Our newest multisport adventure will allow you to experience the best of Alaska by hiking, kayaking, climbing, cruising and flying through it’s vast wilderness -  all while enjoying the comfort of nightly accommodations in some of Alaska’s most famous lodges and B&B's, as well as tent camping at our comfortable Denali Basecamp, located in the heart of Denali National Park. If you want to actively experience and participate in the “real” Alaska and are looking to mix amazing lodges with a remote camping experience, then this 9-day itinerary is your quintessential adventure.

Our journey will begin with a drive along Turnagain Arm to Whittier, where we'll hop aboard the Alaska State Ferry bound for Valdez. We’ll enjoy scenes of icebergs as we pass the massive Columbia Glacier – the largest tidewater glacier in North America.

Once in Valdez , we'll load our kayaks and head out towards Shoup Bay, our sea kayaking destination for the day.  On the way, we’ll keep an eye out for breaching humpback whales, playful dall porpoises, the telltale dorsal fin of the orca whale, and mountain goats perched on the sheer cliffs of the towering mountains above.   We'll spend the day sea kayaking among the icebergs of the stunning tidewater Shoup Glacier.

From Valdez we head north on the Richardson highway. At Thompson pass we’ll stretch our legs for an amazing hike next to the Worthington glacier, one of the many glaciers in the vast bulk of the Chugach Mountains.  Along the way we’ll skirt along the Copper River, enjoy views of the Wrangell and Chugach Mountains and descend into the Matanuska / Susitna River Valley.

We'll explore the Matanuska Glacier firsthand, as we learn safe glacier travel techniques and harness up for a chance to ice climb on one of Alaska's mightiest glaciers.

On day 6, we'll return to Anchorage and hop aboard a floatplane bound for Denali National Park, the crown jewel of the national park system.  Our destination, a glacier lake nestled between towering peaks and expansive glaciers will be our home for the next three nights.  With light daypacks, we’ll spend our 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.

Join us this summer for the best that Alaska has to offer - the Ultimate Alaska Multisport!  Here are more photos from this trip.

This trip originates in Anchorage, Alaska. Getting to Anchorage is a snap. Alaska Airlines, your travel agent, or the carrier of your choice can easily arrange roundtrip airfare from the lower 48.  Once you land in Anchorage, your adventure really begins.

Transportation: Alaska's sheer size requires the implementation of a wide variety of resources to reach it's most amazing destinations.  We'll travel by van, water taxi, ferry, small airplane, bus train during the course of the itinerary.  For the majority of the adventure, we will travel in Ford E350 passenger vans. These vehicles and are equipped with air conditioning, heat, and comfortable seats. Instead of using roof racks, like many tour operators in the state, we tow fully enclosed trailers. These trailers keep our gear and luggage accessible, clean and dry.

Accommodations: We stay in a mix of hotels, modern cabins, and historic lodges. Lodging on night one will be at the Clarion Suites hotel, which is located near downtown Anchorage: http://www.clarionhotel.com. This excellent hotel is clean, comfortable and very accommodating. All price are double occupancy. A single supplement fee of $500 will be added if you specifically request your own room for this trip.  Additional details regarding specific accommodation names and telephone numbers will be sent in your final packet.

Single Travelers: If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. The single supplement for the Ultimate Alaska Multisport is $500.00. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate of the same gender if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is $350. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms and available on most departures.

The Experience: After breakfast you’ll meet your guide at 8am in the lobby of the hotel. Our first full day will allow us to collect our senses, gaze at the surrounding beauty, and get a feel for Alaska’s vastness. You will quickly become acquainted with our style of Alaska travel and etiquette. Meals are planned to be sumptuous, filling culinary adventures of their own. Because space in our trailers is critical, careful consideration is taken in planning and packing the ingredients. You can be assured every Alaska Alpine Adventures meal will be something you may never have experienced in the wilderness. We use gourmet products and the very best ingredients available.

What’s Included:

• All group gear and safety equipment.
• All transportation (van, ferry, & flights)
• Roundtrip floatplane transportation to Denali National Park
• Activities listed on itinerary.
• 5 nights of lodging and 3 nights of camping
• Professional guide service at a maximum 6:1 client to guide ratio.
• Most meals – see itinerary for details.

