Slideshow

Galleries

Turquoise Glacier High Route : We pioneered this route in 2006 and found it to be perhaps Alaska’s most quintessential backpacking trip. In addition to the magical solitude and intimate beauty of Lake Clark National Park, this traverse also gives a comprehensive introduction to Alaska backcountry travel – float plane-only access, wide open tundra ridge hiking, icy river crossings, trekking on glaciers, and backpacking through trail-less wilderness. The route meanders southward through alpine regions of the Lake Clark Wilderness: from Telaquana Lake, past the rugged splendor of Turquoise Lake, and ten days later to a finish at Dick Proenneke’s log cabin on Twin Lakes. Want to take this trip? visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/turquoise-glacier-high-route-lake-clark-national-park.html

Turquoise Glacier High Route

We pioneered this route in 2006 and found it to be perhaps Alaska’s ...

Updated: Jan 28, 2010 10:02am PST

Turquoise to Twin Traverse : Join Alaska Alpine Adventures on our signature backpacking trip through this most amazing region of Lake Clark National Park! After an incredible evening at the lodge and a thorough introduction to Lake Clark, we’ll load up the Cessna floatplane and take-off north into the heart of the Park. Arriving at Turquoise Lake, we will be greeted by one of the most spectacular views Alaska has to offer. We will stand in awe as 6000' of vertical relief towers above and to the east of our first camp; to the west, endless sweeps of tundra will beckon the hiker inside all of us. This glacial lake, nestled beneath the Alaska Range, offers some of the best hiking, wildlife viewing and bird watching in the Park, and remains one of our favorite places in Alaska to backpack and explore. For more information on the Turquoise to Twin Traverse, visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/turquoise-to-twin-traverse-lake-clark-national-park.html

Turquoise to Twin Traverse

Join Alaska Alpine Adventures on our signature backpacking trip throug ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 5:47pm PST

Upper Kijik Headwaters : This backpacking trip in Lake Clark National Park is both breathtaking and challenging. Though each and every Alaska Alpine Adventure is spectacular, there are some that effectively combine the best components of a real Alaska adventure – inspiring mountain scenery, unbelievable hiking on a carpet of alpine tundra, and chances to view Alaska's awesome big game animals. For more information about this amazing adventure, visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/upper-kijik-headwaters-lake-clark-national-park.html

Upper Kijik Headwaters

This backpacking trip in Lake Clark National Park is both breathtaking ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 5:55pm PST

Exploring the Northern Revelations : With more guided backpacking expeditions into this area than anyone, it’s easy for us to say that the Revelations are likely one of the least visited and most spectacular mountain ranges in Alaska. Stretching for over 100 miles, this range comprises the westernmost portion of the mighty Alaska Range. With peaks towering over 9000’, the Revelation Mountains present a scale that is incomprehensible. In 2009, owner Dan Oberlatz and Mark Stevens spent 12-days traversing the northernmost portion of the range. They were so impressed with the magnificent landscape, they decided that it was worth sharing. In that spirit, we offer this trip. We’ll likely visit valleys that have never seen a human footstep. This challenging Alaska backpacking trip will be our 5th exploratory expedition into the area. Join us to see why we keep coming back! With its towering, jagged peaks still being sculpted by glacial forces, the Revelation Mountains stand as a beautiful and powerful representation of the power of Mother Nature’s hand. Forged during the last ice age and bordered by the Stony River to the south and the Kuskokwim River to the north, the Revelations are an idyllic mountain destination and a backpacking paradise. Want to visit the Revelations? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/exploring-the-northern-revelation-mountains-lake-clark-national-park.html

Exploring the Northern Revelations

With more guided backpacking expeditions into this area than anyone, i ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 10:07am PST

Revelation Range Circuit : Alaska Alpine Adventures is the only company guiding backpacking trips into this part of Alaska, and we have been leading adventures into the Revelations since 2000. Our experience in this part of Alaska is unparalleled and we are assuring that you will come away from this adventure as a knowledgeable and skilled wilderness explorer, never again to be bound to the trails and sidewalks that make some wilderness areas seem so artificial. Are you ready for a backpacking trip in one of North America’s most remote mountain ranges? There are many underexplored places in Alaska, and then there are places that remain almost completely unexplored. The Revelation Range is one such place, a mountain range so rugged and remote that it has been avoided by all but an intrepid few. It is home to some of the world's tallest granite walls, is likely to have seen only a handful of mountaineering parties, and fewer successful ascents. This is the quintessential alpine playground for those who thrive on visiting truly remote and beautiful mountain ranges. Ready to test your wilderness savvy in the Revelation Mountains? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/revelation-range-circuit-lake-clark-national-park.html for more information!

