GLACIER & TUNDRA
ALASKAN TREK
Multi Day
- Backpacking
- Expert
A challenging and uniquely Alaskan trek
Fly out to the Western side of the Kennicott Glacier and witness a uniquely Alaskan scene – Mt. Blackburn (5th tallest peak in the US) towers over the massive Kennicott Glacier and its colorful moraine. Not for the faint of heart, this route challenges even experienced backpackers with relentless “micro-terrain”, difficult moraine, ever-changing glacial rivers, and even some light bushwacking to boot! With only one bush flight for access, this is one of our most affordable backpacking trips.
We want to emphasize the difficulty of this trip. The route starts and ends at roughly the same elevation and there are no major passes to cross. All the elevation gain and loss, and it is significant, is made up of constant ups and downs on uneven and incredibly rugged terrain. In fact, the only flat spots you may encounter will be where you set up your tents!
- Challenging and uniquely Alaskan terrain
- Extensive glacial exposure and exploration
- Incomparable views of Mt. Blackburn and other huge and snowy peaks
- Opportunity to climb Mt. Donoho
- Less expensive trip with only 1 short bush flight
- Ice climb Add-on available for Private Trips
Trip Details
Trip Length
5 days
Total Mileage
20-30mi
Total Elevation Gain/Loss
4,000’
Rates
Private Solo
$3,400
Private 2 Participant
$2,075/person
Private 3-6 Participants
$1,650/person
Group
$1,450/person
Group Trip Dates
Aug 20-24, 2023
Private Trips with custom dates are available. Schedule a call with our Expedition Coordinator to plan your Private Trip today!
There is a reason Alaska has such a rugged allure for the lower 48 and beyond: it is still wild! This raw and untamed landscape offers our clients the opportunity to authentically pioneer new territory and have real adventures. Part of embracing the “Alaska Factor” is understanding that things may not always go as planned and expecting the unexpected. Water levels might rise, snow might fall, glaciers may shift and move – the landscape is dynamic and unpredictable is what makes Alaska, Alaska!
All of our trips are customized as they unfold and your guide will fluidly make decisions based on weather, logistics, and group dynamics to maximize each day’s experience. There can be quite a bit of variation, but on each trip we promise a big slice of the real Alaska and authentic adventure!
DAY 0
DAY 1
A short flight over the Kennicott Glacier brings you to a cool natural half-pipe of the lateral moraine. Although you can see the red buildings of Kennecott in the distance, nothing could make you feel more remote than the 2 enormous rivers of ice and mountains that make up the space in between. You’ll start moving immediately to set up your camp on the high benches overlooking the scene. Tomorrow’s a big day.
DAY 2
Crossing the Kennicott Glacier and its many stripes of moraine is one of the most challenging sections of route on any of our backpacking trips. Constant ups and downs over rock and ice are broken up by other-worldly scenes like enormous blue pools, thundering glacial waterfalls and rivers, fossils on the moraine, and views of a massive white mountain skyline of some of the tallest peaks in the country. Tonight you’ll camp right on the glacier!
DAY 3
Waking up at the confluence of the Gates and Kennicott Glacier, you’ll have some time today to poke around the Dr. Suessian world of glacial ice of the Gates Glacier. Notoriously cracked up and featured, the Gates Glacier provides on the most unique places for glacial exploration. Donning your heavy packs you’ll make your way toward land again and cross the final Kennicott moraine into Donoho Basin.
DAY 4
Waking up to views of the summit of Mt. Donoho overhead and the fins of the Gates behind you, you’ll start making your way through the lush and green Donoho Basin. Taking breaks at the two big lakes, you’ll shwack your way through the willows and make your way through the teeny tiny plantlife of the tundra. For those with an endless thirst for physical challenge, today could be spent hiking up the steep slopes of Mt. Donoho for an additional 5,000’ gain with incredibly rewarding 360 views of the valley.
DAY 5
Today will involve one more glacier crossing – the Root Glacier. Check out the little green glacier mice that live on the Root and enjoy a mile-high backdrop of the Stairway Icefall as you cross the West and East lobes of the ice. The Root Glacier Trail will seem like a dream to your tired ankles as you make your way into Kennecott, appreciating anew the labor of the old-timers in taming this raw wilderness.
- Customized trip planning
- Logistics consultation*
- Your professional guide(s) – 4:1 ratio
- Orientation and a Gear Shakedown
- Stunning 25min bush flights in and out of the backcountry
- All the food on the trip
- Group gear (bear canisters, cookware, fuel, tents**)
*Upgrade to a Trip Package and have logistics included with your trip!
