Wrangells Base Camp – Vuchetich

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DATES

August 15, 2024 - August 18, 2024

REGION

Wrangell St Elias National Park

TRIP COST

$3,800/ person

DATES

August 15, 2024 - August 18, 2024

REGION

Wrangell St Elias National Park

TRIP COST

$3,800/ person

Enjoy big wilderness and big views in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park this summer. From our comfortable camp perched in the alpine, we can explore the surrounding mountains and glaciers, search for Dall sheep, and simply enjoy the solitude and wilderness of this mountain kingdom.

TRIP DETAILS

The high country in Wrangell-St. Elias is beyond compare. With 9.6 million acres of designated wilderness, Wrangell- St. Elias National Park is part of the largest federally protected area in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The landscape of the northern Wrangells is one of smoking volcanoes covered in 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 Park 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 high on a ridge with unbelievable vistas and use this place as a base of operations.

We can exert ourselves and aim for peaks on either side of camp. If conditions permit we 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.

This is a rarely visited portion of the park and requires flights in an airplane which can only take a single passenger at a time. This nimble airplane allows us to enjoy true wilderness solitude in a unique and pristine location. Join us for adventure and solitude in America’s largest National Park.

Last updated: March 6, 2024

Itinerary

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

August 14

Meet your guide at 5 pm at your lodging in McCarthy. Once questions have been answered and equipment checked, you’ll be on your own for the evening.

August 15

The adventure begins in earnest. After breakfast, our pilot shuttles us into the mountains one at a time and by mid-day we have camp set up and can take our first hike.

August 16 and 17

Days (and nights) are yours to do as you please. With thousands of acres to ourselves the limits to our adventures are few.

August 18

One last walk to the unbelievable river view, one last scan for sheep above camp and it is time to pack up and head back to McCarthy where the trip concludes. If you need assistance making travel plans to and from McCarthy, please let us know.

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 McCarthy, AK

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

Lodging

Non-camp meals

Personal clothing and gear per our Equipment List

Gratuity for guide

WEATHER & BUGS

Temperatures vary dramatically in the Alaska. Mid- August can be mild and warm, and the Northern Wrangells are one of the driest parts of the state. That said, it could be cool and rainy so be prepared for anything. Temperatures will range from the 20s to 80s. Snow is possible any day of the year, and some years August can be wet and gray. Mosquitoes should not be an issue but bring a mosquito head net and a small bottle of DEET repellent just in case.

Wrangells Base Camp – Vuchetich