Revelation Range Circuit

Alaska Alpine Adventures is the only company guiding backpacking trips ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 9:56am PST

Exploring the Neocola Mountains :

Exploring the Neocola Mountains

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 4:01pm PST

Twin Lakes Paddle : 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. 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. Interested in experiencing the wilderness as Dick Proenneke did? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/twin-lakes-paddle-lake-clark-national-park.html for more information on this amazing place!

Twin Lakes Paddle

Experience Alaska’s best kayaking and hiking trip. The supreme wilde ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 10:24am PST

Turquoise Kayak and Hike : This kayaking and hiking trip in Lake Clark National Park is a classic! As you steal a glimpse of Turquoise Lake from the windows of our floatplane for the first time, you will realize immediately how it received its name, and why we keep coming back to this extraordinary place. Guarded by 8000’ peaks to the east, and endless tundra to the west, Turquoise Lake is nestled between Telaquana Lake and Twin Lakes, in the heart of Lake Clark National Park. This 7-day adventure gives the adventure traveler the chance to thoroughly explore this amazing and beautiful Alaska watershed; kayaking the turquoise waters, hiking to the edges of mighty glaciers, and exploring the hillsides for the many animals that call this place home. Looking for an amazing combination of hiking and kayaking in one of the most pristine settings in Alaska? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/turquoise-kayak-and-hike-lake-clark-national-park.html for details about this adventure!

Turquoise Kayak and Hike

This kayaking and hiking trip in Lake Clark National Park is a classic ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 10:27am PST

The Tlikikila River : People have called the flight through Lake Clark Pass one of the most stunning in Alaska. It takes you through a rugged canyon walled on either side by dramatic peaks, tumbling glaciers, and spectacular waterfalls. Dense green vegetation clings to the steep hillsides in stark contrast to the white glaciated basins above and the chalky Tlikikila River cuts a wide and braided swath beneath it all. This is Alaska at its finest, the epitome of wilderness and the essence of Lake Clark National Park. The one way to top a flight through Lake Clark Pass is to float through it. To raft these silty waters from the summit to Lake Clark is to take part in a whitewater journey that few ever have, and to behold the surrounding beauty from the river itself is a treat like no other in Alaska. Interested is floating one of Alaska's most amazing rivers? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/tlikikila-river-lake-clark-national-park.html for more information!

The Tlikikila River

People have called the flight through Lake Clark Pass one of the most ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 11:27am PST

Kontrashibuna Gladiator Combination : It wouldn't be a complete season if we didn't offer our favorite combination Alaska kayaking and backpacking adventure! The secret alpine basin we will be exploring has seen very little visitation and remains one of our favorite places to roam. After a night in Port Alsworth, including a dinner and orientation highlighting our backcountry philosophies and techniques, we will hoist our packs and begin the short hike to Kontrashibuna Lake. As we pass Tanalian Falls, a large waterfall on the Tanalian River, keep in mind that it is this obstacle that has kept Sockeye Salmon from using this Lake Clark tributary as a spawning ground. When we reach the lake, you will be given a brief lesson on kayak safety and operation, and before long we will all be paddling the waters of this Alaskan gem. Kontrashibuna Lake, or 'special K' as we like to call it, is definitely one of the most beautiful lakes in Lake Clark National Park. Its deep clear waters are home to huge fish and, at 15 miles long and one half of a mile wide at its widest point, it feels more like a big river than a lake. Kayaking this body of water is exhilarating and breathtaking. At an elevation of 459 feet Kontrashibuna Lake winds its way through Chigmit Mountain peaks that tower 4500 vertical feet above its crystal clear azure waters. We’ll then spend 5-days backpacking in Gladiator Basin – a spectacular valley high in the Chigmits! Want to take this trip? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/kontrashibuna/gladiator-combination-lake-clark-national-park.html

Kontrashibuna Gladiator Combination

It wouldn't be a complete season if we didn't offer our favorite combi ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 10:32am PST

Chilikadrotna River : Join us for an amazing Alaska rafting and hiking trip along one of Alaska’s most famed rivers. Flowing west from the Alaska Range is a river so beautiful and classic that it has been federally designated and protected as a Wild and Scenic River. The Chilikadrotna, locally referred to as the 'Chili', offers the river rafter and fisherman a wonderful trip descending one of Alaska's most remote and spectacular waterways. We will begin this rafting and hiking adventure in the heart, and what many have called the soul, of Lake Clark National Park – the astoundingly beautiful Twin Lakes. Float-planes will place us on the shore of Lower Twin, where we’ll spend the first day exploring this wonderful wilderness nirvana. Nestled near timberline, Twin Lakes offers incredible tundra hiking second to none in Alaska. The mountains that surround this alpine lake beckon to be explored, and as we let our feet carry us up ridges and over tundra, we'll keep our eyes out for Dall sheep, caribou, moose and bear. After a full-day exploring Twin Lakes on foot, we’ll then launch our inflatable canoes and begin our rafting adventure down the Chilikadrotna River. As we move down the river, our camps will be situated on riverside gravel bars and close to great fishing. Join us for an amazing float trip in Lake Clark National Park, and experience Alaska as it was meant to be experienced! Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/chilikadrotna-river-lake-clark-national-park.html for more information!

