Wrangell Wonderland, Alaska

The trip begins on the afternoon of Day 0 with a one hour pre-trip briefing. This will give us a chance to meet each other, finalize logistics and leave time for any last-minute gear purchases. 

Day 1: Our private van will pick us up at our Anchorage rendezvous, and we will set off on our adventure. Along the way, we will pass the Matanuska glacier as well as spectacular views of Mt. Drum, and the Alaska Pipeline. We will take our lunch at the park visitor center. When we reach the mighty Copper River, home to the world-famous Copper River Salmon, we will switch drivers as we turn off on the main road to head to McCarthy.

The road from Chitina to McCarthy is built mostly over the bed of the old railroad that served the copper mines. Some days, especially after a hard rain, a rail spike will poke up into the roadway. This is why most rental car companies will not let you drive your rental out on this road. We offer this rare opportunity because our skilled van driver knows the perils and how to avoid them. There will also be plenty of opportunities to take pictures on this scenic drive.

The road ends at the McCarthy River, now spanned by a pedestrian bridge. Only a few years ago, a hand-powered cable car was the only way across. After portering our luggage across the bridge, we get on our final shuttle van for the one-mile trip through McCarthy, up to our lodge at Kennicott. The lodge is situated directly alongside the Root Glacier. Our common room looks out onto a great view of the glacier and surrounding mountains.

Day 2: We will spend today visiting the Kennicott copper mine historical buildings and learning about the mine’s history and the people that lived and worked here. One of the many highlights of the day is a private tour of the massive copper processing facility; it is a marvel how all this infrastructure was built in such a remote location. In its daym the mine provided much of the copper that was used to electrify American homes. If you live in an older home, you probably have some Kennicott copper in your walls.

We end the day, as with every day, with a full dinner in the lodge dining room. Our days leave enough time to enjoy an evening beer or glass of wine in the cozy common rooms.

Day 3: We will stretch our legs today with a day hike along the Root Glacier. We have a couple of options. The hike up to the Bonanza Mine is a strenuous journey with a long uphill, but the views and surroundings make it well worth it. This is a trek for participants comfortable with difficult hikes. An easier alternative is to walk alongside the Root Glacier to a vista overlooking the site of the Erie mine. On both hikes, you will be treated to spectacular views of the Root and Kennicott glaciers as well as 16,390-foot Mt. Blackburn, Regal Mountain, and Donaho Peak.

Day 4: We have an early breakfast to leave room for the action-packed day we have in store. We will take a short drive down to the Kennicott River, located a half-mile downstream from the terminus of the Kennicott Glacier. From there we will meet our oar-powered rafts and begin our float down the full five miles of the river. We follow the Kennicott to its merger into the mighty Ninzna River. Here, the water becomes smoother as the floodplain widens into several channels. We will stop for lunch on a riverside beach, where we will have the opportunity to explore the river bar and look for unique rocks, animal tracks, and birds.

Once we wrap up lunch and get back on the water, the excitement begins! The river narrows, driven by the limestone cliffs of the Nizina Canyon. The cliffs is often home to cliff swallows and peregrine falcons -- so be sure to keep an eye out! The tight turns of the canyon force the water to surge and boil around corners making for a fun ride on the rapids. When we emerge from the canyon, we end our journey, just before the Nizina River meets the Chitina River. Here, there is no vehicle access so instead we will fly back to McCarthy on an Alaskan bush plane!

The flight back will last for about 15 minutes and will take us back over the incredible glacial rivers we just navigated and include a short loop over the Root Glacier before swinging back towards the town of McCarthy.

Day 5: Today we will don crampons (steel spikes worn over shoes) and other safety gear and step out onto the Root Glacier.

It’s exciting to be on the glacier and peer into bottomless crevices; marvel at waterfalls and ravines; and to view the ever-shifting ice cliffs. Water collects in level spots and reflects the breathtaking blue of the glacier ice. 

Depending on the weather and how we feel, we might visit Donoho Falls. The falls create a cave as they tunnel their way under the Root Glacier. We also might visit the 7,000-foot Stairway Icefall, or alternatively just tour this ever-changing landscape of water and ice.

After the hike, we will have time to explore McCarthy before meeting back at the lodge to have dinner and unwind.

Day 6: We split up and each take the day on our own. There is no shortage of things to do! You can arrange an ice climbing expedition, go on a flightseeing tour of this part of the park, hike around the area, join a ranger-led walk, or just sit in the lodge and relax in this unique place.

Day 7: All good things must come to an end. Today our van meets us at the McCarthy Bridge to start our drive back to Anchorage. We should, road conditions permitting, arrive in the late afternoon at our drop-off point in Anchorage. There are still lots of sights to see on the way back, and we will keep on the lookout for moose, bears, and -- as always -- great views.

We should arrive in plenty of time for those leaving this same evening to make it to flights departing after 8:00 p.m.

Getting There

Members are responsible for their travel to and from Anchorage, Alaska. Do not schedule your arrival and departure dates too tightly; allow some flexibility for cancelled flights and other delays. Because of the possibility of weather-related flight delays, it is strongly recommended that you purchase travel insurance.

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

All food and accommodations are provided at a family-owned lodge in the park. Accommodations are shared, double-occupancy.  Each room has a small sink. Toilet and shower facilities are down the hall and shared. Single occupancy rooms may be available at additional cost. These rooms are in limited supply and go fast -- if you are interested you must sign up quickly.

We may be able to accommodate special diets, contact the trip leader(s) with your requirements.

Trip Difficulty

This is a moderately active trip, that requires some agility. We will be walking on a glacier. The trails may be steep and in places narrow. We will be getting into and out of rafts. Participants should be able to carry 10-15 pounds in a daypack, which may include lunch, water, a hot drink in a thermos, camera, binoculars, and extra clothing. A fitness regimen that encompasses up to a 10-mile hike on varied terrain will allow you to enjoy all of our activities. Most people with average agility, balance, and physical fitness will find this trip suitable.

Equipment and Clothing

About two months before the trip, you will be sent a list of required/recommended equipment and clothing. No special gear beyond what is usually needed for day hiking will be required. Life vests, water-proof boots (for rafting), and crampons will be provided as needed. The most important piece of equipment for you to have is a pair of broken-in hiking boots and tested rain gear. Weather in Alaska can be notoriously fickle. You should be prepared for rain, and snow is possible any time of the year. We can have everything from sunshine to snow on the same days so it is best to have clothing that you can layer.

References

Fensterman, Greg, Hiking Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Falcon Guides, 2008.

Wrangell-Saint Elias International Mountain Wilderness, Alaska Geographic, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1981.

Conservation

Just like the park, conservation issues in Alaska are enormous. We will discuss the impact of fishing in the Copper River, increases and decreases in Caribou and other large mammals and most importantly the health of the glaciers.