Glacier View Base Camp

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DATES

TBD

REGION

Alaska Range

TRIP COST

DATES

TBD

REGION

Alaska Range

TRIP COST

Enjoy a week of big wilderness and big views in the Eastern Alaska Range this spring. From our comfortable camp deep in the mountains we can explore the surrounding valleys and glaciers, search for Dall sheep, and simply enjoy the solitude and wilderness of this mountain kingdom.

TRIP DETAILS

The high country of the Alaska Range is beyond compare. In the shadow of several thirteen-thousand foot peaks this is a land of ice; rocky spires jut into the blue sky above sinuous valleys with glacial torrents careening between sheer valley walls. And amongst the raw elemental power of the place we find green glens rich with fern and wildflowers and verdant plateaus dotted with Dall sheep and nesting song birds. It is a land of contrasts and beauty.

The lower elevations of the range are forested and very brushy, beautiful but difficult to navigate. In contrast, the high-country offers endless vistas and relatively easy hiking both on the mountain sides and along the valley floor. We will make camp near the toe of the glacier and use this place as a base of operations. (if spring is very late and this spot is still under snow, we may opt for a lower elevation location with better hiking.)

We can hike to the ice and (if conditions permit) may be able to explore onto the glacier. We can take a fairly easy hike downriver along the rushing glacial stream and we can climb the ridges and small peaks near camp for views in all directions. Each day brings its own weather, its own wildlife and its own surprises.

Spring in the mountains is full of surprises. 24 hour sunshine and snowstorms are all part of the experience in this remote and stunningly beautiful area not far from Denali National Park but with no other people around.

Last updated: August 29, 2024

Itinerary

What follows is a general flow of events. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible.

Day 0

Meet your guide for a 4 pm pre-trip meeting at Arctic Wild in Fairbanks.

Day 1

The adventure begins in earnest. We fly into the Alaska Range, over crevasses, rivers, forests and impossibly steep spires.

Once we land and the plane leaves, the solitude presses in and the quiet swallows us.

After camp is pitched, we can take the first of several hikes.

Day 2

We pack extra layers, rain-gear, and lunch and head-off on a full day hike to explore the mountains. It won’t get dark so we can go as far (or short) as you like.

Day 3

One last walk to the river, one last scan for sheep above camp and it is time to pack-up and head back to Fairbanks in the amazingly capable bush-plane.

Our guide was an encyclopedia on legs. His knowledge for the flora, fauna, and natural history of the tundra is astonishing. He was always willing and ready to teach, to talk, to listen, to do another hike, or to lie low in camp if we were beat. He truly gave us the trip we wanted!

- Brent, Colorado, USA

DETAILS

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Transportation beyond Fairbanks

Food while in the wilderness

Stoves, cooking & eating utensils, water filter, safety & repair gear

Professional guide service

Select camping equipment is available through Arctic Wild

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Non-camp lodging

Non-camp meals (except breakfast at the lodge in Chistochina)

Personal clothing and gear per our Equipment List

Gratuity for guide.

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary dramatically in the Alaska. Late May can be cold at elevation. Temperatures will range from the 20s to 60s. Snow is possible any day of the year, but we get lots of sunny weather this time of the year. Mosquitoes will not be an issue!

Glacier View Base Camp