Chilikadrotna River

Join us for an amazing Alaska rafting and hiking trip along one of Ala ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 11:22am PST

Powder Steeps and Glaciers : Welcome to Alaska’s most remote and spectacular ski-mountaineering adventures! Accessing the range by ski plane, we’ll spend the first week camped on the glacier practicing backcountry and glacier travel skills and searching out memorable first ascents and descents. The second week will be spent touring European-style through glacier passes and dramatic peaks. Remote, stunning, diverse, and magical, are just a few adjectives that we've come up with to describe the Neacola Mountains. Located approximately 120 air miles west/southwest of Anchorage, the Neacola Mountains comprise the southernmost portion of the massive Alaska Range. At roughly 150 square miles, this small portion of Lake Clark National Park offers some of the finest ski touring and ski mountaineering potential in the entire state of Alaska. What’s even more enticing is the fact that the Neacolas have seen very little in the way of skiing or climbing activity. This means we will be skiing some beautiful first descents! Given the northern nature of Alaska, these relatively low elevation mountains provide excellent skiing with great snow quality on a variety of terrain within easy touring of our basecamps. Another great thing about the lower elevations is that it is much easier to reach the top of the peaks without contending with altitude issues! This means great skiing within your grasp. Also, there isn't a heli ski operation for many miles so it is just you and your guides and the spectacular skiing terrain of this pristine winter environment. Except for an occasional reference on the USGS topographic maps, most of the peaks and glaciers in the Neacola Mountains remain not only unskied, but also unclimbed and unnamed. Want to ski big, untracked powder with Alaska Alpine Adventures? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/powder-steeps-and-glaciers-lake-clark-national-park.html for more information!

Powder Steeps and Glaciers

Welcome to Alaska’s most remote and spectacular ski-mountaineering a ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 2:49pm PST

Alaska Ski Mountaineering : Remote, stunning, diverse, and magical, are just a few adjectives that we've come up with to describe the Neacola Mountains. Located approximately 120 air-miles west/southwest of Anchorage, the Neacola Mountains comprise the southernmost portion of the massive Alaska Range. They have been best described as a heavily glaciated version of Washington’s North Cascades. At roughly 150 square miles in size, this small portion of Lake Clark National Park offers some of the finest ski touring and ski mountaineering potential in the entire state of Alaska. What’s even more enticing is the fact that the Neacolas have seen very little in the way of skiing or climbing activity. Given the latitude, these relatively low elevation mountains provide excellent skiing with great snow quality on a variety of terrain within easy touring of our base camps. Another great thing about the lower elevations is that it much easier to reach the top of the peaks and passes without contending with altitude issues! This means great skiing within your grasp. Furthermore, there isn't a heli ski operation within many miles so it is just you and your guides and the spectacular skiing terrain of this pristine winter environment. Except for an occasional reference on the USGS topographic maps, most of the peaks and glaciers in the Neacola Mountains remain not only unskied but also unclimbed and unnamed.

Alaska Ski Mountaineering

Remote, stunning, diverse, and magical, are just a few adjectives that ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 3:49pm PST

Turquoise Lake : Hiking and camping in Alaska doesn’t get any better than this! Located 150 miles west of Anchorage and accessible only by float plane, this remote gem is the heart and soul of Lake Clark National Park. Nestled in a stunning amphitheater beneath 6,000’ walls of rock and ice, our basecamp at this glacial lake offers some of Alaska’s best hiking, wildlife viewing and fishing. All you need is a daypack to explore this amazing place. Imagine spending your days exploring the vast tundra and returning to camp for a delicious lakeside feast of smoked salmon under the midnight sun. Are you ready to experience Turquoise Lake? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/turquoise-lake-lake-clark-national-park.html for information!

Turquoise Lake

Hiking and camping in Alaska doesn’t get any better than this! Locat ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 4:51pm PST

Tents and Trails : How do you envision Alaska? Is it seen from a sea kayak as massive mountains of ice crash into the sea in the distance? Is it the simple pleasure in tired muscles after a long day on the trail? Is it the exhilaration of encountering North America's largest land carnivore on her own turf? The truth is, all of these experiences and adventures in three of Alaska's best National Parks can be yours in one trip. As we loop across the biggest state we'll go in search of all the wondrous sights and experiences that make a trip to Alaska so rewarding; exploring with the wild creatures and magnificent peaks of Denali; sea kayaking among the calving glaciers and abundant sea life of Kenai Fjords National Park; and hiking beneath the incomparable mountain scenery of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Interested in experiencing an amazing sampler of the best of Alaska's adventures? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/tents-and-trails-multisport-kenai-fjords-wrangell-st.-elias-and-denali-national-parks.html for details!

