to Denali where we’ll camp along the Nenana River. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 10: Multisport Alaska-style! Start the day with a great hike either in the Park on a Ranger-led Discovery Hike or in the surrounding hills with your guide. After this morning warm-up you’ll gear up and get ready to get wet as we paddle the Gorge of the mighty Nenana River with Denali Outdoor Center. Their expert river guides will deftly navigate the rafts through the exciting Class IV rapids. All meals included.

Day 11: This morning we’ll board an early bus bound for the Eielson Visitors Center, some 50 miles deep into the park’s interior. Along the road corridor, keep your eyes peeled for Denali’s famous furry inhabitants carving out their existence amidst the some of the most amazing scenery in North America. Breakfast and lunch included.

Day 12: After a leisurely morning enjoying the sights of McKinley village, we’ll board the Alaska Railroad’s Denali Star for our eight hour rail cruise back to Anchorage. Please schedule homebound flights for after 10pm. Breakfast included.