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A "High" Adventure Trip perfect for a sampling of Alaska's best! This is a camping tour designed to experience camping in Alaska's backcountry in a weeks trip. This is our most popular trip because we have taken a kayak camping tour that visits our favorite destination and combined it with an unforgettable base camp style fly-in backpacking trip. The Alaskan Sampler is a must do trip if you only have a week!
This itinerary is for the preferred Iceberg Lake Fly-in Option.
The hike-in option to Donoho Wilderness is great if you are on a budget and would like to backpack across a glacier. The fly-in is well worth the price to access the best hiking in the National Park.
Day 1-
Meet in Valdez at our shop in the morning for a safety briefing and orientation. We will board our water taxi for the magnificent cruise out to Heather Bay near the spectacular Columbia Glacier. Here we will embark on our journey through the towering icebergs to a magnificent island overlooking Columbia Glacier – the largest tide water glacier in Prince William Sound. As we paddle away from Columbia Glacier we will keep a look out for numerous marine mammals, possibly seeing harbor seals, sea otters, and perhaps a glimpse of an Orca. Tonight we will make camp in Heather Bay and settle in for some for magnificent kayaking recipes cooked by our guides.
(Lunch) ( Dinner)
Day 2- After our first night camping we're off towards Glacier Island. With Columbia Glacier to our backs we will make a 2 mile crossing over to Glacier Island where we are treated to more ancient rainforest and ice grinding against the shore. There are numerous bays to explore on the north side of the island plus numerous hikes and beach combing opportunities. We may climb one of the spectacular ridges giving us wonderful views of Naked Island and Columbia Glacier. The elusive snow covered peaks of Montague Island may even come into view. Our guides will provide another fine meal before settling in for the evening.
(Breakfast) (Lunch) ( Dinner)
Day 3 -
An early start will lead us around the corner of Glacier Island to Bull head. Here we will find a colony of Stellar Sea Lions which can be seen feeding, sleeping and swimming. As we watch these magnificent creatures be on the look out for Puffins and Cormorants which inhabit the rugged caves along the coastline. We stop at an amazing beaches for lunch and a hike up through the rainforest. After lunch were off to Chamberlain Bay for some more exploring before we are picked up and taken back to Valdez.
(Breakfast) (Lunch) (Dinner on your own in Valdez)
Day 4- Meet at the shop for the van ride through keystone canyon and out over Thompson Pass. We will stop at Worthington Glacier for a walk around before arriving at the rafting put-in. The glacier fed river will push us through the canyons and forests for a good day of moderate whitewater. Keep a eye out for moose, eagles and bears. We will get dropped off in Chitna for the flight to the quaint town of McCarthy where have a bit of time to walk around town before taking the final flight to the Iceberg Lake landing strip. We hike a short distance away from the air strip to set up camp. Remember, this air strip is basically the dried up lake bed.
(Breakfast) (Lunch) (Dinner)
Day 5- 7 Iceberg lake is set in the alpine tundra above tree line yet still located at a fairly low elevation offering comfortable camping and no need to travel through snow or over ice. Enjoying the 3 days we have to explore, we will head off in various direction from camp on day hikes that will bring us to high ridges overlooking the valley. We will also have time to walk along the shoreline of iceberg lake, admiring the floating ice and abundant wildflowers. We have witnessed wolverine traveling through the valley as well as a variety of birds.
Each time we visit Iceberg lake we find a new hike so the guides leave a very open itinerary. Most trips take us up the valley and across an easily accessed glacier. Other days we head down valley towards the face of the Tana glacier where it meets the water of Iceberg Lake. For the lucky group, we will get to witness the power of the Glacier lifting up and releasing the enormous amounts of water from the lake, draining away in a mater of hours or days.
Groups have the option of keeping a base camp or moving around the valley to enjoy various views. The guide will prepare backpacker style meals which are always a good time. (Breakfast) (Lunch) (Dinner)
Day 8 - Before the first plane arrives to pick up everyone, we have time to take short walks or just find a comfortable perch and reflect on the trip. This is our last moments of pure wilderness. The flight arrives just after lunch. A short flight brings us back to McCarthy where we once again have a bit of time to walk around the quaint town before boarding the second flight back to Valdez. The flights themselves are a treat as the plane follows the landscape through the Chugach mountains all the way into Valdez. The trip ends in Valdez around 5;00 p.m. where a shower is always welcome. (Breakfast) (Lunch)
We suggest planning to stay the last night in Valdez. Weather in Alaska often delays flights and can hold us in McCarthy until day 8 unless we arrange a van back to Valdez. The tour includes a three day kayak camping tour, 1 day of rafting, a bush plane flight from Chitna to McCarthy and back to Valdez, 3 1/2 days guided backpacking, and all meals while on tour. B&B upgrades available between activities.
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