Tents and Trails

How do you envision Alaska? Is it seen from a sea kayak as massive mou ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 3:53pm PST

Kesugi Ridge : Do you want to go backpacking in Denali? With its jaw-dropping view of Mt. McKinley, its inexpensive access, broad array of flora and fauna and tremendous ecological diversity, the tundra-covered Kesugi Ridge in Denali State Park offers backpackers of all ages and abilities the chance to completely immerse themselves in a truly pristine Alaskan wilderness. This five night, 28 mile outing will take us through lowland birch, spruce and cottonwoods from Little Coal Creek to Byers Lake, and over the tundra carpeted crest of the ridge itself. In addition to moose, caribou and bears, this route treats visitors to the most fantastic views of Denali (North America's highest peak at 20,320 ft), that Alaska has to offer! Are you ready to explore Alaska? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/kesugi-ridge-denali-state-park.html for more information!

Kesugi Ridge

The Goat Trail : Take a backpacking trip on Alaska’s Goat Trail and experience Wrangell-St. Elias National Park! The list of superlatives is staggering. In addition to being America's largest national park (larger than Rhode Island and Vermont combined!), Wrangell-St. Elias is home to the continent’s largest assemblage of glaciers, the second highest peak in the US, and the greatest number of peaks above 16,000 feet. Backpacking through this amazing wilderness along the famed Goat Trail will both defy your imagination and test your wilderness skill set. With just enough "trails" to make the route manageable, this adventure includes the perfect array of challenge (off-trail navigation, numerous river crossings, and steep terrain!), wildlife, stunning mountain scenery, and remote solitude. Ready to test your wilderness skill set on the famed "Goat Trail"? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/the-goat-trail-wrangell-st.-elias-national-park.html for details!

The Goat Trail

Take a backpacking trip on Alaska’s Goat Trail and experience Wrange ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 5:20pm PST

Source to Sea : Ready for Alaska's ultimate lodge-based hiking, kayaking, rafting, and glacier adventure? Welcome to Alaska Alpine Adventures Source to Sea Multsport! Alaska's greatest asset may be its astounding diversity, and the state’s superlatives simply defy the imagination. Alaska is home to Prince William Sound – a diverse maritime complex of tidewater glaciers and deep fjords; Wrangell-St. Elias – America's largest National Park and home to nine of the 16 highest peaks on the continent; Denali – the highest peak in North America at 20,320’; and to countless treasures that fill the pages of coffee table books around the world. Ready for adventure? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/source-to-sea-multisport-kenai-fjords-wrangell-st.-elias-denali-national-parks.html for trip details and the experience of a lifetime!

Source to Sea

Ready for Alaska's ultimate lodge-based hiking, kayaking, rafting, and ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 3:19pm PST

The Valley Experience : Backpacking in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes in Katmai National Park is a trip of a lifetime. Near the end of the Alaska Peninsula and along the crest of the Pacific Rim of fire there sits a National Park of legend and lore. This park, Katmai, is home to the largest brown bear population in the world, holds the spawning grounds of literally millions of sockeye salmon, and contains within its wild borders the unaltered evidence of one of the world's most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded. What remains today is a vast area known as the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, and, even nearly 90 years after the cataclysmic eruption, the landscape still bears the scars. Brimming with adventurous possibility and inviting exploration, Katmai's Valley of 10,000 Smokes is a backpackers dream. Rimmed with active, glaciated volcanoes, and blanketed with a hiker-friendly surface of sand and ash from a massive 1912 eruption, the Valley is a must-see for anyone with a "peak" experience in mind. On this trip we will circumnavigate the valley floor, with stops along the way to make non-technical ascents of Mt. Griggs, Mt. Mageik, and the Mt. Katmai Caldera. Backpacking in Katmai and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is wilderness like nowhere else on Earth. Are you ready to experience Katmai? VIsit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/the-valley-experience-katmai-national-park.html for details!

The Valley Experience

Backpacking in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes in Katmai National Pa ...

Updated: Dec 18, 2009 5:41pm PST

Exploring the North Wrangells : Are you looking to test your off-trail backpacking skills in America’s largest national park? This rarely seen area of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is arguably Alaska’s most dramatic wilderness and offers one of the few places on earth where you can hike on dry tundra directly beneath a vertical and heavily glaciated north face over 7000’ tall. Shaped by volcanoes and scoured by ice ages, the north Wrangells give experienced backpackers the rare opportunity to feel like a mountaineer and travel like an explorer. Our 50-mile route will take you across glaciers, swift creeks, high mountain passes, and wide-open tundra. Combine all of this with some of the most reliable weather in Alaska, and you have the makings of a true backpacking adventure of a lifetime. Are you interested in seeing some of the largest country in Alaska? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/exploring-the-north-wrangells-wrangell-st.-elias-national-park.html for more information!

