Denali Unexplored - Basecamp Hiking in Denali National Park
Hiking/Trekking in Alaska with Alaska Alpine Adventures
Highlights
- Experience incredible Alaskan landscapes: alpine tundra, braided rivers, and cascading waterfalls
- Access Denali's completely road-less and virtually unexplored south side
- Delicious lakeside meals under the the midnight sun
Full Description
Now you can combine authentic Alaska solitude, the greatest scenic flight on earth, with the greatest basecamp hiking trip in Alaska and experience the real Denali National Park!
Denali is America's quintessential National Park. With over 6 million wild acres, the tallest peak in North America, and countless rivers and glaciers, Denali National Park lives up to this title as America's crown jewel. While most visitors experience the park via its main northern corridor, the Denali Park Road, the south side of the park sees little annual visitation and remains completely road-less and virtually unexplored.
Accessing the park by bush plane, your first treat will be a phenomenal flight around the Ruth Gorge and Mt. McKinley. You'll then spend 4-days and 3-nights camping and hiking Denali's wild side from the comfort of our wilderness basecamp situated on the edge of the mighty Ruth Glacier, and only 17 miles from the summit of North America's highest peak. This exclusive wilderness camp, on the shore of a small lake, puts you right in the epicenter of the Alaska Range and in a place where you will feel humbled by the scale and majesty of Denali National Park.
With a light daypack, you'll spend your days hiking miles of vast tundra and exploring the seemingly endless glaciers; returning to camp each evening for a delicious lakeside feast under the midnight sun. See Denali in a way that few ever have. See Denali unexplored.
Includes:
- All group gear (tents, stoves, fuel, cooking & eating utensils, etc.) and safety equipment
- Trekking poles
- Ground Transportation to Chugach State Park & to Lake Hood on Day 1
- Roundtrip scenic bush flights from Anchorage to Denali National Park
- Professional guide service at a maximum 5:1 client to guide ratio
- All meals from lunch on day one through lunch on the final day of the itinerary
- Storage for your extra travel items while in the field
Excludes:
- Lodging in Anchorage prior to and after your adventure
- Personal gear (sleeping bags, packs, rain gear, etc.)
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuities
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
This morning, our group will meet at 9am in Anchorage. After a short orientation and gear check, we will then make the drive to Chugach State Park where you'll take a beautiful hike and enjoy a trail side lunch with your guide. By early afternoon, we'll then make our way to Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the busiest float-plane airport on earth, where, we'll board a floatplane bound for the Denali National Park and our home for the next 3 nights. This 1.5 hour scenic flight will take us over alpine tundra, braided rivers, and cascading waterfalls; past Mt. Mckinley, the highest peak in North America; and finally down through the mighty Great Gorge of the Ruth Glacier, the deepest trench on earth! Our skilled bush pilot will then take us down to a small lake nestled in a cleft between the Ruth and Tokositna Glaciers, where we will unload our gear on a small beach and then wave the airplane goodbye. We'll set up camp on the lake, bask in the newfound solitude, and then take short early evening hike before dinner. Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 2
The options are staggering! With almost unlimited daylight, we'll head for the tundra hills above camp, destined for magnificent views of the Backside Glacier, Ruth Glacier, and if weather permits, "The Great One," 20,320 foot Mount McKinley. On today's hike, you'll learn in practice the skills necessary to hike off-trail in the Alaska wilderness - including reading a topographic map, choosing the best route, using trekking poles, and traveling efficiently. After a full day of exploration, we'll tally our wildlife and mountain peak sightings as we enjoy a filling meal in the wilderness. All meals included.
Day 3
After a hearty breakfast, we'll grab our day-packs and again head out in search of adventure in Denali. Today, we'll make our way up onto the Backside Glacier. In all likelihood, this will be your first time hiking on a glacier, and you'll quickly understand why this area draws mountaineers from all over the world. While not at all technical, your trek on the ice will give you the chance to learn firsthand the glacial features of this frozen river of ice, the valley that bears the scars of thousands of years of glacial activity, and the more recent visual indications of climate change on the Alaska landscape. All meals Included.
Day 4
As the float plane descends on the Lake, we'll depart knowing that this amazing place has made a lasting impact on our souls. We'll return to Anchorage by early afternoon. Breakfast & Lunch included.
About The Operator:
Alaska Alpine Adventures
Headquarters:
Anchorage, Alaska
Established:
January 1998
Alaska Alpine Adventures was conceptualized during many seasons of exploration throughout Lake Clark National Park by founders Dan Oberlatz and Derek Nelson. During this time, we held odd jobs and lived a life focused on climbing, skiing, and hiking as much of Lake Clark as we could possibly afford. Work simply meant the means to pay for our next flight into the wilderness, and time spent in the wild was the currency we preferred to earn. From first ascents and descents of remote peaks of the Alaska and Aleutian mountain ranges, to extended backpacking trips and speed hikes, our lives were rich with Alaska experience and the lifestyle was wealthy. Our explorations fostered a profound appreciation and respect for the Alaska wilderness, a remarkable skill-set, and a passion for pure wilderness travel. Furthermore, our collection of experiences became the seed for Alaska Alpine Adventures, which became a reality in 1998.
Since our early days on Lake Clark, it is the blend of "what we do" and "who we are" that has made AAA. We are quite simply a group of explorers and naturalists sharing with our guests the incredible beauty of Alaska—The Great Land. Our goal and passion is to give participants the opportunity to experience, through pure adventure travel, the exhilaration, the wonder, the grandeur, and the solitude of Alaska's magnificent national parks and wildlife refuges.
As guides, however, we are more than simply leaders into the areas we venture. Throughout the Alaska Alpine Adventures' experience, we endeavor not only to share these amazing landscapes on foot, raft, skis, or kayak, but also to help our clients develop a sense of commitment to and appreciation for the vast public lands we visit. We strive to be good stewards of the truly wild and intact ecosystems we explore, and are committed to educating ourselves and others to respect and protect the wilderness areas that make these wonderful experiences possible.
Because we promote the educational component of our expeditions, we tend to attract visitors bent on exploring and experiencing "real" Alaska - rather than simply "peak bagging" or "thrill seeking." We believe that this is also due in large part to the fact that we project conservation ethics, cultural awarness, and environmental commitment throughout all aspects of our enterprise.
Our impressive collection of experiences represents not only our history, but also the blueprint for the future of Alaska Alpine Adventures. When you choose to travel with us, you can rest assured that your trip has been meticulously planned and executed by real Alaskans with authentic Alaska know-how, skill, and ability.