Twin Lakes Paddle - Lake Clark National Park
Kayaking in Alaska with Alaska Alpine Adventures
Highlights
- Kayaking and hiking in the wilderness of the spectacular Lake Clark National Park
- A visit to Dick Proenneke's cabin on Twin Lakes
- Some of Alaska's most breathtaking mountain scenery
Full Description
Recognized in 2010 as one of National Geographic's "Tours of a Lifetime", join us to experience Alaska’s best kayaking and hiking trip. The supreme wilderness of Twin Lakes, located in the heart of Lake Clark National Park, is a wonderland of crystalline waters set beneath a rugged rim of mountains and vast tundra expanses. It’s home to various birds of prey, moose and caribou, Dall sheep, Black and Brown bears, and the legacy of Dick Proenneke – the conservationist featured in the popular PBS documentary, Alone in the Wilderness. In 2012, join us September 2-8 for an amazing adventure photography workshop with Alaska fine art photographer David Taylor.
Twin Lakes exudes the truest essence of Lake Clark National Park; a wilderness nirvana, where the allure of living a more simple life, in tune with nature and the changing seasons, captured Mr. Proenneke and will certainly captivate you. For over 30 years Dick Proenneke carved for himself a life in this wilderness, and his hand-hewn log cabin reminds us of his enduring presence. You’ll marvel at the old world resourcefulness and craftsmanship that went into the building of his backcountry home and sense the overwhelming, yet comfortable, solitude that he enjoyed.
With our collapsible kayaks providing unlimited access to the waterways, we’ll paddle and camp along the shorelines of Upper and Lower Twin Lakes. Along the way we’ll stop to stretch our legs hiking into the valleys of Hope and Beech Creeks, climbing into Low Pass, and making a loop through the curiously named Death Valley. These day hikes offer a nice compliment to the clear water kayaking and offer amazing views of the Twin Lakes basin! As the sounds of our floatplane break the calm, we’ll ponder waving off our pilot and building our own cabin on the shore of Twin Lakes.
Includes:
- All group gear (tents, stoves, fuel, kayaks, dry bags, etc.), satellite phone, and safety equipment
- Trekking poles
- Ground Transportation to Merrill Field on Day 1
- Bush flight transportation from Anchorage to Port Alsworth
- All internal bush flights necessary for the trip
- Lodging on night one at a lodge on Lake Clark
- Professional guide service at a maximum 4:1 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
Today you’ll fly from Anchorage to Port Alsworth–one of the most stunning bush flights in Alaska. After meeting your guide, you’ll check into our lakeside lodge on Lake Clark, spend the afternoon hiking to Tanalian Falls, and finish the evening with an orientation/welcome dinner at the lodge. Lunch & Dinner included.
Day 2
This morning you will load into a floatplane for the magnificent bush flight to Lower Twin. We’ll set up camp at the west end of Lower Twin Lake, assemble our kayaks and go for an afternoon hike. We’ll hoist daypacks and head off to explore an area locally known as “Death Valley.” This fluvial filled wash is spectacular and leads us directly into the tundra. We’ll climb another Alaska watershed to a pass and enjoy spectacular views of Big Valley and the mountains surrounding Twin Lakes. All Meals Included.
Day 3
After yet another great breakfast, we’ll load the kayaks and head up the shores of Lower Twin. We’ll spend the day kayaking, picnicking for lunch, and enjoying the remote splendor of this special piece of Alaskan wilderness. As we head east toward the Upper Lake, the mountains will become more dramatic. We’ll scope the shore for wildlife and will make camp near the stream connecting upper and lower Twin Lakes by late afternoon. All Meals Included.
Day 4
We’ll spend our day hiking in the high country that makes up the Beech Creek drainage above and to the south of our camp at the connecting stream. Our hike will take us through a mixed spruce woodland forest and up into a tundra carpeted watershed above the lake. The views of Emerson Creek and the Alaska Range to the north will inspire us for tomorrow’s hiking adventure to Emerson Falls and the kayaking on upper Twin Lake. All Meals Included.
Day 5
The early dawn will greet us with more adventure and we’ll start is all by lining our kayaks up the connecting stream. After a couple of hours of walking our boats up the creek, we’ll be kayaking the azure waters of Upper Twin Lake. We’ll make our way over to the mouth of Emerson Creek and will set up camp. We’ll grab a healthy lunch and a couple of energy bars and start hiking up to the falls. Emerson is a spectacular Alaska drainage and the waterfall was one of Dick Proenneke’s favorite places to visit. The day will conclude with a gourmet dinner and, as always, a dessert will that nourish our bodies for a good night’s sleep. All Meals Included.
Day 6
Today we’ll paddle to Hope Creek and our camp for the final night. Alaska size peaks will dominate our panorama and the solitude of kayaking Upper Twin will entrance us. Camping near the mouth of Hope Creek allows a short walk to Dick Proenneke’s cabin. After a hearty dinner, we’ll make our first visit to Proenneke’s cabin – his year-round home from 1968-98. We hope you feel Dick’s spirit as you wander about his property, admire is craftsmanship and imagine his existence so far from our modern world. All Meals Included.
Day 7
Today we will break camp and await our floatplane pick-up. We’ll return to Port Alsworth on Lake Clark by early afternoon After showers and a celebratory lunch, we’ll tally up our wildlife sightings, and revel in the adventure that we will never forget. We’ll then pay an afternoon visit to the Lake Clark National Park visitor’s center where you’ll have a chance to purchase maps and postcards. You’ll then board an afternoon charter flight to Anchorage. If you are departing Alaska on this day, please schedule all homebound flights for after 9 pm. 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.