Exploring the North Wrangells

Are you looking to test your off-trail backpacking skills in America ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 10:15am PST

Kayaking the Katmai Coast : Join Alaska Alpine Adventures for this amazing sea kayaking journey along one of the most remote and stunning coastlines in North America. The coast of Katmai National Park is one of the most spectacular and ecologically diverse areas in Alaska. Its rugged beaches are home to some of the largest brown bear concentrations in the world and its waters and shores support some of the richest marine life in the Pacific. It is home to hundreds of species of migratory birds such as puffins, cormorants, murres and kittiwakes. Birds of prey patrol the beaches, whales and porpoises frolic in the clear Pacific, and thousands of salmon spawn in many of the park’s rivers. Katmai holds within its borders 15 active volcanoes – more than any park in the world – and remains one of the most geologically active places on earth! Additionally, the coastal region that Katmai National Park and Preserve encompasses contains one of the richest and most concentrated prehistoric and protohistoric cultural resources known in Alaska. If paddling to remote places is your style, visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/kayaking-the-katmai-coast-katmai-national-park.html and join us for this experience of a lifetime!

Kayaking the Katmai Coast

Join Alaska Alpine Adventures for this amazing sea kayaking journey al ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 11:07am PST

The Kongakut River : Rafting and hiking in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is simply a trip of a lifetime. ANWR is one of the least visited and remote areas left in North America, and, despite the media attention it receives, it offers the opportunity for unparalleled exploratory adventure. Though the exact number is unknown, it is estimated that the 19 million acre refuge – an area the size of South Carolina – receives approximately 1500 recreational visitors a year. It is this type of trip in this type of wilderness that inspires Alaska Alpine Adventures, and we will visit the refuge again in 2010 to lead this spectacular trip down ANWR’s Kongakut River. ANWR lives up to its description as “America’s Serengeti” and this vast area supports more species and habitat diversity than any conservation area in the northern hemisphere. The US Fish and Wildlife Service calls the refuge, "The only conservation system unit that protects, in an undisturbed condition, a complete spectrum of the arctic ecosystems in North America." Caribou, polar bears, grizzlies and muskoxen wander the north slope of the Brooks Range and the highest concentration of nesting golden eagles in Alaska make the Kongakut River corridor their summer home. Humans also have a long history in the Arctic and the Gwich’in people of northeast Alaska and northwest Canada have depended on this vast area and its porcupine caribou herd for thousands of generations. Want to take this trip? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/kongakut-river-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge.html for details!

The Kongakut River

Rafting and hiking in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is simply a ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 11:41am PST

Arrigetch Alatna Pack Raft : Our exciting 12-day combination adventure will take us backpacking amongst the Arrigetch range and rafting down the Alatna River. “As I walked for hours beneath the stupendous grandeur of these colossal mountains, I felt humble and insignificant.” - Robert Marshall – Alaska Wilderness, Exploring the Central Brooks Range Gates of the Arctic National Park, despite being the recipient of frequent media attention over the past 45 years, remains one of the most remote and unspoiled places on earth. Its 8.4 million acres cover an area twice the size of Connecticut and only slightly smaller than Switzerland. The park is essentially a road less wilderness area and, except for limited and difficult access along the Dalton highway; most recreational visitors choose to enter the park via chartered airplane. The aviators who make their livelihood flying this area know this remote and mountainous region better than anyone. They provide us with access to places like the Arrigetch Peaks! Arrigetch, which means “fingers of the hand extended” is an area comprised of a tilted intrusion of granite that has been hailed as the hallmark of Gates of the Arctic. Perhaps Bob Marshall described the area best when he called Arrigetch “…a series of sensational needlelike peaks extending in a horseshoe around a gushing creek which rose in the glacier.” Interested in seeing Gates of the Arctic National Park? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/arrigetch-alatna-pack-raft-gates-of-the-arctic-national-park.html for details!

Arrigetch Alatna Pack Raft

Our exciting 12-day combination adventure will take us backpacking amo ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 12:14pm PST

The Charley River : Rafting the Charley River in Alaska is one of the most amazing multi-day whitewater rafting trips anywhere! The Charley River is a cold, clear, intermediate stream that flows from its headwaters at approximately 4,000 feet elevation to its confluence with the Yukon at about 700 feet. Designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, the Charley offers varied and spectacular scenery as well as unspoiled wilderness. Ready to test your river skills on the Charley River? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/charley-river-yukon-charley-rivers-national-preserve.html for more information!

