Intensity Levels
Are you physically ready for one of our trips or are you interested in getting ready? Each of our adventures is assigned a difficulty rating by trip type – Levels 1 thru 4. Below is a detailed description of each intensity level listed by activity category. Simply find your type of trip you’re interested in and the corresponding difficulty rating within it. Of course, let us know if you have any further questions. Our primary goal is for you to have an enjoyable experience.
The nature of our trips is such that they involve physical exertion and potential exposure to the elements, including cold water, freezing temperatures, heat, sun, wind and rain. Individuals who are ill-prepared and lack physical conditioning can endanger themselves, other guests and guides, and compromise the quality of the group-trip experience. Please consult your doctor if you have medical or health conditions that could impact your ability to participate in this outdoor adventure. The bottom line is that our trips are active – some more than others – and having a good base level of physical fitness if critical. The more prepared and physically fit you are for the adventure, the more you’re going to enjoy the overall experience.
The absolute best thing you can do to train for one of our trips is to actually go hiking, and hiking with weight (up to 40lbs) in your backpack helps even more. Hiking with weight helps build strength in your legs and core and also helps fortify the connective tissue that keeps your joints strong and healthy. If you have aged knees, hips, or ankles then consider hiking & training with trekking poles, and if you’re looking for a couple of great training resources check out hardcore Alaskan Sarah Histand’s Summer Strong Program or Outside Online’s 6-Weeks to Trail Fit course.
One thing that often goes overlooked in people’s training regimen is the need to focus on mobility – think sitting in a canoe or kayak for hours straight, or squatting for a few minutes each day to poop in the wilderness. These activities, though not physically demanding, can be uncomfortable and even at times painful. Having flexible hips and knees are key, and we’ve found that sitting in a deep squat each day (try and work up to 10 minutes) helps build & maintain the mobility necessary to comfortably enjoy these experiences.
Enjoy the anticipation and preparation for your Alaska Alpine Adventures trip!
Basecamp Hiking Trips
Level 2:
Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is essential. You will be hiking off-trail over steep and uneven terrain, often covering more than 10 miles in a day with up to 3000′ of elevation gain/loss. You may encounter short stretches of thick vegetation and may also experience Alaska’s diverse selection of insect species. You will be camping in a very remote wilderness, sleeping in tents, relieving yourself in places with a stunning view, and sometimes enjoying all of the above in the rain.
You will be expected to load and unload your own gear, carry a portion of the group gear from our drop-off location to our various camp locations, and manage your own physical comfort and well-being. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 2 months before departure and should include walking or hiking.
Backpacking Trips
Level 2:
Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is essential. You will be backpacking and hiking off-trail over steep, hilly, and uneven terrain, often covering more than 6 miles in a day with up to 2000′ of elevation gain/loss. You may encounter short stretches of thick vegetation and may also experience Alaska’s diverse selection of insect species. You will be camping in a very remote wilderness, sleeping in tents, relieving yourself in places with a stunning view, and sometimes enjoying all of the above in the rain.
You will be expected to load and unload your own gear, carry a portion of the group gear, and manage your own physical comfort and well-being. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 2 months before departure and should include walking or hiking, preferably with loaded backpack of 30-40 lbs.
Level 3:
Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is mandatory. These are expedition-style backpacking trips and you will be expected carry a backpack weighing roughly one third of your body weight over steep, mountainous, and inconsistent terrain for many days. You may hike up to 10-miles in a day with up to 3000′ of elevation gain/loss. You will likely encounter longer stretches of thick vegetation and may also experience Alaska’s diverse selection of insect species. You will be camping in a very remote wilderness, sleeping in tents, relieving yourself in places with a stunning view, and sometimes enjoying all of that in the rain.
You will be expected to load and unload your own gear, carry a portion of the group gear, and manage your own physical comfort and well-being. Previous backpacking experience may be required and is certainly recommended for these trips. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 3 months prior to departure and must include hiking or walking with at least 45 lbs. in your backpack.
Level 4:
This level is limited to our “Packaneering” trips, which requires more physical and psychological commitment than our Level 2 or 3 backpacking trips. Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is mandatory. These are expedition-style backpacking trips and you will be expected to carry a backpack weighing roughly one third or your body weight over glaciated, steep, mountainous, and inconsistent terrain for many consecutive days. This will included many miles of travel over very rocky terrain. You may hike up to 10-miles in a day with up to 3000′ of elevation gain/loss. You will also encounter long stretches of thick vegetation, perhaps more than one full day’s worth, and may also experience Alaska’s diverse selection of insect species. You will be camping in a very remote wilderness, sleeping in tents, relieving yourself in places with a stunning view, and sometimes enjoying all of the above in the rain.
