Backpacking Denali National Park, Alaska
Alaska $3,600 (Inclusive*) • August 6-13, 2020
This trip is for the adventuresome spirit, perhaps a once in a lifetime experience that you will never forget! Denali National Park is home to North America’s tallest peak, Denali! Not only does this park host this magnificent mountain, forests, tundra and glaciers, it is also home to an abundance of wildlife including: grizzly bear, black bear, wolves, caribou, moose, wolverine and much more. Our adventure will begin with a ride on the National Park Service bus to the end of the park’s only road. The scenic drive will end at the Kantishna airport where we will meet our bush pilot. Our pilot will fly us out to a remote airstrip adjacent to an isolated hunting lodge just beyond the park’s western boundary. Our backpacking loop will be in a relatively unknown area of the park and, Alaska weather permitting, we will be afforded big vistas of Denali! This area of the park is extremely wild and rugged with most of our trekking being off trail. You will climb high slopes, scramble across rocks, ford streams and your feet may often be wet. We rate this trip as fairly strenuous to strenuous; good fitness and mental fortitude are essential.
What is included: all trip planning, permits and fees, good food, cooking gear and stoves. National Park shuttle to and from Kantishna airfield. Also included is the roundtrip bush pilot flight to and from the backcountry. We’ll also supply gear (backpack, daypack, sleeping bag & pad, tent, eating utensils) if you need it for an additional $500.
Trip Insurance: because of our expenses and commitments to flying services, all payments are final; there will be no refunds or credits! Unfortunately, pre-trip injuries/illnesses/family problems do occur. To avoid financial loss, protect yourself with travel insurance! If you can afford this trip, you can afford this insurance. Please contact:www.csatravelprotection.com. There are other outfits, too.
Maximum Number of Clients: Six. That’s it, so don’t wait; sign up now! Also, we will screen folks in order to be certain of their ability to successfully complete this extremely remote, wild trip.
The Trek: The remote backcountry of Denali National Park is truly one of the most spectacular places on Earth! Our trip begins with an overland bus journey on the National Park Service shuttle bus. This bus ride, while long, affords great views of the park and opportunities to spot wildlife. After our shuttle bus ride, we will meet our bush pilot at the remote Kantishna airfield. From Kantishna we will be shuttled out to a remote airstrip along the western boundary of Denali National Park. Our backpacking loop will take us into a lesser traveled part of the park. Breathtaking views of glaciers and Denali will be found all along out route and the opportunities to see bear, wolves, dall sheep, moose and caribou are extremely high!
This adventure is not for the faint of heart. The route is mostly off trail and at times footing will be poor. While this trip does not climb to high altitudes, we will climb moderately high slopes and there will be times of potential rock scrambling. Summer in Alaska can also mean potentially high river fords and areas of standing water that might cause poor footing and wet feet. We rate this trip fairly strenuous to strenuous! Good physical fitness and strong mental determination are essential!
Weather and Bugs: Although we must prepare for and will probably experience all kinds of weather, mid summer often has more clear days than later summer. Daylight will be perpetual, as the sun will only barely drop below the horizon each “night”. Please be prepared for any and all kinds of weather! Mosquitos and biting flies will be active in good weather, although we will be there past peak mosquito season (typically mid to late June). But again, fair weather will activate the insects so be prepared with insect repellent and a head net.
Travel and Trip Base: We will meet at 6 PM August 5, at the Denali BrewPub in Talkeetna, Alaska. Talkeetna has various lodging available but please make sure they will store any excess luggage for the time we are in the park. Traveling to Talkeetna can be done from either Anchorage or Fairbanks via a 3 hour train ride on the Alaska Railroad. For recommendations on lodging in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Talkeetna please contact us! Please allow adequate time for travel to Alaska and to Talkeetna.
Book Your Trip!
Space is limited!
Have questions? Call (406) 823-0337