The Charley River

Rafting the Charley River in Alaska is one of the most amazing multi-d ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 12:29pm PST

The Aniakchak River : Join us this summer for a truly exploratory hiking and rafting expedition into the seldom visited Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, located along the volcanically active “Ring of Fire” in the heart of the Aleutian mountains. We’ll spend the first part of the trip hiking around Surprise Lake and exploring the 2500’ deep caldera, the impressive remnant of a massive volcanic eruption 3500 years ago. The expedition will culminate with an exciting 4-day rafting trip down the spectacular Aniakchak River where you’ll float from a volcano to the sea. Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, encompassing 586,000 acres of pristine Alaska wilderness, offers amazing hiking, incredible rafting, and some of the wildest weather in Alaska in one of the least visited and most remote units of the National Park System. Interested in going where few have gone? Seeing what few have seen? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/aniakchak-river-aniakchak-national-monument.html for details!

The Aniakchak River

Join us this summer for a truly exploratory hiking and rafting expedit ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 12:45pm PST

Iliamna Volcano : One hundred miles southwest of Anchorage, stand the Chigmit Mountains—a desolate and heavily glaciated, sub-range of the mighty Aleutian Range. The giants of the Chigmits, Iliamna (10,016), and Redoubt (10,197), are active volcanoes rising directly from sea level to summit. On a clear day, these volcanoes are visible from Anchorage and inspire the climber in all of us. Despite their proximity to Anchorage, these stunning peaks offer isolation and moderate glaciated challenges. Want to climb a volcano with Alaska Alpine Adventures? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/chigmit-volcanoes-iliamna-lake-clark-national-park.html for details! Redoubt last erupted in 1989 blanketing south central Alaska in a layer of ash and significantly altering its north face. As of March 2009, Redoubt remains in a state of unrest and there is a moderate threat of an eruption. Iliamna however hasn’t seen a volcanic eruption in over 100 years, and though conditions change daily, seismologists and geophysicists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory have said that for now Iliamna won't be blowing its any time soon and is free of deadly gasses and lava flows. We’ll fly from Kenai with pilot Doug Brewer and land at 3000-feet on the Tuxedni Glacier on the north side of the Mountain. Over the next several days we’ll review climbing and rescue skills and explore the area. When weather allows, we’ll ascend almost 6,000 feet from our base camp to the summit. The climbing difficulties will involve sustained 35-degree slopes and possibly some short sections of steep ice through crevasses. Our itinerary allows extra time for weather delays for flying onto the mountain, for summiting, and for flying out.

Iliamna Volcano

One hundred miles southwest of Anchorage, stand the Chigmit Mountains ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 12:52pm PST

Basecamp Bears : Our annual grizzly bear viewing and tundra hiking camp returns for 2010! This once in a lifetime trip is truly a multi-sensory experience for the adventurer looking to view, photograph and admire North America’s most magnificent big game animal. From our comfortable camp (one that we’ve made bear resistant by surrounding with an electric fence), we spend five full days watching the world famous bears of Katmai National Park in a true wilderness setting. Are you ready to experience Katmai in it's truest form? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/basecamp-bears-katmai-national-park.html for trip informations!

Basecamp Bears

Our annual grizzly bear viewing and tundra hiking camp returns for 201 ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 4:44pm PST

Twin Lakes Country : Are you looking for an Alaska hiking trip away from the crowds and immersed completely in the wilderness? Then you need to see Alaska’s Twin Lakes! Enjoy long day hikes from our comfortable, established camp along the shores of Twin Lakes. These rarely-visited, paired tarns draw abundant wildlife for wonderful wilderness wildlife viewing. Explore the lakes' edges, hike up some of the peaks that ring the glacier-carved basin, or simply sit back and enjoy your camp side meal under the midnight sun. This hiking trip is Alaska’s epitome! Want to take this trip and experience Twin Lakes? Visit us at http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/twin-lakes-country-lake-clark-national-park.html for details!

Twin Lakes Country

Are you looking for an Alaska hiking trip away from the crowds and imm ...

Updated: Dec 21, 2009 5:06pm PST

Denali Unexplored - Backpacking Denali National Park : For well over a decade, Alaska Alpine Adventures has been pioneering new backpacking routes through Alaska’s spectacular national parks and wildlife refuges, and while we’ve explored some of the most wild and remote parks the state has to offer, we’ve never guided a backpacking trip into Denali National Park. But in 2010, working in cooperation with the National Park Service under a commercial use authorization, we have been granted permission to guide an exploratory backpacking trip in the southern region of the park. Interested in exploring Denali National Park with us? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/trips/denali-unexplored-backpacking-denali-national-park.html for more information!

Denali Unexplored - Backpacking Denali National Park

For well over a decade, Alaska Alpine Adventures has been pioneering n ...