What’s Not:

• Supplementary activities.
• Personal gear (Day packs, rain gear, etc. – see Equipment List for specific trip)
• Trip cancellation insurance.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Guide gratuities.

Reservation Policy:

A deposit of $1000.00 per person is required to reserve a trip with Alaska Alpine Adventures. The remaining balance is due 60 days prior to the start of the trip. Reservations made within 60 days of the trip starting date require payment in full.

If the participant cancels a reservation earlier than 60 days prior to the starting date, the deposit will be refunded, minus a $500.00 administration fee. If the participant cancels within 59-31 days of the starting date, 50% of the trip balance will be refunded. If cancellation is made within 30-0 days of the trip starting date, there will be no refund of any costs. Alaska Alpine Adventures recommends cancellation insurance available through Travel Guard. Please call or email us for details.

Everyone asks:

What about the mosquitoes?
In case you've heard horror stories... the number of mosquitoes is greatly dependent on hatching season and annual weather conditions. While we are bound to encounter some mosquitoes during the course of our adventure, their numbers have not generally presented major problems on past trips in these specific areas. That said, please arrive prepared with insect repellent and a head net to fend off any mosquitoes that are present.

Will bears be a problem?
Alaska is bear country! There are both grizzly and black bears in most of the wilderness areas of Alaska we visit. We love seeing bears in the wild and it really is one of the most thrilling experiences common in Alaska backcountry travel. With that said, traveling safely and taking precautions to minimize a negative encounter are things we take very seriously. In addition to being subject to our thorough bear safety orientation, you’ll also see that we take many precautions when traveling in Alaska’s wilderness – 1 all of our food has been packaged to minimize odors – we vacuum seal most of our fresh ingredients and sauces, we pack our food in bear resistant food canisters, and we store our food well away from camp. 2 We make noise when we’re hiking in thick brush or when we’re hiking in windy conditions to minimize surprise encounters.  3 Our guides carry bear spray on all of the hikes throughout the adventures.

What kind of food might we expect?
Our food is excellent – in fact it is something that clearly differentiates us from our competitors. We have spent the past decade fine tuning our backcountry menu. Breakfasts include pancakes, scrambles, various homemade granolas and cereals, French pressed coffee, assorted teas and hot drinks. For lunch we enjoy foccacia sandwiches, bagels and Alaska lox, hummus and toasted pita chips, and assorted wraps. We also have homemade snack mixes both salty and sweet and energy and candy bars available throughout the day. Dinners could include lasagna, pad thai, beef mole’ tacos, penne pasta with a roasted red pepper pesto, wild mushroom risotto, etc. And we ALWAYS enjoy one of Derek’s home baked desserts after dinner.

When would you require a deposit? and how much? Trip cancellation insurance? Can we get it through you?
We require a deposit of $1000 per person to officially reserve a trip. Really the deposit is due as soon as you’d like to book. That way, we have the trip inked in on the schedule and can begin the effort to coax others into joining the adventure. When you decide to book, we then generate an invoice that we send by email. You’ll then have the option to pay the deposit by mailing us a check, calling us with a credit card number or by using a Visa, Master Card, or American Experss on our secure online payment system. As for trip cancellation insurance, Alaska Alpine Adventures is licensed to sell Travel Guard - an industry leading insurance product designed specifically for adventure travelers. Please contact us for details, or click here to obtain a quote.

Alaska Multisport:

Why have you chosen these specific destinations for your Multisport Adventures?
Alaska Alpine Adventures has been hiking, kayaking, rafting and exploring Alaska's national parks and wildlife refuges for over 10 years.  We feel that our Alaska Multisport Adventures visit the best of Alaska's road accessible destinations, giving our guests a fantastic sampling of Real Alaska has to offer.

What national parks will we be visiting?
You will visit Denali National Park.