You will be expected to load and unload your own gear, carry a portion of the group gear, and manage your own physical comfort and well-being. Previous mountaineering experience may be required, and prior backpacking experience on Level 3 trips (or relevant similar experience) is mandatory. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 3 months prior to departure and must include hiking, walking or climbing (if possible) with at least 45 lbs in your backpack.
Kayaking Trips
Level 2:
Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is essential. While these kayaking trips are suitable for a total novice kayaker, you will be sitting in and paddling an inflatable sea kayak for up to 4 continuous hours. You also will be hiking off-trail over steep and uneven terrain, often covering more than 10-miles in a day. You may encounter short stretches of thick vegetation and may also experience Alaska’s diverse selection of insect species. You will be camping in a very remote wilderness, sleeping in tents, relieving yourself in places with a stunning view, and sometimes enjoying all of the above in the rain.
You will be expected to load and unload your own gear, carry a portion of the group gear from our drop-off location to our various camp locations, and manage your own physical comfort and well-being. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 2 months before departure and should include walking or hiking.
Rafting Trips
Level 2:
Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is essential. While these rafting trips are suitable for a novice, you will be sitting in and paddling through swift water (up to Class II) a two person inflatable sea kayak for up to 4 continuous hours. You will get wet and there’s a slim chance you may swim. You also will be hiking off-trail over steep and uneven terrain, often covering more than 10 miles in a day. You may encounter short stretches of thick vegetation and may also experience Alaska’s diverse selection of insect species. You will be camping in a very remote wilderness, sleeping in tents, relieving yourself in places with a stunning view, and sometimes enjoying all of the above in the rain.
You will be expected to load and unload your own gear, carry a portion of the group gear from our drop-off location to our various camp locations, and manage your own physical comfort and well-being. In general, trip participants must be able to, wear a Type II Coast Guard approved personal floatation device (maximum chest size of 56 inches), climb on and off the boats multiple times each day, paddle or hold on to the boat while navigating whitewater rapids, self-rescue by swimming to a boat or to shore in the event of an involuntary swim in a whitewater rapid, and self-rescue by climbing into a boat with the help of another person in the event of an involuntary swim in a whitewater rapid. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 2 months before departure and should include walking or hiking.
Level 3:
Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is essential. You will be sitting in and paddling through swift water (up to Class III) an inflatable canoe for up to 4 continuous hours. You will get wet and there’s a chance you may go for an involuntary swim. You also will be hiking off-trail over steep and uneven terrain, often covering more than 10 miles in a day. You may encounter short stretches of thick vegetation and may also experience Alaska’s diverse selection of insect species. You will be camping in a very remote wilderness, sleeping in tents, relieving yourself in places with a stunning view, and sometimes enjoying all of the above in the rain.
You will be expected to load and unload your own gear, carry a portion of the group gear from our drop-off location to our various camp locations, and manage your own physical comfort and well-being. In general, trip participants must be able to, wear a Type V Coast Guard approved personal floatation device (maximum chest size of 56 inches), climb on and off the boats multiple times each day, paddle or hold on to the boat while navigating whitewater rapids, self-rescue by swimming to a boat or to shore in the event of an involuntary swim in a whitewater rapid, and self-rescue by climbing into a boat with the help of another person in the event of an involuntary swim in a whitewater rapid. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 2 months before departure and should include walking or hiking.
Multisport Trips
Level 2:
Physical conditioning and consistent exercise prior to these trips is essential. These trips are suitable for a novice, but you may find yourself sea kayaking in the ocean or rafting through whitewater (up to Class III+) for up to 4 continuous hours. You also will be hiking off-trail over steep and uneven terrain, often covering more than 6 miles in a day. You may encounter short stretches of thick vegetation and may also experience Alaska’s diverse selection of insect species. At night you will enjoy a shower, a hot meal, and a bed.*
You will be expected to load and unload your own gear, carry a portion of the group gear from place to place, and manage your own physical comfort and well-being. Pre-trip physical conditioning should begin no later than 2 months before departure and should include walking or hiking.