Updated: Jan 28, 2010 12:45pm PST

Denali Unexplored - Basecamp Hiking in Denali National Park : Established in 1917 with the mission of conserving wildlife, Denali National Park encompasses 6 million acres of Alaska’s wilderness, and is often seen as the crown jewel of the National Park System. Flaunting complete unaltered ecosystems, countless rivers, glaciers and expanses of tundra, and the tallest peak in North America, Denali is not to be missed. Since it’s creation, Denali National Park has been the laboratory of a phenomenal group of scientists who have been able to study the magic of an intact subarctic ecosystem. From Denali’s famed wolves to the abundant caribou and moose populations, the Park holds within its boundaries one of the most incredibly diverse, stable, and most studied wildlife populations in Alaska. Denali has also provided the venue for some of the most amazing feats of exploration in North American history. From the first ascent of The Great One (Denali) to rugged circumnavigations of the park, Denali’s size and magnitude attracts explorers from around the globe. Alaska Alpine Adventures has been guiding trips to Denali since 2003. From hiking to backpacking trips in Denali, our crew of Alaska guides knows the park well. Want to visit Denali National Park? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/denali-national-park.html for more information!

Denali Unexplored - Basecamp Hiking in Denali National Park

Established in 1917 with the mission of conserving wildlife, Denali Na ...

Updated: Jan 27, 2010 2:08pm PST

Lake Clark National Park : To this day, Lake Clark National Park represents the roots of our enterprise. Not only is it where we guided our first trip and the base of summertime operations, it is also the backdrop for most of our itineraries and, quite simply, our favorite place on earth to explore. From white summits of glacier-clad volcanoes, laced ribbons of wild and scenic rivers, endless expanses of verdant tundra, to salmon choked waters of azure lakes, Lake Clark is without equal. Since its creation in 1980 to protect the amazing scenery, abundant wildlife and traditional lifestyles of its residents, it has been hailed as Alaska’s epitome and for Alaska Alpine Adventures it remains home. Lake Clark National Park is situated where the mighty Alaska range collides with the expansive Aleutian Range. It contains roughly 80miles of rugged coastline, countless rivers, glaciers, and unnamed peaks. At just over 4 million acres, Lake Clark is roughly twice the size of Yellowstone National Park and larger than the state of Connecticut. Want to see Lake Clark National Park, up close and personal? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/lake-clark-national-park.html for details!

Lake Clark National Park

To this day, Lake Clark National Park represents the roots of our ente ...

Updated: Jan 28, 2010 9:51am PST

Katmai National Park : At over 3.5 Million acres, Katmai National Park is home to the largest brown bear population in the world, holds the spawning grounds of literally millions of sockeye salmon, and contains within its wild borders the unaltered evidence of one of the world's most powerful volcanic eruptions ever recorded. Although created in 1918 to preserve the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, a landscape completely changed by the 1912 Novarupta eruption, Katmai National park is most known for it’s majestic Brown Bears, most notably those at Brooks Falls. Whether backpacking the austere landscape of the Valley of 10,000 Smokes, bear viewing at a remote camp along a salmon choked river, or padding along the park’s 400 miles of coastline, Katmai National Park remains one of the most spectacular parks in Alaska and is one of our favorite places to explore! Alaska Alpine Adventures has been exploring Katmai National Park since 1999 and we have since completed numerous expeditions across the breadth of the park. From kayaking expeditiond s along the rugged Katmai Coast to mountaineering adventures in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, Alaska Alpine Adventures are your Katmai backpacking, hiking, kayaking, and climbing experts. Interested in experiencing Katmai National Park? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/katmai-national-park.html For trip details!

Katmai National Park

At over 3.5 Million acres, Katmai National Park is home to the largest ...

Updated: Jan 28, 2010 11:44am PST

Wrangell-St.Elias National Park : The list of superlatives is staggering. In addition to being America's largest national park (larger than Rhode Island and Vermont combined!), Wrangell-St. Elias is home to the continent’s largest assemblage of glaciers, the second highest peak in the US, and the greatest number of peaks above 16,000 feet. The Alaska, Chugach and Wrangell-Saint Elias ranges converge in what is referred to as the "mountain kingdom of North America." This spectacular wilderness includes the continent's largest assemblage of glaciers, and the greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 feet, including Mount St. Elias (18,008'), the second highest peak in the United States, the largest non-polar icefield in the world and a boundary that, when combined with Kluane Tatshenshini/Alsek National Park in Canada and with Glacier Bay National Park, encompasses the world’s largest internationally protected area at 24 million acres and is recognized as a World Heritage Site. Alaska Alpine Adventures offers guided trips along the famed Goat Trail and backpacking trips in the north Wrangells. Interested in seeing the wild side of Wrangell-St.Elias National Park? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/wrangell-st-elias-national-park.html for details!

Wrangell-St.Elias National Park

The list of superlatives is staggering. In addition to being America's ...

Updated: Jan 28, 2010 11:50am PST

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge : Rafting and hiking in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is simply a trip of a lifetime. ANWR is one of the least visited and remote areas left in North America, and, despite the media attention it receives, it offers the opportunity for unparalleled exploratory adventure. Though the exact number is unknown, it is estimated that the 19 million acre Arctic refuge – an area the size of South Carolina – receives approximately 1500 recreational visitors a year

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Rafting and hiking in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is simply a ...