There is a significant distance between each destination, how will we get there?
Alaska's sheer size requires the implementation of a wide variety of resources to reach its most amazing destinations.  We'll travel by van, water taxi, ferry, small airplane, bus and train during the course of the itinerary.  For the majority of the adventure, we will travel in Ford E350 passenger vans. These vehicles and are equipped with air conditioning, heat, and comfortable seats. Instead of using roof racks, like many tour operators in the state, we tow fully enclosed trailers. These trailers keep our gear and luggage accessible, clean and dry. 

Is transportation included in the price of the trip?
Absolutely, our trips are all inclusive from Anchorage. All you need to do is get yourself to Anchorage on Day 1 of your itinerary.

Where will you meet us?
Your Alaska Alpine Adventures guide will meet you at 8 AM at the Clarion Suites for an orientation and gear check.

Are we likely to see wildlife on our Multisport Adventure?
Absolutely.  Wildlife viewing is a major component of all of our adventures, and the destinations visited durning our Multisport Adventures are home to grizzly, coastal brown, and black bears, dall sheep, caribou, moose, wolves, as well as dall porpoises, harbor seals, sea lions, whales and tremedous seasonal populations of migratory birds.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Today you are free to arrive in Anchorage on your own. We’ll be staying at the Clarion Suites hotel, which is located close to the airport and adjacent to downtown Anchorage. Meals on your own.

Day 2: This morning, you will meet your guides for breakfast and an orientation at 8am. We’ll
then drive south from Anchorage to Whittier along the Seward Highway. The drive along the
Seward Highway has been called one of the most scenic drives in the world. Beluga Whales cruise
the waters of Turnagain Arm and glaciers cling to the rugged mountains of the Chugach Range.
Along the way we’ll make a short visit to the Portage Glacier Visitor Center. Upon our arrival in Whittier, we’ll board an Alaska State Ferry for the trip to Valdez. Our crossing of Prince William Sound past the face of the Columbia Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America.  Tonight, we stay at the Valdez Harbor Inn located in downtown Valdez. All meals included.

Day 3: Today we spend the day sea kayaking in Shoup Bay. We’ll hop into sea-kayaks and
paddle up near the foot of this ancient tidewater glacier as it cracks, grumbles and calves
massive blocks of ice into the bay. Sea kayaking among the floating miniature icebergs makes for a fun obstacle course to test our paddling skills as does riding the swift current of the connecting stream on an outgoing tide. We’ll also paddle past the largest Black Legged Kittiwake rookery in Prince William Sound. Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 4: Today we’ll make our way through the magnificent Chugach Mountains en route to our lodge in the heart of the mighty Matanuska Valley. We’ll stop for a hike and picnic near the Worthington Glacier. The Worthington, a Natural Historic Landmark, is a spectacular glacier that tumbles from the Chugach Mountains. Our hike will take us up a sweeping moraine and we’ll enjoy stunning views of the blue ice and crevasses of the glacier and stunning vistas of the mighty Chugach. As we continue north, views of Alaska’s Chugach Mountains, the Wrangell Mountains and the Alaska Range will accompany us along the way. We’ll check into our lodge where we’ll sleep comfortable rooms with amazing views of the Talkeetna and Chugach Mountains. A favorite destination for Alaskans and tourists alike, its views and real Alaskan charm make for an unforgettable stay. All meals included.

Day 5: Today we’ll strap on crampons and spend the day ice climbing on the mighty Matanuska Glacier. Designed for just about everyone, this adventure is suitable for beginners. At over 27 miles long, the Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States. From it’s origins in the highest peaks of the Alaska’s Chugach mountains, the Matanuska is fed by incessant winter storms that dump more than 100’ of snow each year in the Chugach. From the moment you step onto the base of the glacier, expert guides will begin by teaching you the basics on moderate slopes and by the end of the day you'll be scaling vertical walls of ice! We’ll celebrate another 6+hour adventure with an amazing meal at Sheep Mountain Lodge. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 6: After breakfast at the lodge, we’ll pack our overnight bags and prepare ourselves for an
exclusive 3-night fly-in camping and hiking adventure in Denali National Park. 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. All meals included.

Day 7: 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 8: 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 9: 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.  Please schedule homebound flights any time after 10pm.  Breakfast & Lunch included.