**We recommend that you bring your own tent if possible
What’s not included?
- Gratuities
- Personal camping and hiking gear
- Logistics
You’ll need to be in McCarthy the day before your trip begins for an Orientation and Gear Shakedown. You’ll meet your guide, grab group gear and make sure you are fully prepared to go into the backcountry.
Please account for a full day for travel both to and from McCarthy and the next Alaskan destination. We don’t recommend leaving McCarthy the last day of your trip as this cuts significantly into your last backcountry day and usually makes for a very hectic drive.
Check out our Transportation Page to learn how to get to and from McCarthy. Check out our Lodging Page for lodging recommendations in the area.
Trip Package
If you are planning your trip +2 months before your trip start date, upgrade to a Trip Package! A Trip Package will include transportation to/from McCarthy, local lodging, and any other local activities you’re interested in. We charge a non-refundable $50 Trip Package fee per person for this service.
This is a Advanced Backpacking Trip. 
On our Advanced Trips, we will be completely off-trail trail for the entirety of the trip, traversing some combination of steep and rocky slopes, tussocky and squishy tundra, loose and dynamic moraine, thick brush and/or slick glacial ice in crampons – all of it uneven and hilly. On these trips, you will cover 6-10mi/day with up to 2500’ of elevation gain/loss while carrying your own gear along with a portion of the group gear (total pack weights usually come in at 40-50lbs). We highly recommend starting physical training in preparation for Moderate trips 2-3 months in advance. These trips are great for very fit hikers or backpackers with at least four +3-day trips under their belts, but honestly, the more experience you have, the better prepared you will be for the “Alaska factor”!
GALLERY
GET IN TOUCH
WITH AN EXPEDITION
COORDINATOR!
FAQ
All the pictures and descriptions sound amazing! How do I know what’s right for me? Here are some things to think about when selecting a trip:
What is my #1 goal for this adventure? Do I want to relax and get away from a hectic schedule? Do I want to push myself on an epic and athletically challenging journey? Create life-long memories with my family or partner? Learn skills from the experts and grow my scope as a mountain athlete? See new landscapes and experience Alaska’s unique glaciated terrain?
What are my interests? Birding, animals, photography, geology, wildflowers, journaling, athleticism, spirituality, art, technical climbing, etc.
Will this trip be part of a bigger Alaska trip? Where else am I going and what else will I see? Our glaciated terrain, history, high-altitude peaks, and vast backcountry wilderness are what set us apart from other areas in Alaska.
What am I comfortable with at my current level of knowledge, experience, and physical and mental ability? Alaska is bigger and tougher than anything in the lower 48 and it’s a great place to push yourself, but you want to be realistic and make sure you have a good foundation to build upon if reaching for higher heights.
We pride ourselves on cooking healthy and delicious meals even under the most adverse conditions! Your exact menu will depend on the trip, your guide, and the dietary preferences/restrictions you list in your Trip Application. No matter what kind of cook your guide is at home, all our guides are well-trained backcountry chefs and use time-tested recipes from our proprietary cookbook for their trips. We carry a plentiful and varied stock of ingredients and most meals are prepared from scratch (allowing for easy substitutions, additions or subtractions of ingredients). We onlyt use pre-packed freeze-dried meals on summit pushes on our mountaineering expeditions.
On our backpacking and basecamp trips, you can expect 3 meals a day, plus snacks of your choice. Breakfasts and dinners are usually hot meals and lunches are served cold. On mountaineering trips lunches consist of a variety of snacks as it can be hard to organize group meals while on a rope team.
We use a combination of fresh, dehydrated, and freeze-dried ingredients to make our delicious meals, however on longer backpacking and mountaineering trips your guides will use more freeze-dried foods than fresh foods to keep pack weights as low as possible. On our rafting trips, we cook full multi-course meals with fresh ingredients and enjoy hot and cold breakfasts, cold lunches and hot dinners.
Meals for most trips start with Lunch on the first day and end with Lunch on the last day. *
*If you are signed up for a Custom Trip Package with us, it may include more meals. Check with us if you’re not sure. Mountaineering trips also include meals in McCarthy before and after the backcountry expedition.
We understand that you may have luggage or things you don’t want to bring into the backcountry with you so we have a designated area at our headquarters where your guide will label and store your stuff while you’re out. This area is not locked, however, we have never had any issues with loss or damage. If you have a small item of great value that you are particularly nervous about, we may be able to store it in our office for you – just ask your guide.
On the Chitina River, Copper River, Source to Sea, or Custom Trips with different start and end points, any luggage you leave behind with us will be brought out to meet you at the end of the trip.