Updated: Jan 28, 2010 11:51am PST

Denali National Park : Established in 1917 with the mission of conserving wildlife, Denali National Park encompasses 6 million acres of Alaska’s wilderness, and is often seen as the crown jewel of the National Park System. Flaunting complete unaltered ecosystems, countless rivers, glaciers and expanses of tundra, and the tallest peak in North America, Denali is not to be missed. Since it’s creation, Denali National Park has been the laboratory of a phenomenal group of scientists who have been able to study the magic of an intact subarctic ecosystem. From Denali’s famed wolves to the abundant caribou and moose populations, the Park holds within its boundaries one of the most incredibly diverse, stable, and most studied wildlife populations in Alaska. Denali has also provided the venue for some of the most amazing feats of exploration in North American history. From the first ascent of The Great One (Denali) to rugged circumnavigations of the park, Denali’s size and magnitude attracts explorers from around the globe. Alaska Alpine Adventures has been guiding trips to Denali since 2003. From hiking to backpacking trips in Denali, our crew of Alaska guides knows the park well. Interested in exploring Denali National Park with Alaska Alpine Adventures? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/denali-national-park.html for trip details!

Denali National Park

Established in 1917 with the mission of conserving wildlife, Denali Na ...

Updated: Jan 28, 2010 12:15pm PST

Video Gallery :

Video Gallery

Updated: Jan 06, 2010 4:03pm PST

Gates of the Arctic National Park : Gates of the Arctic National Park, despite being the recipient of frequent media attention over the past 45 years, remains one of the most remote and unspoiled places on earth. Its 8.4 million acres cover an area twice the size of Connecticut and only slightly smaller than Switzerland. The park is essentially a road-less wilderness area and, except for limited and difficult access along the Dalton highway, Most recreational visitors choose to enter the park via chartered airplane. The park is home to the Arrigetch Mountains, which means, “fingers of the hand extended”, and is a mountainous area comprised of a tilted intrusion of granite that has been hailed as the hallmark of Gates of the Arctic. Perhaps Bob Marshall described the area best when he called Arrigetch “…a series of sensational needlelike peaks extending in a horseshoe around a gushing creek which rose in the glacier.” Traversing the landscape below these giants alters our sense of scale as well as our definition of true wilderness. Rafting, hiking, and backpacking in Gates of the Arctic are the activities that Alaska Alpine Adventures specializes in and we have been operating in Gates of the Arctic National Park since 2005. Interested in experiencing Gates of the Arctic National Park? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/gates-of-the-arctic.html for more information!

Gates of the Arctic National Park

Gates of the Arctic National Park, despite being the recipient of freq ...

Updated: Jan 28, 2010 12:28pm PST

Aniakchak National Monument : Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, encompassing 586,000 acres of pristine Alaska wilderness, offers amazing hiking, incredible rafting, and some of the wildest weather in Alaska in one of the least visited and most remote units of the National Park System. A vibrant reminder of Alaska's location in the volcanically active "Ring of Fire," Aniakchak is home to an impressive six-mile wide, 2,500 ft. deep caldera formed during a massive eruption 3,500 years ago. Aniakchak is as far off the beaten path as they come, and is a true representation of the wilderness experience. If you crave the unexplored, the untouched, and the untraveled – look no further. The hiking, wildlife, bear viewing, and rafting in the remote Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve is simply amazing and the guides at Alaska Alpine Adventures are excited to share it with you! Interested in going where few people go? Want to experience Alaska in the raw? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/aniakchak-national-monument.html for more information!

Aniakchak National Monument

Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, encompassing 586,000 acres of ...

Updated: Jan 29, 2010 10:25am PST

Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve : The 1.1 Million acre watershed of the Charley River is the only complete watershed managed by the federal government. Located within the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, the Charley River is a cold, clear, intermediate stream that flows from its headwaters at approximately 4000 feet elevation to its confluence with the Yukon at about 700 feet. Designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, the Charley offers varied and spectacular scenery as well as unspoiled wilderness. The upland valleys drain a rugged mountain area where peaks over 6000 feet are common and with a gradient of 31 feet per mile and a rating of Class 3, the Charley has been called the best whitewater river in Alaska’s vast interior. Wildlife in the corridor is abundant and peregrine falcons, sheep, caribou, moose, and bears may be encountered along the narrower sections of the river. For one of Alaska’s best rafting adventures, choose Alaska’s best wilderness guides and our guided trip down the Charley River. Interested in rafting the Charley River? Visit http://www.alaskaalpineadventures.com/yukon-charley-rivers-national-preserve.html for more information!

Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve

The 1.1 Million acre watershed of the Charley River is the only comple ...

Updated: Jan 29, 2010 10:30am PST